Attorney Profile

About WV Natural Gas Lawyer Richard Gottlieb

Richard Gottlieb is of counsel at Lewis Gianola PLLC in Charleston, West Virginia (WV), and leads the law firm’s natural gas practice. As a WV natural gas lawyer, Mr. Gottlieb primarily represents oil and natural gas producers and other energy businesses in regulatory, litigation, and commercial matters. He also serves clients in government and administrative law and related concerns.

An Experienced and Respected WV Energy Attorney

A ranked lawyer on Chambers USA, Mr. Gottlieb was recognized by Chambers and Partners as a top attorney in Energy and Natural Resources.

In addition, Mr. Gottlieb has been recognized by Best Lawyers^® as the 2022 Charleston-WV "Lawyer of the Year" for Energy Law and included in the 2023 edition of The Best Lawyers in America^® for Energy Law and Oil and Gas Law. He has been selected by his peers annually for these honors since 2010 for Energy Law and since 2008 for Oil and Gas Law. Mr. Gottlieb earned the Best Lawyers^® 2013 Charleston-WV "Lawyer of the Year" recognition for Oil and Gas Law.

Mr. Gottlieb was also selected to Super Lawyers^® for business litigation and energy and natural resources every year from 2011 to 2022.

Mr. Gottlieb authored the West Virginia law section of “Oil & & Gas Law - Nationwide Comparison of Laws on Leasing, Exploration & Production,” published by the American Association of Professional Landmen (AAPL). It is the first nationwide comparison of state laws governing the oil and gas industry.

Mr. Gottlieb’s experience as a WV energy attorney also includes previous service as counsel in the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s Office of Enforcement and as a senior attorney with Columbia Gas Transmission Corporation (now TC Energy).

A WV Natural Gas Lawyer and More

Attorney Richard Gottlieb has managed and led complex, high-dollar commercial litigation cases representing energy firms, financial institutions, and large corporations. He has represented the following clients, among others:

• Major natural gas producers in class action royalty disputes, other lease issues, contract cases, and environmental and property damage claims;
• Natural gas producers in regulatory and permitting cases before the West Virginia Oil and Gas Conservation Commission, as well as the state’s shallow gas well and coalbed methane review boards;
• Natural gas local distribution companies, telecommunication companies, and other utilities before the Public Service Commission of West Virginia;
• Lessors and lessees in mineral lease and joint operating agreement litigation and arbitrations;
• Natural gas producers and developers investing in the acquisition of natural gas rights and development of the Marcellus Shale; and
• Brokerage firms, investment advisors, national banks, and other lending institutions in federal class actions involving claims of fraud, misrepresentation, and violations of federal and state laws.

In addition to and correlation with his work as a WV oil and gas attorney, Mr. Gottlieb also serves clients in the areas of casino and gaming law, permitting and government relations, government and administrative law, litigation and appeals, real estate and property law, transactions, and contracts.

Education, Admissions, and Memberships

After attending The University of Warwick in Coventry, England, Mr. Gottlieb completed his undergraduate studies at Tulane University. He continued his studies at the Washington and Lee University School of Law, where he received his Juris Doctor (JD).

He is admitted to practice law by the Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia and the District of Columbia Court of Appeals and practices before all West Virginia federal and state courts.

Mr. Gottlieb is a member of the Board of Trustees and former officer of the Energy & Mineral Law Foundation and serves on the Legal Committee of the Gas & Oil Association of West Virginia.

Active in the Charleston community, Mr. Gottlieb volunteers for various local non-profit organizations, including Legal Aid of West Virginia, Meals on Wheels, and Read Aloud West Virginia. In addition to his volunteer work, Mr. Gottlieb enjoys traveling, reading, playing guitar, and working out in his time away from the office.

Contact WV Natural Gas Lawyer Richard Gottlieb

Businesses need a WV oil and gas attorney with deep knowledge of the energy industry and the various areas of law that govern it. Richard Gottlieb has 30 years of experience as a WV natural gas lawyer and more. Contact him by calling Lewis Gianola PLLC in Charleston at (304) 345-2000 or by completing the law firm’s online contact form.

Bar Admissions

• Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia
• District of Columbia Court of Appeals

Education

• Washington and Lee University School of Law, JD, 1977
• Tulane University, BA, 1974

Professional Affiliations

• West Virginia State Bar
• Energy & Mineral Law Foundation
  • Board of Trustees
  • Former officer
• Gas & Oil Association of West Virginia
  • Legal Committee

Recognitions and Awards         

• Recognized by Chambers and Partners as a top attorney in Energy and Natural Resources 
• Recognized in Best Lawyers^® as the 2022 Charleston-WV "Lawyer of the Year" for Energy Law 
• Included in the 2023 edition of The Best Lawyers in America^® for Energy Law since 2010
• Included in the 2023 edition of The Best Lawyers in America^® for Oil and Gas Law since 2008
• Earned the Best Lawyers^® 2013 Charleston-WV "Lawyer of the Year" recognition for Oil and Gas Law
• Recognized by Super Lawyers^® as a top-rated energy and natural resources attorney in Charleston, West Virginia
• Selected to Super Lawyers^® for business litigation and energy and natural resources, 2007, 2011 to 2023

Representative Cases