News
Equitable Extension of Oil and Gas Lease Rejected During Pendency of Lessor’s Declaratory Judgment Action to Declare Lease Invalid: Pennsylvania
On February 17, 2015, in a decision that is contrary to the principle that is nearly universally applied in other oil and gas producing jurisdictions, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court held that an oil and gas lessee is not entitled to an equitable extension of the...
State vs Local Control of Oil and Gas Activity: Ohio
On February 17, 2015, in State ex rel. Morrison v. Beck Energy Corp. (Slip Opinion No. 2015-Ohio-485), the Ohio Supreme Court ruled, in a 4-3 decision, that Munroe Falls, a suburb or Akron, could not use local zoning laws to supersede or override the state of Ohio’s...
Colorado Supreme Court Holds That a Revocable Option Agreement Does Not Violate The Common Law Rule Against Perpetuities
The Colorado Supreme Court held that an option to purchase oil and gas properties did not violate the common law rule against perpetuities. Atlantic Richfield Company v. Whiting Oil and Gas Corporation, f/k/a Equity Oil Company, 2014 CO 16. In 1968, Atlantic Richfield...
Arbitration Pitfalls – Failing to Specify Who Decides Arbitrability
Arbitration Series - Part 1 of 3: Agreements to arbitrate are often viewed favorably during contract negotiations as way to avoid litigation and minimize costs and expense should a dispute arise between the parties. Frequently, however, arbitration may be just as...
Utah Governor Herbert Signs Executive Order on the Greater Sage Grouse to Short Circuit Federal Listing
On Tuesday, February 10, 2015, Utah Governor Gary Herbert signed an executive order directing state agencies to implement additional state-level protection measures aimed heading off a potential federal listing of the sage grouse as “threatened” or “endangered” under...
Interior Will Make Greater Sage-grouse Determination Despite Congressional Rider
In a January 26, 2015 letter responding to the bi-partisan co-chairs of the Western Governors’ Association State-Federal Sage-Grouse Task Force, Interior Secretary Jewell stated that, despite a congressional rider prohibiting the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service from...
Kelly Williams named as a 2015 Top Lawyer in Utah
Kelly Williams, one of our Salt Lake City attorneys, has been named as a 2015 Legal Elite | Top Lawyers in Utah by Utah Business Magazine.
The Muddy Waters Surround the FWS’s Listing of the Gunnison Sage-Grouse
In the 2015 Appropriations Bill (Cromnibus), via a rider, Congress prohibited Interior from writing or issuing any final listing rule under Section 4 of the Endangered Species Act (“ESA”) for several species of grouse. It now looks like that action could result in...
Nevada Association of Counties Sue over Candidate Species Settlement
In a new twist in the ongoing debate between states and the federal government over the management of wildlife, the Nevada Association of Counties sued the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (“FWS”), arguing that the highly publicized and controversial 2011 settlement of...
EPA Proposes Methane Emissions Cuts for Oil and Gas to Meet Climate Change Goals
On January 14, 2015, the Obama Administration announced a plan to reduce methane emissions from oil and gas operations by 40 to 45 percent by 2025....
Federal Judge Strikes Down County Ordinance Banning Hydraulic Fracturing
On January 19, 2015, in a 199-page summary judgment opinion in SWEPI, LP v. Mora County, New Mexico (CIV 14-0035 JB/SCY), New Mexico U.S. District Court Judge James Browning declared that a 2013 Mora County ordinance banning corporate oil and gas drilling and...
Top Ten Tips for Employment Law
Hire Employees “At Will” - “At will” employment provides your business with maximum flexibility in employment relationships by allowing for termination at any time, with or without notice, and for any reason. Use Employment Agreements - An employment agreement is a...