Rigged for Success: A Landman’s Guide to Ethics

In late September, I had the honor of speaking at the West Coast Landman’s Institute in beautiful San Luis Obispo, where I presented my ethics talk titled “Rigged for Success: A Landman’s Guide to Ethics.” The conference was an incredible experience — from the scenic coastal setting to the engaging conversations with fellow professionals committed to elevating our industry.

One highlight of the event was meeting Kyle Reynolds, CPL, President of RBG Permian LLC and the current President of the American Association of Professional Landmen (AAPL). Kyle is the second-youngest president in AAPL’s history — an impressive milestone — and I found him to be genuinely kind, down-to-earth, and passionate about the future of our profession. We even managed to snap a photo together (see it at the end of this article) to commemorate the occasion!

Why Do So Many Landmen Struggle with Ethics Questions?

I opened my session with my signature Cajun joke – it always gets the room laughing – then followed with a question that never fails to make people think: Did you know that the most failed portion of the AAPL exams is the Ethics exam?

Why is that? Are landmen unethical? Of course not. The issue lies in how we think about ethics. I shared a story from my law school days about a fellow student — one of the most genuinely good and religious people I’d ever met, even started a Bible Study group in law school — yet, he failed the ethics portion of the bar exam. It was a shock to all of us.

But the lesson was clear: ethics exams don’t measure how good of a person you are — they measure whether you understand the rules. In other words, you’re being tested not on your moral compass, but on your grasp of what’s within (and outside) the professional boundaries. Some of the trickiest AAPL questions hinge on things like when you must disclose something — and that’s not something you learn in Sunday school.

The Five Tenets of an Ethical Landman

My talk walked through the five major components of the AAPL Code of Ethics, found in Article 16 of the AAPL Bylaws:

Fair and Honest Dealing – Treat the public, your clients, and your colleagues with honesty and transparency. Avoid misrepresentation and eliminate practices that discredit our industry.
Fiduciary Duty – Always act in your client’s best interest, even when it conflicts with your own.
Conflicts of Interest – Disclose, disclose, disclose. If you stand to gain from a deal, your client needs to know.
Moral Turpitude – Avoid conduct that would bring disrepute to the profession, and report unethical behavior when you see it.
Competence – Be good at what you do. Know the laws, including proposed laws, as well as the market. Integrity without competence isn’t enough.

As I told the group, “You can be a pillar of your community — honest, hardworking, and kind — but if you don’t understand the work you’re doing as a landman, those qualities will be in vain.”

Why Ethics Matter Now More Than Ever

We also discussed what I like to call “Ohio-Gate” — an incident in which a landowner uncovered a so-called “cheat sheet” instructing landmen on how to evade questions and pressure landowners into signing leases. That one document did enormous damage to the profession’s reputation and serves as a reminder of why the AAPL’s Code of Ethics exists — to promote trust, transparency, and professionalism in our field.

That’s also why I encourage every land professional, especially new landmen, to join the AAPL. Membership connects you with a community of professionals who share your commitment to ethical standards — and it provides valuable educational, networking, and certification opportunities. You can join at www.landman.org.

Closing Thoughts

As I wrapped up my presentation, I shared a favorite quote from Will Rogers, who said: “If you want to be successful, it’s just this simple — know what you are doing, love what you are doing, and believe in what you are doing.”

That’s what it means to be rigged for success — to combine competence with integrity, and to always represent the best of our profession.

I’m grateful to everyone who attended and for the kind words afterward. Many said it was the best ethics session they’d ever heard — and I couldn’t ask for higher praise from my fellow land professionals. Thank you to Joe Munsey and the West Coast Landman’s Institute for hosting such an outstanding event, and to all of you who continue to uphold the ethics and excellence that define our industry.

With Kyle Reynolds, CPL, President of RBG Permian LLC and current AAPL President — the second-youngest president in the organization’s history — following my presentation at the West Coast Landman’s Institute in San Luis Obispo, California.

With Joe Munsey, Event Co-chair and editor of the Los Angeles Professional Landman’s publication, “The Override,” a monthly newsletter, alongside Randall Taylor. The Override has published several of my articles and successfully recommended them for publication in the AAPL’s national magazine.