Christopher H. Killion

Christopher H. Killion is a shareholder at Modrall Sperling in Albuquerque, New Mexico. His practice focuses on oil, gas, and mineral development, with related real estate and natural resources work. Christopher advises oil and gas companies on drilling, division order, and acquisition title opinions, regulatory compliance, and transactions involving mineral rights. He also represents clients before regulatory bodies and helps address title, ownership, and operational issues affecting energy development in New Mexico and Texas.

Christopher earned his J.D. magna cum laude from Samford University’s Cumberland School of Law in 1978 and his B.S. cum laude from Birmingham-Southern College in 1975. After law school, he served as a law clerk to U.S. District Judge J. Foy Guin of the Northern District of Alabama. His legal education, judicial clerkship, and later experience as a petroleum landman provide a foundation for analyzing title, regulatory, and transactional issues involving mineral interests.

Christopher prepares original and supplemental drilling, division order, and acquisition title opinions and advises on purchases and sales of producing and non-producing oil and gas assets. He drafts and reviews purchase and sale agreements, joint operating agreements, pooling and unitization agreements, deeds, assignments, and title curative instruments. He also represents oil and gas companies before the New Mexico Oil Conservation Division and researches production, acreage, formations, and regulatory records affecting development projects.

Christopher H. Killion is admitted in New Mexico, Texas, and Alabama and holds a Certified Professional Landman credential from the American Association of Professional Landmen. His professional affiliations include the Foundation for Natural Resources and Energy Law, Permian Basin Landmen’s Association, and Midland County Bar Association. He has been recognized by Best Lawyers in America for Energy Law, Environmental Law, and Natural Resources Law since 2023.

Law Office Affiliations

• Shareholder, Modrall Sperling Law Firm
• Member, State Bar of New Mexico (2014-Present)
• Member, State Bar of Texas (2014-Present)
• Member, Alabama State Bar (1978-Present)
• Member, Midland County Bar Association (2017-Present)
• Member, Foundation for Natural Resources and Energy Law (f/k/a Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation) (2016-Present)
• Member, Permian Basin Landmen’s Association (2015-Present)
• RPL, American Association of Professional Landmen (2014-Present)
• Member, Young Presidents’ Organization (1992-Present)
• Member, Board of Southeastern and National Insulation Associations (1990-1993)

Licensed State

• New Mexico
• Texas
• Alabama

Education

• Samford University, Cumberland School of Law
  Juris Doctor (JD) Magna Cum Laude
• Birmingham Southern College
  Bachelor of Science (BS) Cum Laude

Awards & Badges