Protect YOURSELAttorney James Decker's advice to ranchers entering lease agreements for oil and gas exploration on their land is to have a lawyer with expertise in the subject on your team.

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When the land man comes to call offering a lease for mineral exploration, James Decker's advice is to make sure a lawyer reviews the paperwork."It's not that expensive to talk to an attorney, and a few hundred dollars can avoid a world of hurt and surprise down the road," says the Stamford, TX, attorney who specializes in agriculture and oil and gas law.Decker's practice, Decker & Arrott P.C. (www.deckerarrott.com), serves mostly rural landowners and rural businesses. "We represent farmers, ranchers and folks who own land and lease it out for production, as well as assist them with real estate and ag law transactions, and oil and gas. I also represent some oil producers and operators as well, so I have experience on both sides of the desk," he says.