Steptoe & Johnson

REPRESENTATIVE EXPERIENCE

• Represented Fortune 500 energy client before regulatory agencies and provided key guidance in developing process to establish pooling units for largest active coalbed methane production program in state
• Performed due diligence and prepared transactional documents for several multi-million dollar acquisitions of oil and gas assets, involving review of title, environmental issues, property rights, liability and litigation matters, negotiation of contract terms and drafting of necessary documents
• Represented Fortune 500 energy client in negotiating significant asset acquisitions in Marcellus shale in the northern Appalachian Basin
• Performed management and document review associated with major title and asset development projects of energy clients
• Assisted in multi-million dollar sale and purchase of coal assets and related facility, sales and distribution contracts

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

• 2008
  Steptoe & Johnson
• 1999-2007
  Assistant Prosecuting Attorney, Tyler County
• 1998-2008
  Solo practitioner

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS / AWARDS

• “Generation Next,” The State Journal 2010
• The Best Lawyers in America®
• Real Estate, Zoning & Land Use Committee, West Virginia State Bar
• Mountain Honorary
• West Virginia Law Review
• Order of the Coif
• St. George Tucker Brooke, Fellow

INDUSTRY / CIVIC MEMBERSHIPS

• Member, Board of Directors, Sistersville General Hospital Foundation
• Chair, Sistersville Heritage Foundation
• West Virginia Governor’s School Advisory Committee
• Independent Oil & Gas Association
• Energy & Mineral Law Foundation
• NALTA
• UTEC
• Member, Corporate Board, HOBY State Leadership Program
• Lions Club

PUBLICATIONS / SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS

• "Overview of Pooling Affecting Appalachian Shale Development," EMLF Annual Institute, May 2011
• “Lease Maintenance Challenges,” Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation/Energy & Mineral Law Foundation Joint Conference on Development Issues in Major Shale Plays, 2010
• “East Meets West: An Overview of Operational Differences in Appalachia,” 2010 NALTA Annual Conference
• “Special Provisions for Pooling and Horizontal Drilling,” 2010 Michael Late Benedum Chapter, AAPL, Spring Meeting
• “Degasification of Coal Seams in Advance of Mining: Technical & Legal Issues,” 2009 WV Coal Mining Institute Fall Meeting
• “Coalbed Methane Gas & WV Law,” WV Desk & Derrick 2009 AIMEE Award of Merit
• “Basics of Oil & Gas Leasing,” 2009 Michael Late Benedum Chapter, AAPL, Spring Meeting
• “Legal Issues on the Horizon,” 2009 North American Coalbed Methane Forum Annual Meeting
• “Due Diligence Transactions: Energy Acquisitions and Divestitures,” 2009 WV Desk & Derrick Annual Meeting
• Recent Developments in the Oil & Gas Industry
• An Overview of Industry and Legal Issues Affecting the Coal Industry
• Pooling Under West Virginia’s Coalbed Methane Act
• Legal Issues with Leasing and Drilling Horizontal Wells
• Legal Issues Associated with Coalbed Methane Development
• Update on Pennsylvania Royalty Cases and Legislative Issues