Industries & Practices
Oil & Gas
With statewide connectivity and on-the-ground experience, we provide creative and practical solutions to the oil and gas industry.
With a recent focus on the Marcellus and Utica Shale boom in Appalachia, our attorneys utilize decades of experience to address new and complicated legal, regulatory and policy issues involving the shale boom in Ohio and the surrounding states.
Types of clients we represent:
- Midstream/pipeline companies
- Exploration and production companies
- National oil and gas trade associations
- Financial institutions
- Public and private landowners
- Real estate developers
- Electric generation facilities
Immediate access to construct interstate gas pipel...
Served as appellate counsel in an appeal from a federal district court order granting a natural gas pipeline company immediate access to property in order to construct the pipeline. This was a...
MoreOil and gas transactions and disputes
Provide Ohio-specific legal counsel to Gulfport Energy Corporation on a variety of transactional and litigation matters primarily involving title issues and oil and gas lease disputes, including se...
MoreNegotiation of a $1 billion electricity supply con...
The Northeast Ohio Public Energy Council (NOPEC) is the largest public retail energy aggregation in Ohio, serving about 900,000 electric and gas customers across 14 counties. NOPEC’s electric...
MoreConstruction and operation of an 800 MW natural ga...
Provided comprehensive legal counsel to Clean Energy Future regarding the construction and operation of an 800 MW natural gas-fired combined-cycle power plant in northeast Ohio (Lordstown, Mahoning...
MoreAPI government affairs and lobbying activities
Represent API-Ohio, a state affiliate office of the American Petroleum Institute in governmental affairs and policy work before the Ohio General Assembly, the Governor’s Office and related st...
More$40 million natural gas pipeline siting
Represent NRG Ohio Pipeline Co. LLC, a subsidiary of NRG Energy, Inc., in the siting of a high-pressure natural gas pipeline, 24 inches in diameter and 20 miles in length. The pipeline will supply ...
MoreMultiple lawsuits filed in Ohio Courts of Common P...
Obtained injunctive relief for pipeline company client as trial counsel in 11 Ohio courts of common pleas in proceedings against landowners and organized opposition, allowing client access to prope...
MoreInjunctive relief to obtain survey access to const...
Obtained injunctive relief in federal court permitting our client to access landowners' property to conduct survey activities during the FERC pre-application process in conjunction wi...
MoreSecured immediate access under eminent domain auth...
Obtained summary judgment for natural gas companies in eminent domain actions filed under the Natural Gas Act in Ohio federal district courts. Also obtained temporary restraining orders and prelimi...
MoreRestricted covenants litigation for a large energy...
Successfully represented one of the nation's largest energy producers and transporters, Dominion East Ohio, in a case involving a natural gas supplier who placed restricted covenants on propert...
MoreAreas of Focus
Midstream/Pipelines
The issues that appear throughout pipeline projects frequently require sophisticated counsel and immediate attention. Bricker attorneys are known to be at the forefront of this ever-changing area of law, working with clients to foresee and resolve issues that arise during the permitting, construction, operation and maintenance of interstate and intrastate pipelines (and associated infrastructure), processing facilities and storage facilities.
Real Estate/Land Use/Due Diligence
We regularly work through the real estate and land-use challenges posed by the construction of electric generation facilities, natural gas pipelines, cellular towers and wind turbines in Ohio and surrounding states. As part of the land acquisition phase of such projects, we complete real estate transactional due diligence (including coordination and review of real estate title and survey work), resolve complicated and unique title curative matters, and prepare and negotiate a variety of transactional documents (including oil and gas leases, easements, road use maintenance agreements (RUMAs) and traditional real estate documents). Our team also addresses complex real and personal property tax issues, environmental and regulatory challenges.
MoreLitigation
We have experience in various oil and gas litigation matters including eminent domain proceedings and appellate work before Ohio’s intermediate appellate courts and the Ohio Supreme Court. Our firm is also a leader in resolving mineral rights ownership disputes, oil and gas lease disputes, coal and pipeline company disputes, nuisance and trespass claims involving water supply or property contamination, and class action litigation matters involving energy companies.
MoreRegulatory
We are actively involved in Ohio’s regulatory arena. Our team, which includes a former commissioner of the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) and former Master Commissioner of Public Utility Law for the Ohio Supreme Court, regularly appears before state agencies such as the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, the Ohio Power Siting Board, the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, Environmental Review Appeals Commission and PUCO.
Government Relations
The lawyer-lobbyists at Bricker have longstanding relationships with public officials within all levels and branches of government. As a result, we do more than just help our oil and gas clients understand existing laws and regulations; we are able to effectively present their viewpoints, advance their interests and use legislation and rulemaking as a problem-solving tool.
MoreSoutheast Ohio
Bricker’s close proximity to the greater Appalachian Ohio area allows the firm to develop strong and deep relationships with many local attorneys, businesses and organizations. Attorneys in our Marietta and Barnesville offices have unique on-the-ground experience and provide our clients with practical solutions.
MorePeople
Dylan F. Borchers
Partner
Aaron M. Bruggeman
Of Counsel
Kara H. Herrnstein
Partner
Matthew R. Koppitch
Senior Associate
Glenn S. Krassen
Of Counsel
Frank L. Merrill
Partner
Teresa Orahood
Paralegal
Christine Rideout Schirra
Partner
Christopher N. Slagle
Partner & Government Relations Chair
Matthew L. Strayer
Partner
Matt Warnock
Partner & Energy Industry Group Chair
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