Diana S. Prulhiere

Biography

Diana Prulhiere focuses her practice in energy, mineral, and natural resources law, with an emphasis on title, due diligence, transactional, and regulatory matters. At the center of a multi-specialty and geographically diverse team of lawyers, Diana cut her teeth during the Marcellus Shale energy boom, learning the energy industry at the foundational level of abstracting and drafting complex title opinions.  She appreciates the puzzle pieces that must fit together in order to confirm ownership of coal, oil, gas, mineral, and leasehold assets, and understands that, within the framework of multi-million dollar transactions, incorrect and inaccurate title means real money and can lead to future litigation.

Diana’s deep experience in title enables her to advise clients on the value of assets prior to closing a transaction and evaluate appropriate curative measures to resolve title defects. In addition to performing due diligence review and preparing drilling and division order title opinions, clients trust Diana to draft documents and review contracts that are needed to facilitate stock and asset deals among energy companies and govern the everyday course of business. Diana also assists her clients in obtaining regulatory approvals which enable them to pursue their desired development efforts.

Known by her clients and colleagues as a hard worker and effective communicator, Diana is often sought out to manage projects and maintain contact with clients. She has also participated in a number of internal and external leadership programs.

Diana has been key to the firm’s expansion and success in the mid-continent by transitioning to the Denver office in the spring of 2014. She is licensed in Colorado, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia and is a member of the firm’s Mining Industry Group, Renewable Energy Group, and Bankruptcy/Workout Team.

Outside of the office, Diana enjoys being involved in her community. She is active in a multitude of energy organizations and has an affinity for groups that promote growth of young professionals, including the Young Energy Professionals’ Committee of the Institute for Energy Law, which she chaired in 2019, and the Mile High Young Professionals, a Denver-based networking group.

Representative Experience

  • Managed abstracting and title teams to assist clients with oil and gas development efforts in the Rockies and Appalachian Basin
  • Performed title examinations in Appalachian courthouses of surface, coal, oil, gas, and leasehold interests
  • Prepared stand up title opinions, original and supplemental drilling title opinions, and original and supplemental division order title opinions to verify clients’ leasehold and mineral title ownership in the Rockies and Appalachian Basin
  • Advised energy clients on title issues and curative actions and drafted related curative documents, including deeds, stipulations of interest, affidavits, probate filings, leases, lease amendments / modifications, assignments, etc.
  • Conducted and coordinated due diligence review of seller and purchaser internal records and title documents for multimillion dollar acquisitions and divestitures of coal, oil, and gas assets
  • Drafted various contracts and agreements effectuating large energy transactions and managing day-to-day company operations, including letters of intent, confidentiality agreements, purchase and sale agreements, operating agreements, surface use agreements, etc.
  • Aided coal companies in stock sale transactions and the purchase and sale of active and idled mining assets and coal operations
  • Facilitated the acquisition of coal assets from Chapter 11 debtors in § 363 sales
  • Assisted clients in regulatory matters by preparing applications for oil and gas development plans, requests for variances, and other filings with the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission
  • Managed document preparation and recording for a multi-million dollar energy transactions among oil and gas and coal companies

Licensed In

  • Colorado
  • Oklahoma
  • Pennsylvania
  • West Virginia

Education

  • J.D. University of Pittsburgh School of Law
  • B.S. University of Mount Union

Memberships

  • Institute for Energy Law, Energy Transactions Committee General Officer, 2022-2024 Term
  • Institute for Energy Law, Oil & Gas E-Report, Board of Editors, 2021-2022
  • Institute for Energy Law, Membership & Development Committee Member, 2020-2022
  • Chair, Young Energy Professionals’ Committee, Institute for Energy Law 2019 (Vice Chair 2018; Immediate Past Chair 2020)
  • Institute for Energy Law Young Energy Professionals’ Rockies General Counsel Forum Chair, 2015-2016, Co-Chair 2017-2019
  • Institute for Energy Law Young Energy Professionals’ Committee Member, 2011-2021, Public Service Subcommittee Member 2021, Membership Subcommittee Member and National Conference Subcommittee Member 2017
  • Institute for Energy Law Young Energy Professionals’ Appalachia General Counsel Forum Co-Chair, 2014-2015
  • Women’s Energy Network Appalachia, Southern West Virginia Networking & Special Events Committee Chair, 2013
  • Leadership Kanawha Valley, 2011
  • Articles Editor, Pittsburgh Journal of Environmental and Public Health Law
  • Institute for Energy Law
  • The Foundation for Natural Resources and Energy Law
  • Denver Association of Professional Landmen
  • Denver Association of Oil and Gas Title Attorneys
  • Women’s Energy Network (Colorado)
  • Colorado Solar and Storage Association
  • Rose Andom Center Young Professionals’ Council
  • Mile High Young Professionals

Speaking Engagements

  • Co-Presenter, “A Year in Review: A Look Back at How Oil and Gas Regulation Changed in 2019,” Denver Association of Division Order Analysts Meeting, Denver, CO, January 2020
  • Co-Presenter, “A Year in Review: A Look Back at How Oil and Gas Regulation Changed in 2019,” Steptoe & Johnson PLLC National Energy Webcast, January 2020
  • Co-Chair and Co-Moderator, “5th Rockies Young Energy Professionals’ General Counsel Forum,” Institute for Energy Law, Denver, CO, October 2019
  • Panelist, “Communication and Coordination in Title and Due Diligence Projects,” Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation Special Institute on Mineral Title Examination, Westminster, CO, September 2019
  • Co-Presenter, “Lease and Title Issues in Colorado and Texas,” Denver Association of Lease and Title Analysts Meeting, Denver, CO, August 2019
  • Co-Presenter, “Lease and Title Issues in Colorado and Texas,” Houston, TX, February 2019
  • Co-Chair and Moderator, “4th Rockies Young Energy Professionals’ General Counsel Forum,” Institute for Energy Law, Denver, CO, October 2018
  • Co-Presenter, “Colorado Oil and Gas Update,” Denver Association of Division Order Analysts Spring Seminar, Denver, CO May 2018
  • Co-Presenter, “Firestone, Flowlines & More – What Operators Need to Know in Colorado,” National Association of Division Order Analysts 44th Annual Institute, Bastrop, TX November 2017
  • Panelist, “Trending Title Topics from Around the Country,” Institute for Energy Law 1st National Young Energy Professionals’ Law Conference, New Orleans, LA 2017
  • Co-Chair and Moderator, “3rd Rockies Young Energy Professionals’ General Counsel Forum,” Institute for Energy Law, Denver, CO, October 2017
  • Co-Presenter, “New Developments Impacting the Oil & Gas Industry in Colorado,” Denver Association of Division Order Analysts Meeting, Denver, CO September 2017
  • Co-Presenter, “New Developments Impacting the Oil & Gas Industry in Colorado,” Steptoe & Johnson PLLC National Energy Webcast, August 2017
  • Co-Presenter, “Trending Title Topics from Around the Country,” Steptoe & Johnson PLLC National Energy Webcast, April 2017
  • Chair and Moderator, “2nd Rockies Young Energy Professionals’ General Counsel Forum,” Institute for Energy Law, Denver, CO October 2016
  • Chair and Moderator, “1st Rockies Young Energy Professionals’ General Counsel Forum,” Institute for Energy Law, Denver, CO December 2015

Publications

  • Co-Author, “Colorado,” University of Oklahoma Oil and Gas, Natural Resources and Energy Journal, 2018 Survey on Oil and Gas, 5 Oil & Gas, Nat. Resources & Energy J. 117 (2019)
  • Co-Author, “The Mission Change Whitepaper: A Glimpse Into Future Rulemakings in Colorado,” Steptoe & Johnson PLLC Energy Alert, November 2019
  • Author, “Field Landman Question of the Month: Constitutional Challenge to Colorado’s Force Pooling Statute,” Denver Association of Petroleum Landmen, The Rocky Mountain Landman, May 2019
  • Co-Author, “Colorado,” University of Oklahoma Oil and Gas, Natural Resources and Energy Journal, 2019 Survey on Oil and Gas, 4 Oil & Gas, Nat. Resources & Energy J. 311 (2018)
  • Co-Author, “Colorado,” University of Oklahoma Oil and Gas, Natural Resources and Energy Journal, 2017 Survey on Oil & Gas, 3 Oil & Gas, Nat. Resources & Energy J. 663 (2017)
  • Contributor, “COGCC Issues Notice to Operators to Inspect Flowlines,” Steptoe & Johnson PLLC Energy Alert, May 2017
  • Co-Author, “Colorado,” University of Oklahoma Oil and Gas, Natural Resources and Energy Journal, 2016 Survey on Oil & Gas, 2 Oil & Gas, Nat. Resources & Energy J. 139 (2016)

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