Raymond is a native Houstonian and grew up in the oil and gas industry, learning from his father and uncle’s success in oil and gas, construction, and land development.  Before attending law school, Raymond was a field landman and then an in-house landman, and he has extensive experience in every aspect of title research and examination, acquisitions, title curative and title opinions. For 15 years he owned and operated a West Texas sovereign title plant and designed programs which converted title records from books and index cards to digital format.

Raymond has worked oil and gas prospects in the Permian Basin, the Texas Gulf Coast and East Texas, beginning with initial title research, followed by the acquisition of leases, easements, water rights and other rights in anticipation of development, to the preparation of title opinions. He has also worked for Fortune 500 companies, negotiating and drafting “in-house” exploration agreements such as joint operating agreements, agency agreements, farm‑outs, farm-ins, unit designations and other related contracts, and leases, custom agreements, and other contracts.