HOUSTON, Texas — Kuiper Law Firm, a leading practice in oil and gas title law, announced the creation of its Title Practice Chair program and the appointment of two distinguished attorneys – Malori Flaniken of the firm’s Oklahoma City office and Sid Earnheart of the firm’s Houston office – to serve as the firm’s inaugural Title Practice Chairs. This initiative represents a landmark investment in the professional development of Kuiper’s associate attorneys and reflects the firm’s deep-rooted commitment to maintaining the highest standards of legal excellence in energy law.
About the Title Practice Chair Role
The Title Practice Chair is a newly created leadership designation within Kuiper Law Firm, designed to formalize and elevate the mentorship and training infrastructure that has long been a hallmark of the firm’s culture. Title Practice Chairs serve as the primary pedagogical resource for junior associates navigating the nuanced and technically demanding field of oil and gas title opinion work.
Responsibilities of the Title Practice Chair include developing structured onboarding curricula for incoming associates, conducting regular title opinion workshops and case study reviews, establishing best practices for examining chain-of-title issues, mineral rights conveyances, and lease analysis, and providing one-on-one mentorship to associates as they develop their title examination skills. Title Practice Chairs also collaborate with firm leadership to identify emerging trends in energy law and ensure that associate training reflects current regulatory and transactional realities in the oil and gas sector.
“The complexity of oil and gas title work demands attorneys who are not only technically proficient but who understand the broader landscape of mineral ownership, surface rights, and energy transactions,” said Alex Kuiper, Chief Officer and Owner of Kuiper Law Firm. “Our Title Practice Chairs will ensure that every associate who comes through this firm leaves with the foundational knowledge and practical skills to serve our clients with confidence and precision.”
Malori Flaniken — Title Practice Chair, Oklahoma City
Malori R. Flaniken is a Managing Associate at Kuiper Law Firm whose practice spans oil and gas, asset management, estate planning, and trusts. Based in Oklahoma City, she brings a multidisciplinary legal background and a deep operational understanding of the energy industry to her new role as Title Practice Chair.
Malori’s career began on the landman side of the industry, where she worked in-house managing the development of oil and gas assets across Oklahoma, Louisiana, Texas, Wyoming, and North Dakota. That foundation gave her an unusually practical perspective on how title work functions within the broader framework of exploration and production operations — a perspective she brings directly into her mentorship of junior attorneys.
In her legal practice, Malori has managed extensive mineral and working interest positions for private equity companies across producing basins nationwide, drafted drilling and division order title opinions, and resolved complex title defects. She is also admitted to practice in Oklahoma and holds particular expertise in estate planning, trust creation, and trust administration — an area that intersects meaningfully with mineral ownership and succession planning for energy families and landowners.
A native of Southwest Missouri, Malori earned her Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting from Missouri Southern State University in 2005, followed by both her Master of Business Administration and Juris Doctorate from the University of Tulsa in 2009. Her background in accounting and business administration informs a financially sophisticated approach to title and asset management work that distinguishes her counsel.
“I’m passionate about making sure our associates don’t just learn the mechanics of title work — I want them to understand the ‘why’ behind every instrument they review,” Flaniken said. “This role gives me the opportunity to build a learning environment where curiosity and rigor go hand in hand.”
Sid Earnheart — Title Practice Chair, Houston
Sid Earnheart is a Texas attorney and Managing Associate at Kuiper Law Firm whose practice is dedicated to the upstream oil and gas and energy industry. Based in Houston, Sid brings a rare combination of litigation experience, land professional background, and deep title expertise to his practice — and now, to his role leading associate education for the firm.
Sid’s work encompasses the full range of upstream oil and gas title and transactional matters, including the preparation of drilling, division order, and acquisition title opinions, as well as deeds, leases, leasehold assignments, and operating agreements. He regularly advises clients on mineral title disputes, leasehold rights, pooling and unitization, surface use agreements, and regulatory compliance across multiple jurisdictions, with particular depth in Texas.
Prior to focusing exclusively on energy law, Sid developed a background in litigation that sharpened his analytical instincts and his ability to anticipate how title issues can evolve into disputes — a perspective he carries into both his client work and his mentorship of associates. He routinely collaborates with landmen, engineers, and other industry professionals to ensure that legal determinations align with operational and commercial realities in the field.
Sid earned his Master of Arts from Southern Methodist University and his Juris Doctorate from Baylor University School of Law. He is licensed to practice in Texas and remains actively engaged in continuing legal education and industry developments to ensure his clients and associates receive forward-thinking, reliable counsel.
“Title work is a craft,” said Earnheart. “It takes time, exposure, and the right guidance to develop the judgment this work requires. I’m excited to help build that foundation for our associates and invest in the long-term strength of this firm.”
About Kuiper Law Firm
Kuiper Law Firm is a Texas-based energy law practice dedicated to providing sophisticated oil and gas title services to exploration and production companies, operators, landmen, and financial institutions. With offices in Houston, Oklahoma City, Fort Worth, Midland, and Denver, the firm’s attorneys combine deep technical expertise with a practical, client-focused approach to deliver title opinions, curative work, and transactional support across all major U.S. producing basins.
