Lauren K. Turner

Member

Biography

Lauren Turner focuses her practice in the area of energy litigation and represents the interests of energy companies, particularly from the oil and natural gas industry, in state and federal court. In addition to trial experience in energy-related litigation and condemnation, she assists oil and natural gas producers with legal issues that arise in all phases of exploration and production. This includes defending oil and gas E&P companies in class action royalty disputes and claims before the West Virginia Mass Litigation Panel.

Representative Experience

Gained trial experience in energy-related litigation and condemnation
Successfully defended oil and gas exploration and production company before the West Virginia Mass Litigation Panel and Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia in claims involving private nuisance and negligence relating to natural gas activities
Defended oil and gas exploration and production companies in class action royalty disputes
Obtained access injunctions for drilling and maintaining oil and gas wells and pipeline infrastructure
Represented several of the nation’s largest interstate natural gas pipelines in the exercise of eminent domain in federal court
Responded to emergency incidents and fatalities for oil and gas operators and clients in the chemical industry, conducted on-site investigations, and coordinated responses to regulatory agencies (OSHA; WVDEP; MSHA)
Represented drilling and production companies working to develop the Marcellus shale in surface-use and surface damage disputes
Served as trial counsel in the prosecution and jury verdict of $24 million claim for a coal operator in a condemnation proceeding
Served as trial counsel in condemnation proceeding for national outdoor advertising company, resulting in a favorable judgment as a matter of law

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Licensed In

West Virginia

Education

J.D. West Virginia University College of Law

B.A. West Virginia University

Memberships

Women’s Energy Network – West Virginia
Board of Trustees, Energy & Mineral Law Foundation
Gas and Oil Association of WV, Inc
Defense Trial Counsel of West Virginia
Harrison County Bar Association
Harrison County Chamber of Commerce
Pipeline Emergency Response (2018)
Leadership Harrison County (2013)

Achievements

The Best Lawyers in America®, Commercial Litigation (2024-Present), Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Defendants (2024-Present)
The Best Lawyers in America®: Ones to Watch (2023)
Generation Next: 40 Under 40, WV News (2022)

Speaking Engagements

“Surface Use in the Age of Horizontal Drilling,” NADOA Annual Institute, Scottsdale, AZ (September 2016)

Publications

“From 1981 to 2019: West Virginia Court Applies ‘Reasonable and Necessary Use’ to Modern Mineral Development,” Energy Law Advisor, Volume 13, No. 3 (August 2019)

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