Energy & Natural Resources
With offices strategically located in all of the major shale plays across the United States, we have significant experience representing many of the energy industry’s largest and most diverse companies in a myriad of complex litigation and transactional matters. Our fully integrated energy group draws on the unique, diverse backgrounds of experienced energy attorneys in Houston, Columbus, Denver and Pittsburgh to deliver results-oriented, cost-effective representation to clients.
Our attorneys are experienced and proven litigators. GRSM lawyers are regularly in court, try cases on a frequent basis, and have a track record of unprecedented endurance for handling multiple consecutive complex matters and lengthy trials. Our energy clients rely on us to provide sophisticated legal representation with a sharp focus on advancing their business objectives.
With the rapid increase in oil and gas activity, our clients face a wide range of legal issues related to leasing programs, land ownership, title certification, pooling, and overall development of oil and gas interests. GRSM’s energy attorneys routinely represent clients in quiet title actions, declaratory judgment actions, lease disputes, Dormant Oil and Gas Act cases and regularly defend against claims arising from personal injury, trucking accidents, and property damage.
Drawing from years of litigation experience and in analyzing complex title issues, we have energy attorneys whose practices focus almost exclusively on the preparation of certified title opinions and counsel of clients in developing their oil and gas assets. Every parcel of land has its own unique history and challenges. In preparing certified title opinions, our title attorneys comprehensively review, analyze and summarize that history, identify title issues and offer innovative and creative solutions, focused on reducing risk and avoiding potential problems that could arise after development of the asset. Our title attorneys regularly handle title projects of all shapes and sizes in Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Ohio, and with offices in Houston and Denver, are well-positioned to service clients with holdings in Texas, Colorado and the Dakotas.
The firm’s title attorneys also closely track legal developments as the legislature and courts scramble to address novel legal issues developing daily in the Appalachian Basin as a result of the Marcellus (and Utica) Shale booms. When certifying title, particularly in Pennsylvania, Ohio, and West Virginia, our title attorneys understand that the law may not address a particular issue and provide sound business advice based upon experience and decisions from other states with a more developed oil and gas jurisprudence. Although a particular problem may not have a “right” answer, GRSM prides itself on providing well-reasoned solutions based off experience, a solid understanding of the current legal climate and reliance on how other jurisdictions have handled similar issues.
In addition to preparing drilling title opinions, GRSM offers the following transaction-based services:
- Supplemental title opinions (regardless of whom prepared the original title opinion)
- Division order title opinions
- Preparation and counseling on joint operating agreements
- Drafting of pooling and unitization agreements
- Preparation of curative instruments, affidavits, releases of lease, etc.
- Negotiation of oil and gas leases, amendments, assignments etc.
- Preparation and negotiation of all types of right of ways, including pipeline, electric
- Complex acquisitions and divestitures
- Counseling on resolving title defects and quiet title matters
- Drafting oil, gas and mineral deeds
- General counseling on risk management and development of oil and gas assets
Further, our energy attorneys work closely with the firm’s real estate attorneys. GRSM has a wholly-owned title insurance company, G&R Settlements, LLC to facilitate real estate transactions for all of the firm’s clients, particularly those in the energy and real estate sectors.