Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

Oil, Gas, and Mineral Law Commons

Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

Property Law and Real Estate

Pepperdine University

Articles 1 - 1 of 1

Full-Text Articles in Oil, Gas, and Mineral Law

Top Leases And The Rule Against Perpetuities, J. Suzanne Hill Feb 2013

Top Leases And The Rule Against Perpetuities, J. Suzanne Hill

Pepperdine Law Review

The competition for oil and gas leases has resulted in an increase in the use of top leases to secure oil and gas leasehold estates. Top leases which are found to violate the Rule against Perpetuities could result in the loss of millions of dollars to the lessee. The author examines top leasing in light of the Rule against Perpetuities and concludes that absent a savings clause, such leases violate the Rule. A savings clause is proposed which would save an otherwise invalid lease thereby circumventing the harsh application of the Rule.