Unlocking Resolution in Oil & Gas Disputes: Mediation with an Industry Insider

In the oil and gas industry, disputes are inevitable—but lengthy litigation doesn’t have to be. From royalty disagreements to joint operating conflicts, effective mediation offers a faster, more cost-efficient path to resolution. The key is having a mediator who not only understands the process of mediation—but who also understands your business. That’s where I come in.

With over 40 years of experience in energy law and natural resources litigation, I bring a unique depth of insight to oil and gas mediation. I’ve represented operators, landowners, investors, and service companies in matters involving mineral rights, leases, surface use, and production contracts. As a recognized educator in the field—serving on the faculty of the University of Colorado Denver’s Global Energy Management program and leading oil and gas legal training across five continents—I don’t just speak the language of the industry. I teach it.

Why Industry-Specific Mediation Matters

In oil and gas, conflicts are rarely simple. They often involve multiple parties—landowners, operators, contractors, investors—and touch on complex regulatory and contractual frameworks. A generalist mediator may not be equipped to handle the technical and legal nuance involved. But a mediator with real-world, courtroom-tested experience in the energy sector can move parties beyond procedural distractions and toward principled, practical outcomes.

Whether you're facing a dispute over royalty payments, JOA obligations, well permitting, or environmental compliance, I approach mediation with:

• A dual lens of legal and operational experience—gained from years of trial practice and regulatory engagement

• An evaluative mindset—willing to probe the tough questions and reality-test positions when emotions or uncertainty cloud progress

• A practical eye—focused on the economic and reputational stakes for all sides

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My Approach: From Conflict to Clarity

Mediation isn't about splitting the difference—it's about helping parties see the path to resolution more clearly. That requires preparation, perspective, and an ability to “read the room.” I help parties focus on what matters: timelines, contract terms, monetary impacts, and future business goals.

I guide clients through every step of the process:

• Assembling key documents (leases, title opinions, correspondence, accounting)

• Creating timelines and damage summaries

• Preparing realistic expectations and informed negotiation strategies

• Choosing in-person, remote, or hybrid formats suited to the dispute’s complexity

I also understand that oil and gas professionals value efficiency. My goal is to facilitate closure—not prolong conflict. Whether you're resolving an upstream title issue, a midstream easement problem, or a surface use dispute, I bring focus, technical fluency, and business sense to the table.

The Bottom Line: Experience That Matters

I have served as lead counsel in more than 100 jury trials, authored dozens of energy-related articles, and lectured to professionals from China to Nigeria. I hold advanced degrees in mineral economics and global energy management, and I maintain bar licenses in eight energy-rich jurisdictions including Colorado, Texas, Oklahoma, and North Dakota. I am also a published authority on regulatory frameworks, lease structures, fracking, Senate Bill 181, and infrastructure permitting.

This background allows me to mediate oil and gas disputes not just from a legal or theoretical viewpoint—but from a field-tested, practical perspective that clients can trust.

Ready to Resolve?

If your dispute is technical, multi-party, or high-stakes, let's talk. I offer a focused, cost-conscious, and outcomes-driven approach to mediation—one grounded in substance, not speculation.