Richard R. Hall
Experience
Richard Hall's practice focuses on mining, natural resources and real estate law, with
an emphasis on the sale, acquisition, development and operation of mining and energy
projects. Richard has extensive experience in transactions for the purchase and sale of
mining and energy projects. He advises clients in operational and regulatory matters
relating to the acquisition, due diligence, title review, permitting and maintenance of
mineral, surface and access rights required to support mining, energy and industrial
projects. His past experience as a civil engineer for a large electrical utility allows
him to combine his legal experience with a technical understanding of resource and
energy development projects.
Richard represents clients in the hardrock, coal and industrial mineral industries. In
the course of his practice, Richard has assisted mining and energy clients in
structuring and negotiating complex mining and energy project transactions, land
Partner
acquisition and lease agreements, as well as permitting projects on public, private
Boise, ID
and tribal lands. He has vast experience with public land law issues relating to use of
(208) 387-4211 direct
and access over public lands, and location, maintenance and title review of mining
(208) 389-9040 fax
and millsite claims under the Federal Mining Law of 1872. He also regularly handles
water rights matters in Utah, Idaho, Wyoming and Montana.
Richard represents clients before various federal, state and local regulatory, land use
Salt Lake City, UT
(801) 578-6960 direct
(801) 578-6999 fax
and resource management agencies, including the U.S. Bureau of Land Management,
U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and various state
richard.hall@stoel.com
environmental quality, state trust lands and water rights agencies.
He also has extensive experience in land and mineral title matters. In addition to
Education

University of Chicago Law School,
general title reviews conducted in conjunction with land acquisitions, Richard's
J.D., 2003
experience includes the preparation of numerous mineral title opinions for mining and
Member, Chicago Journal of
oil/gas operators in several states.
International Law, 2001-2003
Prior Work Experience

Civil Engineer, Seattle City Light, Generation Division, 1999-2000

Law Clerk, Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom, Washington, D.C., 2002

Brigham Young University, B.S., Civil
Engineering, 1999
Admissions

Idaho
Representative Work

Utah


Wyoming
Represented numerous mine operators in the sale or acquisition of operating
coal, aggregate and hardrock mines and mining properties.

Represents clients on ongoing operational and regulatory matters relating to the
operation of hardrock, coal and industrial mineral mining projects.
Richard R. Hall

Represented numerous clients in working with the BLM in obtaining and maintaining various property interests in federal lands,
including mineral leases and mining claims.

Represented several mine operators in the sale or acquisition of operating coal, aggregate and hardrock mines and mining
properties.

Authored numerous mineral title opinions for coal, oil, gas, limestone, geothermal and oil sands interests on public, private and
tribal lands in Alaska, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, Utah and Washington.

Drafted permit applications and coordinated the application process for BLM right-of-way grants.

Represented a major building materials and concrete supplier in numerous real estate leasing and acquisition transactions,
including mining properties and water rights.

Assisted an in-situ coal gasification developer in the acquisition of over 150 mineral leases in Wyoming, Monta na and Colorado.

Represents numerous mining, energy and industrial developers in water rights matters in Utah, Idaho, Wyoming and Montana,
including the water right appropriation, transfer and change application processes.

Assists clients in water rights adjudications before the Idaho Water Court and Montana Water Court (pro hac vice).

Represents an industrial client in the negotiation of land and water rights acquisition, joint venture agreements, and the
obtaining of local and federal land use permits in connection with the development and construction of a large industrial
facility.

Assisted in the representation a large electrical utility in two separate proceedings before the Utah Utility Facility Review
Board.

Represents electrical and gas utilities before state regulatory commissions.

Represents wind, geothermal, biomass and biofuels developers in the acquisition and lease of real estate for project
development.
Professional Honors and Activities

Selected as one of "America's Leading Lawyers for Business" (Idaho & Utah) by Chambers USA for:
o
Natural Resources & Environment (ID), 2013-2016;
o
Environment, Natural Resources & Regulated Industries (UT), 2016
Member, Bureau of Land Management Resource Advisory Council, Boise (Idaho) District, (Energy Development, Land Exchange and
Permit Renewal/Litigation Subcommittees), Mar. 2011-present
Chair, Environmental and Natural Resources Section, Idaho State Bar, 2009-2011
Chair, Mining Law Section, Utah State Bar, 2007-2008
Chair, Mining Section, Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation's Annual Institute, July 2014
Long Range Planning Committee Member, Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation
Richard R. Hall
Member, Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation
Member, Idaho Mining Association
Board of Directors, J. Reuben Clark Law Society
Board of Directors, Idaho Botanical Garden, 2011
Member, Idaho State Bar Association
Member, Utah State Bar Association
Member, Wyoming Bar Association
Presentations

"Conflicting Estates? Understanding the Interaction between Surface Ownership and Mineral Rights." Western Land Symposium,
Aug. 25, 2014

"What Lies Beneath? Understanding the Interaction Between Agricultural Use and Mineral Rights," Idaho State Bar, Real Property
Section, Mar. 29, 2013

"Geothermal Development," Center for Advanced Energy Studies (CAES) Geothermal Energy Workshop, Idaho Falls, Idaho, Apr.
21, 2011

"The General Mining Law of 1872 – Past, Present and Future," Idaho State Bar, Environmental and Natural Resources Section,
Feb. 26, 2011

"Easements and Water Delivery," 27th Annual Idaho Water Law and Resource Issues Seminar, Boise, Idaho, Nov. 2010

"Owners and Developers Tips & Traps," Boise State University, Boise, Idaho, Apr. 2010

"Utah Mining Law Update – 2007," Utah State Bar Energy, Natural Resources and Environmental Section's Annual Meeting, Jan.
2008
Publications

"Real Estate Issues" Chapter, The Law of Biorefineries and Advanced Biofuels, Stoel Rives LLP, 2012 Edition

"Real Estate Issues," coauthor, The Law of Biomass, Stoel Rives LLP, 2010

"Coal: Like It or Not, It's Here to Stay," The Enterprise newspaper, Salt Lake City, Utah, June 2007

"Legal Issues in Solution and In-Situ Mining," coauthor, Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Institute, 2006

"The Energy Policy Act of 2005," coauthor, Connect magazine, July 2006