Matthew W. Hutnick

Biography

As an attorney with ten years of experience as in-house counsel in a diversified energy company comprised of upstream and midstream oil and gas businesses and a coal business, Matthew Hutnick provides clients with a unique understanding of the legal and business issues that energy companies face. His combined law firm and in-house experience gives him a unique perspective and makes him a value-added benefit to his clients. Drawing on his previous experience, Matt is able to equip clients to make better business decisions by helping them understand complicated issues and the related legal and business impacts.

Matt focuses his practice on oil and gas, coal, coalbed methane, coal mine methane, carbon capture and sequestration contracts, and real estate matters. He assists clients with acquisition and divestiture of surface, oil and gas, CBM, CMM, and coal assets, drafting and negotiation of lease, license, right of way and easement agreements, and settlement of real property disputes.  Matt has participated in the formation, operation, and dissolution of joint ventures, including drafting and negotiating joint operating agreements, development agreements, cooperation agreements, purchase and sale agreements, and gas-gathering agreements.  He has assisted energy companies with environmental asset matters, including development and management of projects producing carbon credits, offsets, renewable energy credits (RECs), and emission reduction credits (ERCs), and the sale of such environmental attributes to third parties.  Matt has also assisted oil and gas exploration and production companies with applying for and obtaining approval from various regulatory agencies to operate horizontal well units in the Appalachian Basin.

Representative Experience

  • Assisted with the formation, development, and eventual dissolution of upstream and midstream oil and gas joint ventures focused on the Marcellus Shale formation in Pennsylvania and West Virginia
  • Assisted with formation and operation of upstream oil and gas joint venture focused on the Utica Shale formation in Ohio
  • Represented coal mine operator with development of methane emission mitigation projects that generate tradeable environmental attribute credits
  • Represented energy and natural resource companies in connection with asset acquisition and divestiture transactions, including the drafting of transactional and conveyance documents; participated in related due diligence investigations, including review of title, environmental issues, property rights, and litigation matters
  • Represented oil and gas company in connection with the sale of environmental attributes related to coal mine methane
  • Assisted carbon capture and sequestration project development team with drafting of carbon dioxide injection and monitoring well site easement agreements, pipeline easement agreements, and option agreements
  • Represented oil and gas company in connection with obtaining approval from multiple state regulatory agencies to drill horizontal wells from Ohio into West Virginia
  • Provided analysis of complex title issues and guidance on applicable law in conjunction with due diligence for acquisition and divestiture of oil, gas, coal bed methane, and coal assets, including preparation of conveyance and curative documents

Licensed In

  • New Jersey
  • Pennsylvania
  • West Virginia
  • Ohio

Education

  • J.D. University of Pittsburgh School of Law
  • B.A. Colgate University

Memberships

  • Admitted to the State Supreme Courts of Pennsylvania, New Jersey, West Virginia, and Ohio
  • Admitted to United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania

Related Services

Related News & Resources

News
Wheeling, W.Va. – Matthew W. Hutnick has rejoined the law firm of Steptoe & Johnson PLLC ...

Stay informed. Sign up for our mailing lists.

Stay Informed

All of our news and resources are shared electronically. Select your preferred list(s) below.(Required)