Steptoe & Johnson

REPRESENTATIVE EXPERIENCE

• Lead teams responsible for numerous asset and stock transactions, lease transactions, and land and legal due diligence for acquisitions involving over 120,000 acres of Marcellus shale properties throughout Appalachian region
• Drafted legislation on behalf of a Fortune 500 energy client which clarified the requirements for notification of land and mineral owners in connection with development of coalbed methane
• Leads team drafting a multi-million dollar supply agreement for the production and sale of biomass to an electric generating plant. The project involves traditional contract issues, clean air and greenhouse gas regulations, potential tax credits and subsidies for renewable energy sources, corporate tax, and intellectual property.
• Drafted legislation on behalf of a Fortune 500 energy client which clarified the requirements for notification of landowners in connection with development of coal bed methane development situations and prepared implementation guidelines and procedures for the client to use under the new legislation

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

• 2004
  Steptoe & Johnson, Charleston, WV
• 2001-2003
  Vice President, Exploration, Columbia Natural Resources, Charleston, WV
• 1998-2001
  Assistant General Counsel, Columbia Gas Transmission Corp., NiSource Corporate Services Company, Charleston, WV
• 1993-1998
  Legal Department, CONSOL Energy, Pittsburgh, PA
• 1991-1993
  Attorney, Thorp, Reed & Armstrong, Pittsburgh, PA
• 1987-1990
  Reservoir & Production Engineering Supervisor, CNG Development, Pittsburgh, PA
• 1983-1985
  Reservoir Engineer, Aramco, Saudi Arabia
• 1978-1982
  Special Projects Engineer, Columbia Gas Transmission, Charleston, WV

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS / AWARDS

• WVU College of Engineering and Mineral Resources Visiting Committee
• Peer Review Rated AV by Martindale-Hubbell
• United States Patent and Trademark License
• Best Lawyers® 2011 Charleston, West Virginia Lawyer of the Year
• The Best Lawyers in America®
• Chambers USA America’s Leading Lawyers for Business, Band One Leading Lawyer, Natural Resources
• Super Lawyers®
• Outstanding Alumni of the Year, WVU Minerals & Energy Resources Department
• Treasurer, Energy & Mineral Law Foundation
• Guest Lecturer, Distinguished Lecture Series, WVU College of Engineering and Mineral Resources
• Duquesne University Law Review
• Institute for Energy Law
• Graduated cum laude, West Virginia University, Petroleum Engineering
• Chair, Energy Law Committee, West Virginia State Bar
• EMLF Representative, Appalachian School of Law Energy Symposium Steering Committee

INDUSTRY / CIVIC MEMBERSHIPS

• Board of Directors, Black Diamond Girl Scout Council
• Women's Energy Network
• Member, Advisory Committee, Department of Petroleum and Natural Gas Engineering at West Virginia University
• Board of Directors, North American Coalbed Methane Forum
• GABALTA
• Independent Petroleum Association of America
• Vice Chair, Energy Committee, West Virginia Chamber of Commerce
• Vice Chair, Energy Working Group, West Virginia Chamber of Commerce
• Chair, Oil & Gas Subcommittee, West Virginia Chamber of Commerce
• Past Board Member, West Virginia Chamber of Commerce
• Past President, Alumni Association WVU Minerals & Energy Resources Department
• The West Virginia Symphony Board of Directors

PUBLICATIONS / SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS

• Co-author, “Recent Legal Developments in Carbon Sequestration,” 2008 Society of Petroleum Engineers Eastern Regional/American Association of Petroleum Geologists Eastern Section Joint Meeting
• Co-author, “The Balancing of Coal and Coalbed Methane Interests Within the Coalbed Methane Statutory Schemes of Virginia, West Virginia and Kentucky,” Journal of Natural Resources & Environmental Law, University of Kentucky College of Law, 2004-2005