In the oil and natural gas sector, Lewis Glasser has represented producers, pipelines, public utilities and marketers. Lewis Glasser’s emphasis, however, has been in being a full service law firm for natural gas producers and most recently for coalbed methane producers and drillers. Lewis Glasser, through a team approach, can handle legal services required of large or small gas companies, including:
- Litigation
- Real Property
- Regulatory Matters
- Mergers and Acquisitions
Litigation
Lewis Glasser has extensive experience in complex commercial litigation and arbitration involving natural gas producers, including class action royalty claims, joint operating agreements, gas processing agreements, rights to develop coalbed methane and other significant issues facing the natural gas industry. In addition, Lewis Glasser has substantial experience both in defending and on the rare occasions prosecuting property damage claims on behalf of gas producers.
Real Property
Lewis Glasser maintains a very active real estate practice, specializing in commercial and mineral work, including: (i) performing title searches, lien searches, mineral abstracts and other reviews of public records for parties seeking to sell or acquire real estate interests or entities holding such interests; (ii) preparing deeds, leases and deeds of trust; (iii) rendering mineral title opinions and being title agents for First American Title Insurance Company and Commonwealth Land Title Company; and (iv) drafting, interpreting, and enforcing gas leases.
We also have been involved in significant litigation involving competing claims of title to property. We have prosecuted and defended “trespass cases” in which the primary issue is title to property. The firm has also been involved in some of the most significant litigation in the state involving mineral leases.
Mergers and Acquisitions
Lewis Glasser has represented sellers and buyers in mergers and acquisitions in the oil and gas industry. In addition to preparation of documentation for transactions, we assist clients with the due diligence process whether it be for small closely held entities or large publically traded companies.
Regulatory Matters
Lewis Glasser has an established practice area in representing clients before the West Virginia Public Service Commission (“PSC”). Richard Gottlieb, along with partners Martin Glasser and Jay Arceneaux, regularly represent clients, including natural gas producers, pipelines and local distribution companies before the PSC. Lewis Glasser has a proven track record of effective representation of such clients.
In addition to the PSC, Lewis Glasser has represented natural gas producers in the other regulatory bodies that govern permitting, pooling and related activities. It has represented producers in obtaining permits and/or establishing drilling units before the West Virginia Oil and Gas Conservation Commission, the Shallow Gas Well Board and the Coalbed Methane Review Board. We are intimately familiar with the regulatory requirements of the permitting, pooling and plugging pertaining to natural gas production, including the relatively recent development of the Marcellus Shale.