Overview

Joe represents business and individual clients in complex commercial and civil litigation before state and federal courts and in regulatory matters before the Colorado Energy and Carbon Management Commission (formerly known as the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission).

He has experience litigating and arbitrating a wide array of disputes involving oil & gas, mineral and leasehold rights, real estate, corporate law, and securities. In addition, Joe’s practice includes representing and advising clients regarding operational matters associated with exploration, production, and development.

Experience & Results

• Briefed successful motion for summary judgment dismissing claims of quiet title, breach of contract, tortious interference with contract, civil conspiracy, unjust enrichment, and constructive fraud totaling more than $40 million. Additional details here.
• Represented publicly traded oil and gas company before the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission to secure approval of comprehensive development plan covering more than 12,500 acres.
• Represented privately owned oil and gas company in environmental cleanup action.
• Represented privately owned oil company in action concerning breach of contract and performance of drilling operation.
• Represented a private surface owner challenging a Bureau of Land Management – Resource Management Plan which opens lands to oil and gas development.
• Successfully represented broker-dealer clients through arbitration before FINRA defending claims of fraud, selling away, and unsuitability.
• Defended creditor special guaranty agency through trial in adversary proceeding to discharge debts before the United States Bankruptcy Court and obtained favorable judgment.
• Successfully obtained resolution of several employment disputes involving non-compete and non-solicitation agreements.

Practice Areas

• Complex Commercial Litigation
• Oil & Gas Conservation Commission and Regulatory
• Oil & Gas Litigation
• Natural Resources
• Employment Law
• Eminent Domain
• Appeals
• Mediation & Arbitration
• Trial

Honors & Insights

• Listed by Lawdragon as one of the “500 Leading U.S. Energy Lawyers” in 2023
• Selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America© in the fields of Administrative/Regulatory Law and Energy Regulatory Law, 2022-2024, and Oil & Gas Law, 2023-2024
• Selected for Inclusion in Colorado Super Lawyers “Rising Stars” List, 2014-2018.
• Presentation: Permitting and Regulatory Compliance, Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation Special Institute on Due Diligence in Oil & Gas and Mining Transactions, September 27-28, 2018.
• Publication and Presentation: Surface Use Law: Colorado, New Mexico, Wyoming, Oil & Gas Agreements: Surface Use in the 21st Century 2D-1(Rocky Mt. Min. L. Fdn. 2017).
• Presentation: Force Pooling, Horizontal Drilling, and the Law of Trespass, AAPL 2015 Rocky Mountain Land Institute, Salt Lake City, Utah, February 26-27, 2015.
• Member, Board of Directors, Denver Petroleum Club

Education

• J.D., University of Denver, 2008
• Denver University Law Review, Staff Editor
• B.A., Political Science, Colorado State University, 1998

Bar Admissions / Qualifications

• Colorado, 2008
• U.S. District Court, District of Colorado