Energy & Mineral Law Foundation
Resolving Title Issues in Shale Development
May 10-11, 2012
Speakers' Biographies
Kevin C. Abbott
Reed Smith LLP
Kevin is a partner in Reed Smith’s Pittsburgh office. He has been recognized in
Pennsylvania Super Lawyers in the energy field each year from 2004 through 2012 and is
also listed in Super Lawyers Corporate Counsel Edition in the area of energy and natural
resources. Kevin has represented companies in all facets of the natural gas business for
30 years. He represents exploration and development companies on various issues
related to the exploration of the Marcellus Shale, including royalty disputes, lease issues
and other litigation. Recently, he was lead counsel in Chesapeake Appalachia, LLC v.
Golden, 35 A.3d 1277 (Pa. Commw. Ct. 2012) (holding that Recorder of Deeds did not
have authority to set policies on what documents to record) and Katzin v. Central
Appalachia Petroleum LLC, ___ A.3d ___, 2012 WL 150213 (Pa. Super. Ct. Jan. 19,
2012) (holding that lease that provided for 1/8th royalty satisfied Pennsylvania Minimum
Royalty Act even if it did not detail what post-production costs could be charged to the
lessor).
Kevin graduated from Indiana University of Pennsylvania magna cum laude in 1978 and
the University of Pittsburgh School of Law magna cum laude in 1981. He clerked in the
United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio and the United States Court
of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit. He is admitted to practice in Pennsylvania and West
Virginia and the federal courts in Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Ohio.
Kevin teaches Oil and Gas Law as an adjunct professor at the University of Pittsburgh
School of Law.
Kevin C. Abbott, Reed Smith LLP, 225 Fifth Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15222. Phone:
(412) 288-3804. Email: kabbott@reedsmith.com
James W. Adams, Jr.
Sadler Law Firm, LLP
James W. Adams, Jr. is a senior attorney in the Houston, Texas, office of Sadler Law
Firm, LLP. With over 25 years of legal experience in the energy industry, Mr. Adams
has assisted oil, gas and energy industry clients in a variety of transactions, including
upstream & midstream matters, asset acquisitions and divestitures, corporate mergers and
acquisitions, and litigation. He has extensive experience litigating property and energyrelated disputes, as well as in other types of commercial litigation.
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Mr. Adams has published extensively on energy, real property, litigation and corporate
law. He is a frequent MCLE speaker and author for organizations such as the Energy &
Mineral Law Foundation, the Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation, West Group,
CCH, Inc., Thomson-West Publishing, Matthew Bender & Co, and LexisNexis.
Mr. Adams was named a LexisNexis Expert Commentator in 2008, and was admitted
into SCRIBES, The American Society of Writers on Legal Subjects in 2003. He is a coauthor and editor of the forthcoming legal reference volume Pennsylvania Oil & Gas
Law and Practice (Bisell Publishing, projected publication 2011) and the author of Texas
Forms, Legal and Business: Oil, Gas & Mineral and Environmental Law (ThomsonWest 2004). He also authored Curing Title Defects in the United States, Chapter 12,
THE LANDMAN’S GUIDE (Matthew Bender & Co., 1988) and Curing Title Defects,
Chapter 78, TEXAS TRANSACTION GUIDE (LexisNexis, 2009).
He earned his B.S. from the University of Texas at Austin, and J.D. from the University
of Houston Law Center. He has taught law as an adjunct faculty member for U.C.L.A.
since 2000.
James W. Adams Jr., Sadler Law Firm, LLP, 1900 West Loop South, Suite 700, Houston,
Texas 77027-3282. Phone: (713) 877-8254. Email: jadams@sadlerlaw.com
Sean Cassidy
Sean Cassidy and Associates, P.C.
Sean Cassidy is the principal of the recently-formed Sean Cassidy and Associates, P.C.,
specializing in title work and practicing law at the same location of his former law firm,
Cassidy, Kotjarapoglus & Pohland, LLC, in Greensburg, Pennsylvania. Sean received
his Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics from Carnegie Mellon University, and his
Juris Doctorate degree from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law, where he served
as Note Editor for the University of Pittsburgh Law Review.
Mr. Cassidy is the author of “Title Defects and Their Cure,” Eastern Min. L. Inst. ch. 2
(1981), “Preparation and Use of Title Opinions,” Eastern Min. L. Inst. ch. 6 (1985),
“Title Failure,” Eastern Min. L. Inst. ch. 11 (1990), and “Horizontal Division of Oil and
Gas Leaseholds,” Eastern Min. L. Inst. ch. 20 (1994). He is the author of Oil and Gas
Lease Negotiations, published as part of the Audioline Series of the Pennsylvania Bar
Institute and has presented seminars on oil and gas leasing for the Pennsylvania Bar
Institute. Mr. Cassidy is also a contributing author for The American Law of Mining,
Second Edition, published by Matthew Bender & Co., Inc. Mr. Cassidy is a Trustee of
the Energy & Mineral Law Foundation, formerly known as the Eastern Mineral Law
Foundation, and previously served as President of the Eastern Mineral Law Foundation
from 1990 to 1991. Mr. Cassidy is a member of the Pennsylvania Bar Association and the
Westmoreland County Bar Association. Mr. Cassidy has been the recipient of a Pro Bono
Award from the Pennsylvania Bar Association and in 2003 was named the Westmoreland
County Bar Association “Pro Bono Lawyer of the Year.” Mr. Cassidy is also active
civically in the Westmoreland County community. For three years, he served as President
of the Laurel Ballet Performing Company. He currently serves on the board of the
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Westmoreland Symphony Orchestra and is a board member and Treasurer of the
Westmoreland Cultural Trust.
Sean Cassidy and Associates, P.C., 118 North Main Street, Greensburg, PA 15601. Phone:
(724) 836-4900. Email: scassidy@cassidypc.com
William T. Fahey III
Burleson LLP
William T. Fahey III is senior counsel in the Pittsburgh office of Burleson LLP. He
focuses his practice on oil and gas, title, real estate and land use law. He has broad
experience in the preparation of oil and gas title opinions for properties located
throughout Pennsylvania and West Virginia. Additionally, Mr. Fahey has experience in
negotiating and drafting documentation for routine and complex commercial transactions
including mergers, acquisitions, divestitures and entity formations.
Mr. Fahey is a graduate of Carnegie Mellon University with a B.S. in Finance, and holds
a law degree from Duquesne University School of Law. He is admitted to practice in
Pennsylvania and West Virginia.
William T. Fahey III, Burleson LLP, Southpointe Center, 501 Corporate Drive, Suite 105,
Canonsburg, PA 15317. Phone: (724) 746-6644. Email: wfahey@burlesonllp.com
John W. Fisher, II
West Virginia University College of Law
John W. Fisher, II, the 15th Dean of West Virginia University College of Law, has been
called “the state’s foremost authority in the field of property law” by the West Virginia
Supreme Court of Appeals. A Moorefield, West Virginia, native, Fisher received a B.A.
in History from WVU in 1964, and a J.D. from the College of Law in 1967. He graduated
first in his class, served as editor-in-chief of Volume 69 of the West Virginia Law Review
and was elected a member of the Order of the Coif. He clerked for The Honorable Robert
E. Maxwell (‘49), Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the Northern
District of West Virginia, upon graduation. Following his clerkship, he entered private
practice in Morgantown with the firm of Farmer & Farmer. While in private practice, he
taught three years as a lecturer at the College of Law prior to joining the faculty as a fulltime assistant professor in 1971. During the 1980s, he served a four-year term as WVU
Chief of Staff and advisor to the President. He considered it an honor and a privilege to
serve as Dean of the College of Law from 1998 through 2008.
John W. Fisher, II, West Virginia University College of Law, P.O. Box 6130, Morgantown,
WV 26506. Phone: (304) 293-8282. Email: john.fisher@mail.wvu.edu
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Britt A. Freund
Bowles Rice McDavid Graff & Love LLP
Britt Freund is an associate in the Canonsburg, Pennsylvania, office of Bowles Rice,
located in the Southpointe commercial complex. He focuses his practice on energy law
and coal, oil and gas.
Britt earned his law degree from the Duqensne University School of Law in Pittsburgh,
where he was recognized by the faculty for the Katie Westbrook Award as the
Outstanding Third-Year Student. In addition, he was the recipient of the CALI Award
for both constitutional law and advanced constitutional law, and was a finalist in the
American Association for Justice National Moot Court Competition. He earned a
Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in musical theater from Ithaca College.
He is admitted to practice law in West Virginia and Pennsylvania and before the United
States District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia. He is a member of the
West Virginia State Bar, the Energy & Mineral Law Foundation (EMLF), the
Independent Oil & Gas Association of West Virginia and the West Virginia State Bar
Energy Committee.
Britt assists with represention of the Independent Oil & Gas Association of West
Virginia, as well as provides counsel to mineral producers and mineral owners with
regard to real property development in the Appalachian region. Britt writes and speaks
on mineral law topics and recently co-authored an article for the EMLF Annual Institute.
Britt A. Freund, Bowles Rice McDavid Graff & Love LLP, 6000 Town Center Boulevard,
Suite 210, Canonsburg, PA. Phone: (724) 514-8929. Email: bfreund@bowlesrice.com
Sheila Nolan Gartland
Vorys, Sater, Seymour & Pease LLP
Sheila Nolan Gartland is a partner in the Vorys Columbus office and a member of the
commercial and real estate practice group. She regularly advises clients in the acquisition,
sale, development (including annexation and zoning matters), leasing and disposition of
real property. Ms. Gartland also represents clients in connection with oil and gas
transactions including leasing, acquisitions and joint ventures. Ms. Gartland works with
clients on environmental remediation compliance and acquisitions and dispositions
related to bankruptcy proceedings. She also assists clients with obtaining economic
development incentives and other real estate financing, including federally insured
commercial mortgage lending and other commercial loans.
Ms. Gartland is a member of the American College of Real Estate Lawyers, the premier
organization of real estate lawyers in the United States. In addition, she is a member of
the Ohio State Bar Association where she serves as the vice chair of the Real Property
Section. Ms. Gartland is also a member of the Columbus Bar Association.
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Ms. Gartland has spoken at seminars on a variety of real estate topics, including
annexation, zoning and land use matters, commercial real estate purchase agreements,
title matters, and drafting and reviewing real estate documents.
Ms. Gartland authored “Crude Awakening,” an in depth look at Ohio’s oil and gas
regulatory structure for the November/December 2011 edition of Ohio Lawyer. She has
also authored publications and articles on annexation procedures for the Ohio State Bar
Association, which have appeared in a number of local newspapers throughout the State
of Ohio. Ms. Gartland has also appeared frequently on “Legal Eagles” on WCMH TV,
Channel 4, the NBC affiliate in Columbus, Ohio.
Ms. Gartland received her J.D. from The University of Toledo College of Law and her
B.A. cum laude from the University of Dayton.
Sheila Nolan Gartland, Vorys, Sater, Seymour & Pease LLP, 52 East Gay Street,
Columbus, OH 43215. Phone: (614) 464-8225. Email: sngartland@vorys.com
Lester L. Greevy
Greevy & Associates
Mr. Greevy is the principal of Greevy & Associates in Williamsport, and has over forty
years of practice experience in Lycoming County, where his father and grandfather
practiced before him. He began searching titles for his attorney father at the age of
sixteen, when searches prior to the turn of the century were common, and has developed
first hand knowledge of the old land and lumber barons and tanning companies that
owned so much of the northern Pennsylvania mountain acres, frequently excepting and
reserving their oil, gas and mineral rights.
He concentrates his practice in the area of oil and gas law and is well experienced in
associated real estate and environmental issues, and has worked extensively in most of
the counties included in the Marcellus Shale Play. Mr. Greevy has participated with the
Penn State Cooperative Extension team from the beginning in presenting public
education seminars throughout the state, which have been very effective in educating
landowners on how to properly deal with their oil, gas and mineral rights. He has
appeared as a speaker in many private and public programs including the PA Bankers
Association, the PA Association of Realtors, the National Park Services and Public
Television. Mr. Greevy is an outdoorsman and environmentalist, and is an Olympic
shotgun coach. He works regularly with the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental
Protection and Pennsylvania’s other regulatory agencies, focusing on clean water issues.
He has been the Municipal Solicitor for Loyalsock Township in Lycoming County for
over twenty years and is experienced in local land use issues. Mr. Greevy represents
private landowners and groups negotiating oil and gas leases with the industry involving
hundreds of thousands of acres, and also provides counsel on title issues and resource
management and estate planning.
Mr. Greevy is a member of the Pennsylvania Bar Association, the Northcentral Estate
Planners Council, National Association of Elder Law Attorneys, Certified Mineral
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Manager, Energy & Mineral Law Foundation, Society of Petroleum Engineers, and
National Association of Royalty Owners – Director.
Lester L. Greevy, Jr., Greevy & Associates, P.O. Box 328, Montoursville, PA 17754.
Phone: (570) 435-2233. Email: les@greevy.com
John H. Heyer
Attorney at Law
John H. Heyer joined the oil and gas industry in 1973 with Texaco, Inc. in Denver,
Colorado, after graduation from the University of Denver College of Law. He returned to
his home state of New York in 1975 where he has been in solo practice since then. He
has been admitted to practice law in New York, Pennsylvania, Colorado, Federal Courts,
the U.S. Supreme Court, and as a solicitor in England and Wales.
Mr. Heyer also has served as a Chapter 7 Trustee for the U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Western
District of New York and as an agent for Commonwealth Land Title Insurance Company.
He is a board member of the Independent Oil & Gas Association of New York and
trustee of the Energy & Mineral Law Foundation. He has been president of his local
county bar association, an assistant district attorney, president of the board of trustees of
his local YMCA and (very briefly) an adjunct professor of business law.
He is listed in Who’s Who in American Law (Marquis) and Who’s Who in America. Mr.
Heyer has published papers in the Energy & Mineral Law Foundation’s Annual Institute
(formerly Eastern Mineral Law Foundation), AAPL’s Landman magazine and presented
papers and lectured at EMLF, AAPL and bar association seminars. He is the author of
“Environmental Regulation of Oil and Gas Operations,” 6 Eastern Min. L. Inst. Ch.18
(1985), “Liability Risks of Free Gas Clauses,” 8 Eastern Min. L. Inst. Ch. 15 (1987), and
“New York Tax Titles,” 11 Eastern Min. L. Inst. Ch. 5 Appendix 5NY (1990). He has
spoken at various Special Institutes. His last publication was “Selected Statutory
Provisions Affecting Oil and Gas Interests and Operations in New York State.”
John H. Heyer, Attorney at Law, 604 Exchange National Bank Building, P.O. Box 588,
Olean, NY 14760. Phone: (716) 372-0395. Email: jhh@heyerlaw.com
Robert M. Jochen
Reed Smith LLP
Robert M. Jochen, who joined Reed Smith in 2012, is an associate in the Energy &
Natural Resources Group. His work is focused in energy litigation and oil and gas law
within the Marcellus and Utica Shales states. Robert has worked as a legal intern for
Chesapeake Energy Corporation and as a research assistant for the Agricultural Law
Resource and Reference Center, where he composed numerous articles on state and
federal laws related to Marcellus Shale development.
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Robert M. Jochen, Reed Smith LLP, 225 Fifth Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15222. Phone:
(412) 288-3833. Email: rjochen@reedsmith.com
J. Thomas Lane
Bowles Rice McDavid Graff & Love LLP
Tom Lane is a partner in the Bowles Rice Charleston office. He practices primarily in the areas
of natural resources, coal, oil and gas, commercial real estate, zoning and land development
This practice ranges from complex transactions of mineral property and companies to complex
litigation of natural resource issues. He also engages in lobbying and government relations,
particularly on issues affecting the mineral industry.
As the former Robert T. Donley Adjunct Professor of Law at the West Virginia University
College of Law, Tom taught a course in Coal, Oil and Gas Law (1986-2005). He compiled a
teaching text on Coal, Oil and Gas and has published numerous articles, including “Rights-ofWay and Easements in Mineral Development;” “Maintaining Oil and Gas Leases in Distressed
Markets;” “West Virginia Ad Valorem Property Taxes;” “Fire in the Hole to Longwall Shears,
Old Law Applied to New Technology;” and “Accounting for Cotenants, Trustees, Lessees,
Trespassers and the Like.”
Tom is President of the Charleston City Council where he has been an elected member since
1987. He serves on the key committees of Council, is involved in various special projects from
homeless shelters to public safety and has organized and oversees task forces to carry out a City
plan on comprehensive improvements. Tom is active in a variety of church, civic and charitable
endeavors.
Tom is a trustee and past president of the Energy & Mineral Law Foundation and past president
and chairman of the Executive Council of The West Virginia Bar Association. He is also the
chairman of the Charleston Land Trust.
Tom received his bachelor of arts degree in 1968 from Washington & Jefferson College
and his law degree in 1973 from West Virginia University. He served in the United
States Army (1969-1971), and was a Law Clerk to the Honorable John A. Field Jr.,
United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit (1974-1975). Tom is a member of
the Fourth Circuit Judicial Conference.
Since 1989, Tom has been listed in The Best Lawyers in America by Woodward/White,
Inc.; he has an AV rating with Martindale-Hubbell; and he is listed in Chambers USA
America’s Leading Business Lawyers. In 2006, Tom was awarded the annual
McClaugherty Award by the Energy & Mineral Law Foundation for distinguished service
to the natural resource profession. In 2009 Tom was recognized by West Virginia Super
Lawyers as one of “West Virginia Top 10 Super Lawyers” and recently he was selected
as The Best Lawyers in America’s 2010 Real Estate Lawyer of the Year for Charleston,
West Virginia.
J. Thomas Lane, Bowles Rice McDavid Graff & Love LLP, 600 Quarrier Street,
Charleston, WV 25301. Phone: (304) 347-1111. Email: tlane@bowlesrice.com.
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Douglas C. McElwee
Robinson & McElwee PLLC
Douglas C. McElwee is a member in the Charleston, West Virginia, office of Robinson &
McElwee PLLC. Mr. McElwee has been practicing in the mineral and energy law field
for nearly 28 years representing clients in acquisitions, dispositions and day-to-day
operational issues. His years of experience with operational issues have provided Mr.
McElwee with an understanding and appreciation of the business issues faced by the
mineral industry, in addition to an understanding of the applicable law. His background
includes every aspect of examining, reviewing and certifying mineral titles. He is a title
agent for First American Title Insurance Company and Old Republic National Title
Insurance Company. Mr. McElwee is an Assistant Managing Member at Robinson &
McElwee. He has been a frequent speaker and author, including past presentations at
EMLF annual and special institutes.
Mr. McElwee earned his B.A. degree from Hampden-Sydney College and his J.D. degree
from West Virginia University. He has been recognized as one of the Best Lawyers of
the Virginias, Real Estate, by Super Lawyers, and one of America’s Leading Lawyers,
Real Estate, by Chambers USA.
Douglas C. McElwee, Robinson & McElwee PLLC, 400 Fifth Third Center, 700 Virginia Street
East, Charleston, WV 25301. Phone: (304) 347-8310. Email:dcm@ramlaw.com
Gregory D. Russell
Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease LLP
Mr. Russell is a partner in the Vorys Columbus office and a member of the energy
and utilities practice group, where he specializes in natural resources law. He represents
energy clients in business and litigation matters relating to the exploration, production,
transportation, and marketing of oil, natural gas, and electricity. Mr. Russell's practice
also involves representing clients before federal and state regulatory agencies, including
matters before the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, the United States Department
of Transportation, the Ohio and United States Environmental Protection Agencies, and
state Public Utility Commissions.
Mr. Russell is a member of the Ohio State Bar Association, the Ohio Oil and Gas
Association, the Energy & Mineral Law Foundation, and the Rocky Mountain Mineral
Law Foundation.
Mr. Russell is a frequent speaker on a broad range of topics impacting the natural gas
industry, including environmental, regulatory and natural gas market issues. Recently, he
presented U.S. DOT Pipeline Safety Rules – Is It Production or Gathering? at the 2010
Pennsylvania Independent Oil and Gas Association Summer Meeting.
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Mr. Russell received his J.D. from Harvard Law School and his B.A., summa cum laude,
from Washington and Lee University. He received a Fulbright Grant to attend the TH
Darmstadt in West Germany in 1988-1989.
Gregory D. Russell, Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease LLP, 52 East Gay Street,
Columbus, OH 43215. Phone: (614) 464-5468. Email: gdrussell@vorys.com
Charles F.W. Saffer
Robinson & McElwee PLLC
Chuck Saffer is a Member of his firm’s Business Law Department in its Charleston, West
Virginia, office. Mr. Saffer’s practice focuses on real property and business transactions.
He has extensive experience in commercial, mineral and industrial transactions and has
examined titles in counties throughout West Virginia. During the course of his career, he
has also litigated several real property disputes in West Virginia.
Mr. Saffer received his undergraduate and law degrees from West Virginia University,
where he was a member of the Law Review and the Order of the Coif. For recreation, Mr.
Saffer enjoys tennis and playing old time fiddle music.
Charles F.W. Saffer, Robinson & McElwee PLLC, 400 Fifth Third Center, 700 Virginia Street,
East, Charleston, WV 25301. Phone: (304) 347-8331. Email: cfs@ramlaw.com
Russell L. Schetroma
Steptoe & Johnson PLLC
Russell L. Schetroma, a Member of Steptoe & Johnson PLLC in Meadville, Pennsylvania, focuses
his practice in the areas of energy and oil and gas law. From 1972-2010, he was a shareholder and
director in Culbertson, Weiss, Schetroma and Schug, P.C.
Mr. Schetroma received his Juris Doctor, cum laude, from the Dickinson School of Law. He is a
member of the American, Pennsylvania and Crawford County Bar Associations and is a past
president of the Crawford County Bar Association. He currently chairs the Land Title Standards
Committee of the Crawford County Bar Association. He serves the Supreme Court of
Pennsylvania as a hearing board member in lawyer disciplinary matters. He has directed his firm's
work as solicitors for the City of Meadville since 1975. Mr. Schetroma has been recognized by the
Pennsylvania Bar Association with its award for “outstanding contributions to the pro bono service
in Pennsylvania.” In 2007, he received the John L. McClaugherty Award for his services to the
Energy & Mineral Law Foundation. He has served on its Executive Committee, is a member of the
EMLF Board of Trustees, and is the Oil & Gas Chairman for the 2012 EMLF Annual Institute. In
2005 he was named a “Pennsylvania Super-Lawyer” by Law & Politics/Philadelphia magazine.
Mr. Schetroma has been awarded a certificate in East/West Law and Relations by the McGeorge
School of Law of the University of the Pacific after completing a course of study conducted in
coordination with the Austro-American Institute of Education in Vienna, Austria and with the law
faculty of Eötvös Lorand University in Budapest, Hungary. He has also been awarded a certificate
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by Edinboro University evidencing his completion of its introductory course in Mandarin Chinese.
He holds certificates from the Harvard Law School evidencing completion of its Programs of
Instruction for Lawyers in Negotiation and Mediation. Mr. Schetroma has participated in and
lectured at many continuing legal education and trade association programs. He publishes and
lectures extensively on topics related to oil and gas law, land title law, issues related to forming and
counseling small businesses, legal ethics, international trade law, municipal law and negotiation
theory. Mr. Schetroma is admitted to practice in Pennsylvania, the United States District Court for
the Western District of Pennsylvania, and the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit.
Russell L. Schetroma, Steptoe & Johnson PLLC, 201 Chestnut Street, Suite 200, Meadville, PA
26334. Phone: 814.336.6400. Email: russell.schetroma@steptoe-johnson.com
Andrew J. Sonderman
Kegler, Brown, Hill & Riter
Andy Sonderman joined Kegler Brown in 2011, bringing with him nearly 30 years of
experience representing public utility companies in civil litigation and in state public
utility commission proceedings. From 1990 to 2003, Sonderman served as general
counsel for the public utilities of NiSource, Inc. and the Columbia Energy Group, then
later serving of counsel for Cooper & Elliott, LLC and Weltman, Weinberg & Reis Co.
LPA.
Through Sonderman, the firm is an active associate member of the American Gas
Association. Andy chaired its Legal Committee in 2000 – 2001 and served as a charter
member of the board of directors of the Gas Industry Standards Board, now the North
American Energy Standards Board.
His practice focuses on providing counsel to utility clients and competitive electric retail
suppliers on a variety of matters relating to rate and regulatory proceedings at public
utilities commissions, as well as contractual, transactional and compliance issues.
Andrew has been involved in many cases with emphasis on representation of public
utilities. Working with companies and individual clients, Sonderman is well-versed in
handling the legal concerns and litigation defense for various entities.
Mr. Sonderman received his J.D., summa cum laude, from The Ohio State University
Moritz College of Law in 1976 and his B.A., summa cum laude, from Kent State
University.
Andrew J. Sonderman, Kegler, Brown, Hill & Riter, 65 East State Street, Suite 1800, Columbus,
OH 43215. Phone: (614) 462-5496. Email: asonderman@keglerbrown.com
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Carl F. Staiger
Buchanan, Ingersoll & Rooney PC
Carl Staiger concentrates his practice in corporate and securities law and taxation, with an
emphasis in oil and gas matters. He represents oil and gas producers and property owners
in connection with the acquisition and disposition of oil and gas interests, certifying title,
joint development and exploration agreements, mineral conveyances, drilling agreements,
services agreements, regulatory matters, dispute resolution and related tax planning.
Carl has extensive experience involving business and tax planning for commercial
transactions, including mergers and acquisitions, as well as planning involving
partnerships, S corporations and other closely held businesses. He also represents
taxpayers in connection with tax disputes involving the Internal Revenue Service,
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and City of Pittsburgh.
Carol received his J.D., cum laude, from Widener University School of Law in 1993 and
his LL.M., Taxation in 2001 from Temple University Beasley School of Law. He earned
his B.S., cum laude, from Rutgers College – Camden. He is admitted to practice in
Pennsylvania and New Jersey.
Carl F. Staiger, Buchanan, Ingersoll & Rooney PC, One Oxford Centre,
301 Grant Street, 20th Floor, Pittsburgh, PA 15219. Phone: (412) 562-1624.
Email: carl.staiger@bipc.com
William J. Taylor
Kincaid, Taylor & Geyer
Mr. Taylor was born in Ohio and has lived in Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas. His father
was an oil and gas landman whose work took him and his family throughout the West.
Bill has undergraduate and law degrees from The Ohio State University and studied
military law at the University of Virginia. He was a Lieutenant in the 1st Cavalry
Division and Captain in the Army Judge Advocate General’s Corps and settled back in
Zanesville to raise his family after serving in the Army.
Bill is a member of the Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation and a founding
member of the Eastern Mineral Law Foundation, now the Energy & Mineral Law
Foundation. He has lectured and written about oil, gas, natural resources, environmental
and banking topics.
Bill and his partners at Kincaid, Taylor & Geyer successfully argued Heifner v. Bradford,
Ohio’s leading case on title to oil and gas rights. He also assisted in drafting Ohio’s
Mineral Lapse Statute.
He is past chairman of the Ohio Oil and Gas Commission and serves on the Legal
Committee of the Ohio Oil and Gas Association and Natural Resources Committee of the
Ohio State Bar Association. Mr. Taylor is admitted to practice in Ohio and Montana and
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his practice is general with emphasis in oil, gas, coal, natural resources, and
environmental law as well as business, banking, hospitals and real estate.
William J. Taylor, Kincaid, Taylor & Geyer, 50 North Fourth Street, Zanesville, OH
43702. Phone: (740) 454-2591. Email: wjt@kincaidlaw.com
Michael K. Vennum
Burleson LLP
Michael Vennum is senior counsel in the Marcellus Shale real estate practice group of
Burleson LLP. He is the lead attorney of the firm’s land use team. Mr. Vennum
represents corporate clients regarding oil and gas related land development issues,
including local zoning, road use, municipal ordinance challenges and general real estate
matters.
Mr. Vennum joined Burleson LLP in July 2010 and has over fifteen years of experience
practicing in corporate in-house and real estate environments. Prior to joining Burleson
LLP, Mr. Vennum served as lead real estate counsel for Cricket Communications, Inc., a
nationwide mobile phone provider, and as corporate counsel to Crown Castle USA, Inc.,
the nation’s largest owner, operator and developer of wireless telecommunications
towers. Upon graduation from law school, Mr. Vennum clerked for the Hon. Rochelle S.
Friedman of the Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania, where he developed an expertise
in state regulatory and agency appeals.
Mr. Vennum received his J.D. from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law in 1993
and his B.S. from the Pennsylvania State University in 1990. He is licensed to practice in
Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Ohio and New York.
Michael K. Vennum, Burleson LLP, Southpointe Center, 501 Corporate Drive, Suite 105,
Canonsburg, PA 15317. Phone: (724) 746-6644. Email: mvennum@burlesonllp.com
Keith A. Zabela
Burleson LLP
Mr. Zabela is a Partner in the Canonsburg office of Burleson LLP, managing the Oil and
Gas Title Practice Group for the Marcellus region. His practice is focused primarily on
oil & gas title and he has rendered title opinions on behalf of many of the leading E&P
companies in the Marcellus Shale. Mr. Zabela also advises clients on oil and gas leases,
acquisitions, operating agreements, joint development agreements, purchase and sale
agreements, royalty issues and curative matters.
Before joining Burleson LLP, Mr. Zabela focused his practice on real estate and title
insurance law. He represented some of the nations’ largest title insurance companies in
the resolution of title claims involving lien priority, estate, bankruptcy and foreclosure
issues. He has analyzed numerous title insurance claims and advised the risk management
departments of several major title insurance companies. He also represented large
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commercial lenders on multi-state transactions where he conducted due diligence and
prepared all documentation in conjunction with those transactions. Additionally, he has
represented individuals and corporate clients in the areas of real estate, business,
contracts, estate, family law, landlord-tenant and trademark law.
Mr. Zabela received his J.D. from New York Law School and his B.S. from the
Pennsylvania State University. He is licensed to practice in Pennsylvania.
Keith A. Zabela, Burleson LLP, Southpointe Center, 501 Corporate Drive, Suite 105,
Canonsburg, PA 15317. Phone: (724) 746-6644. Email: kzabela@burlesonllp.com
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