Practice Areas/Industry Groups | Oil & Gas
Oil & Gas
Mapping a course toward compliance while protecting the business interests of our clients
“Well blowout causes several fatalities…” “Release of frack water may have contaminated drinking water…” “Gas companies hauled to court over royalty payments…” “Ohio set to see oil boom thanks to fracking...” “Government looks to impose extremely restrictive regulations and severance tax…” “Oil boom towns lead U.S. job growth...”
Taken straight from the headlines, in what seems to be a war of allegations and exchanges between environmentalists and industry heads, one loses sight of the numerous jobs and opportunities that are available through the development of safe and efficient oil and natural gas exploration.
Government and private industry are establishing new guidelines and searching for more efficient and safer methods to recover and transport oil and gas. The effect of these proposed policies and procedures will spill over to all entities in the downstream, midstream and upstream segments of the oil and gas industry. Mapping a course for compliance, implementing strategies to minimize our clients’ exposure to litigation, and protecting our clients’ businesses are the goals of the attorneys in the Oil & Gas Practice Group at Burns White.
Companies involved in natural gas exploration face uncharted territory in the several states that encompass Marcellus Shale. With offices located in the heart of this region, attorneys at Burns White have first-hand knowledge of the opportunities, risks and issues surrounding the exploration of this land formation. From lease agreements to environmental exposure litigation to OSHA inspection advisement, we have a full range of services to help meet your business objectives and positively impact your bottom line.
Our experienced attorneys will go to great depths to protect your legal rights and business interests, while navigating a path toward regulatory understanding. We draw on the experience and industry knowledge of members from several of the firm’s related practice areas to offer a wide range of legal services on matters relating to real estate, business services, regulatory issues and litigation.
OUR SERVICES
Advising, negotiating and processing; relating to real estate:
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Title opinions
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Property rights
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Land use
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Environmental, real estate development and highway occupancy permits
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Surface access agreements
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Oil and gas lease agreements
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Rights, obligations and parameters of leases
Business Counseling
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Advisement on risk avoidance and crisis management
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Advisement and consulting on employee severance and termination agreements, employee handbooks and safety rules
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Drafting of articles of incorporation, corporate by-laws, financing agreements, corporate reorganization documents, and LLC/MLP formation
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Drafting of Gas Processing Agreements, easements, deeds, UCC filings, right of way agreements, title opinions, operating agreements, stock purchase agreements, security agreements and asset purchase agreements
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Handling of acquisitions and sales
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Advisement on insurance-related disputes
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Advisement on rights, obligations and parameters of leases
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Drafting of opinion letters
Regulatory
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Processing of government permits and licenses
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Handling of Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) citation contests and inspections
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Counseling regarding federal, state and local statute and ordinance compliance and violations
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Representation before administrative hearings
Litigation
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Wrongful death and/or catastrophic loss litigation
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Environmental exposure litigation
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Toxic tort litigation
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Construction litigation
For more information about our Oil and Gas Industry group, please contact:
Jeffrey D. Roberts, Esquire
412-995-3133
jdroberts@burnswhite.com
David B. White, Esquire
412-995-3210
dbwhite@burnswhite.com
