Lewis Gianola is widely recognized as having one of the leading natural gas and shale law practices in the Appalachian basin, including the dynamic Marcellus and Utica shale plays. The firm represents clients in all facets,including the purchase in sale or lease of natural gas holdings and resources; the examination of title interests; the production, transportation or marketing of natural gas; the negotiation and acquisition of pipeline right-of ways; the distribution of natural gas by a public utility; and the interstate storage and transport of natural gas.
The firm has been listed as a top-tier oil and natural gas law firm by Best Lawyers®, and comprises lawyers with a full range of capabilities – mineral law, title, litigation, regulatory, tax, business transactions, real estate, and bankruptcy.
The firm’s Natural Gas Practice is headed by Richard Gottlieb, who is listed in Best Lawyers in America® for Energy Law and Oil & Gas and was recently named the Best Lawyers® 2013 Charleston, West Virginia Lawyer of the Year in Oil & Gas Law. He is also listed in West Virginia SuperLawyers® for Business Litigation and Energy & Natural Resources.
Lewis Gianola’s experience in and valuable knowledge of the region’s natural gas industry includes other senior-level attorneys and staff members. With a long history of representing natural gas clients, Lewis Gianola uses a team approach to continually assess the excellence and cost-effectiveness of our legal services, and works with clients to provide early case assessment benefits, to value and balance the cost of each case/project and to employ litigation forecasting processes and strategic budgeting.
Lewis Gianola’s legal services have included providing assistance in the acquisition of natural gas rights and the development of the Marcellus/Utica Shale, including responsibility for due diligence, drafting and negotiation of joint operating agreements, title, regulatory and tax advice and all other aspects of complex mineral acquisitions. In that regard, we recently have been involved as both local counsel and as arbitrators with respect to post-closing title defect issues in complex, multi-million oil and gas transactions. The firm’s Title Group has highly experienced lawyers who have a superior reputation in the Appalachian Basin.
Our law firm is active in the Energy & Mineral Law Institute, the American Association of Professional Landmen, the West Virginia Oil and Natural Gas Association, the Independent Oil and Gas Association of West Virginia and the Ohio Oil and Gas Association.
Lewis Gianola provides government relations services with state and federal regulators to shape regulation that encourages development through industry best practices. Lewis Gianola is recognized as the leader in lobbying services for the natural gas industry and is currently involved in issues such as statutory pooling, environmental regulation and other issues concerning the natural gas industry, particularly regarding the development of the Marcellus and Utica plays.