Dave,
I am currently involved with a lawsuit against Western Land Services. They are an established landman company out of Michigan with locations in many states. Here is there website: http://www.westernls.com/
My involvement with them was in Michigan. I signed, along with many landowners, in Michigan in the summer of 2010. Ultimately hundreds of leases were canceled; these are signed leases. Many landowners have taken them to court and their cohorts. As it turned out their principal cohort was Chesapeake Energy who had been anonymously behind a mass leasing action in Michigan in 2010.
Now I will emphasize that Western was just following orders from their client. They were instructed to lease all they could, but when Chesapeake decided they wanted out then they had the leases canceled en masse. They were canceled for bogus reasons, such as; a mortgage, delinquent property tax, land in area they are not interested, signed too late, use wrong forms, signed in wrong spot. etc. What Chesapeake did was; form a shell company in Delaware, which formed a shell company in Michigan, which hired a reputable local landman company who in turn hired Western Land Services to do leasing. Leasing was also done by Oil Niagaran and Silver Lake/Redsky.
Western is a decent company with a long history. But landman companies are puppets and have to act on behalf of their client. So they are only as good as that client. When I dealt with them they were very professional, knowledgeable. I was part of a large land group who had a two day mass signing and they even catered in food and drinks. The mood was festive. However, ultimately I/we had leased with Western and they did not pay the signing bonuses as promised and then canceled the leases (well a CHK shell did the cancellations on Western's behalf).
So here is what I would do. I would make them reveal their client. I would also ask them about what happened in MI and watch their reaction and see how they respond. Western is leasing for someone, they are not producers and don't have the financial strength to lease for themselves or drill on their own. So they have a client. You must determine who. Once you know who then research that company to be sure you are comfortable with them.
The big thing is not to provide the signed lease to them until you are paid and have "cash in hand" (cleared the bank). Only accept a WLS company check or a cashiers check. Do not accept Sight Draft, Bank Draft, Letter of Intent, Offer For Payment (OFP) or any other similar agreement that specifies some period of time (30 to 120 business days). Simply tell them that due to their actions in MI you require immediate payment at time of lease signing. Tell them that you'll hold (via your attorney as escrow) the signed leased until the check has cleared in your bank.
Finally, be sure to work with an attorney experienced in gas/oil leasing.
Good luck.
Wilson