Biography
When clients and colleagues meet Jon Beckman, they appreciate that their voices are heard and that he is well-trained to protect them and their business interests. Jon didn’t follow the traditional path to law school and his unique journey makes him a better counselor, leader, and advocate. Before becoming a lawyer, Jon spent time as a high school history teacher and as a combat medic in the Pennsylvania Army National Guard, ultimately serving with an infantry unit in Operation Iraqi Freedom. Drawing on both his teaching and military experience, Jon is able to equip clients to make better business decisions by helping them understand complicated issues and the related legal and business impacts.
Jon is a trusted advisor to clients who are working to avoid and defend litigation, navigate regulatory and governmental agencies, launch a new enterprise, or grow an existing business. Jon is instrumental in helping solar and renewable energy clients obtain the necessary permits, acquire surface and mineral title, comply with land use regulations, and secure funding for projects.
In continued service to the veteran’s community, Jon is active in the firm’s Veterans Inclusion Council. In addition, he is the Managing Member of the firm’s Meadville office.
Working with Jon will give you a customized and highly personalized experience that is anything but cookie-cutter, and just as unique as his journey to becoming a respected lawyer.
Representative Experience
- Obtained zoning and land use approval to allow International solar developers to construct utility scale solar projects in Pennsylvania
- Counseled International solar developer with oil, gas, and mineral due diligence, for the pursuance of proper surface use waivers and non-disturbance agreements
- Advised renewable energy developers on unique real estate tax issues in Pennsylvania
- Assisting international community scale solar developer with land use issues and state and local regulatory compliance
- Collaborates with environmental attorneys and engineers on matters before the Environmental Hearing Board
- Assists midstream clients in negotiations with land owners for pipeline development and operation
- Provides pro bono representation of individuals in protection from abuse counties as part of Crawford Counties Pro Bono program
- Litigated oil and gas leasehold and ownership issues for energy clients
- Assisted industry clients in quiet title and partition actions that included complex heirship and mineral title issues
- Represented midstream clients in federal eminent domain actions and landowner disputes
- Provided counsel to energy operators navigating Pennsylvania’s oil and gas laws and regulations
- Assisted industry clients in acquiring both surface and oil and gas interests
- Prepared mineral title opinions, including complex calculations of ownership and leasehold interests, arising from energy exploration and production operations
- Assisted energy clients in complex arbitrations under the American Arbitration Association’s Commercial Rules
Licensed In
- Pennsylvania
- West Virginia
Education
- J.D. Cleveland State University Cleveland–Marshall College of Law
- M.A. Edinboro University of Pennsylvania
- B.S. Edinboro University of Pennsylvania
Memberships
- Marcellus Shale Coalition
- Pennsylvania Independent Oil and Gas Association, Environmental Committee
- Eagle Scout, Boy Scouts of America
- Pennsylvania Bar Association, Energy and Environmental Law Section
- Crawford County Bar Association
- Northwest Pennsylvania American Inn of Court
Speaking Engagements
- “Expanded Use of Participation Theory Against Oil and Gas Operators,” PIOGA 2019 Spring Meeting, Pittsburgh, PA
- “A Dent in the Corporate Shield?: Pennsylvania DEP’s Expanded Use of the Participation Theory of Individual Liability,” Shale Gas Law 2018 Seminar, WVU
- “Limits on Limited Liability: A Recent Board Adjudication and Order Imposed Personal Liability for Company’s Failure to Plug Oil and Gas Wells,” The PIOGA Press, January 2018
- Oil and Gas Regulatory Update, Shale Energy Law Section Newsletter, Pennsylvania Bar Association, 2017 – present
- Co-author, Pennsylvania Quarterly Update, The Foundation for Natural Resources and Energy Law, 2017 – present
- Co-author, Pennsylvania Oil and Gas Update, OneJ Oil and Gas Law Survey, 2016 – present
- “Getting Paid in a Tough Economy: Procedures under PA’s Contractor-Subcontractor Payment Act” National Utility Contractors Association, Northwest/Southwest/Northeast Pennsylvania Regional Meetings, 2015
- “From Venting Skyward to Moving Forward: a Historical Perspective on Coalbed Methane Regulation,” International Pittsburgh Coal Conference, 2015
- Co-Present “Water Management Regulations in the Appalachian Basin” Buckeye STEPS Water Management Conference, 2015
- “Subsurface Trespass to the Oil& Gas Estate: Determining Damages in Pennsylvania,” PBI Oil and Gas Law Colloquium, Pittsburgh, PA September 2015
- 2015 Survey on Oil & Gas Law, Texas A&M Law Review, Pennsylvania
- Co-author “A Time of Change: Prepare for Heightened Enforcement,” The PIOGA Press, December 2014
- “A State of Mind: Determining Bad Faith in Trespass to Oil & Gas.” 2 Tex. A&M L. Rev. 53 (2014)
- “Robinson Township & Act 13,” Northwest Pennsylvania Inns of Court, 2014
- “Pennsylvania Oil & Gas Law Update,” Crawford County Bar Association, 2014
- “Pennsylvania Mechanics’ Lien Law Update,” National Utility Contractors Association, Northwest Pennsylvania, 2014
Legal Insights