Expert Details
Geology, Oil and Gas Exploration and Production, Energy Law, Business Law
ID: 723740
Ohio, USA
Expert has an extensive background in geological research and field mapping, including a radical revision of the geologic map of a key area in northern New Hampshire that established a new stratigraphy for much of the northern Appalachians. His primary areas of expertise are structural geology and tectonics, including detailed structural analysis of metamorphic tectonites. Application of structural analysis to hydrocarbons and mineral exploration has constituted an important part of his career. He is also experienced in designing courses and conducting training on geological subjects. This includes over seven years as a university professor and various proprietary training seminars given in an industry setting.
Expert is an internationally recognized authority in the areas of oil and gas law, energy negotiations and hydrocarbons contractual regimes. He has worked extensively around the world for both national and privalte oil companies as adviser and legal counsel. His activities have included the conception and drafting of the standard oil exploration and production contract for Romania, helping to set up a new energy structure for the Republic of South Africa and contributing significantly to new contractual arrangements for Georgia, Mexico and PDVSA. He has been an energy sector adviser to numerous other governmental agencies, including those of Armenia, Bolivia and the UK. He has also represented both major and independent oil companies in negotiations and transactions in various parts of the world, notably in Eastern Europe and throughout Latin America. His work also encompasses domestic E&P and asset purchases and sales, most recently in the Rockies, Midcontinent and Appalachian basin.
Acting as an expert witness for a law firm in northeastern Ohio, Expert testified successfully on behalf of a small Appalachian basin oil and gas E&P company at a trial in federal court. His testimony strongly influenced the result in favor of the defendant company. Working for the government national oil agency of Romania, Expert designed and drafted the model agreement that nation still uses for outside companies that contract to perform exploration and production of hydrocarbons within its borders.Expert worked closely with the government of Georgia during the period of intensive negotiations with Azerbaijan and other Caspian basin countries with the object of locating the primary pipeline for export of oil production of the region through Georgia. The negotiations were ultimately successful.Expert was the primary outside consultant for SOEKOR, the national oil company of South Africa, for its successful effort to reorganize the energy sector of that nation.An independent oil company hired Expert to negotiate and develop E&P agreements in order for it to initiate exploration programs in both Georgia and Bolivia. The company still has an ongoing program in the former country.
Education
Year | Degree | Subject | Institution |
---|---|---|---|
Year: 1971 | Degree: Ph.D. | Subject: Earth Sciences | Institution: University of Cincinnati |
Year: 1993 | Degree: J.D. | Subject: Law | Institution: University of Houston |
Year: 1978 | Degree: C.A.G.S. | Subject: Higher Education Administration | Institution: Northeastern University |
Year: 1962 | Degree: B.S. | Subject: Geology | Institution: University of Kansas |
Work History
Years | Employer | Title | Department |
---|---|---|---|
Years: 2008 to Present | Employer: Undisclosed | Title: Vice President, General Counsel | Department: |
Responsibilities:Expert is responsible for technical direction of the company, as well as all legal matters. |
|||
Years | Employer | Title | Department |
Years: 1999 to 2008 | Employer: Manley Burke LPA | Title: Attorney, Of Counsel | Department: |
Responsibilities:General law practice with focus on natural resources law and international business. |
|||
Years | Employer | Title | Department |
Years: 1996 to 1999 | Employer: Energy Legal Services | Title: Proprietor, Attorney | Department: |
Responsibilities:Representation of national and private oil companies in negotiating and structuring various exploration and production deals. |
|||
Years | Employer | Title | Department |
Years: 1993 to 1996 | Employer: Gaffney Cline & Associates | Title: General Counsel | Department: |
Responsibilities:Negotiation and drafting of international energy agreements for governments and private industry; counsel for structuring international business entities; general corporate law. |
|||
Years | Employer | Title | Department |
Years: 1985 to 1991 | Employer: Energy Development Corporation | Title: Geologist | Department: |
Responsibilities:Lead offshore operations; acquisition and evaluation of prospects; generation of prospects; oversight of drilling and logging of offshore wells. |
|||
Years | Employer | Title | Department |
Years: 1981 to 1985 | Employer: Texaco Inc | Title: Exploration Stratigrapher | Department: Offshore Division |
Responsibilities:Management of Pathfinder Group, Offshore; generation of new exploration concepts; research in petroleum geology; oversight of logging operations. |
|||
Years | Employer | Title | Department |
Years: 1979 to 1981 | Employer: Howard-Donley Associates | Title: Chief Geologist | Department: |
Responsibilities:Management of office, laboratory and all geologic field work. |
|||
Years | Employer | Title | Department |
Years: 1972 to 1979 | Employer: Northeastern University; Ohio University | Title: Associate Professor | Department: Geology Department |
Responsibilities:Teaching and research. |
Career Accomplishments
Associations / Societies |
---|
AAPG, Ohio Bar, Texas Bar |
Licenses / Certifications |
---|
Certified Petroleum Geologist (AAPG), Ohio Law License, Texas Law License |
Awards / Recognition |
---|
Order of the Coif, Tarr Award, Haworth Award, Weaver Award, Conoco Oil & Gas Law Award |
Publications and Patents Summary |
---|
6 publications in geological and 3 in legal journals, numerous research papers for private companies. |
Additional Experience
Expert Witness Experience |
---|
Expert witness for defense, Nonneker v. Ohio Kentucky Oil Co., U.S. District Court, Akron, OH.; Hearings before Texas Railroad Commission on environmental cases; Various depositions on a variety of cases |
Training / Seminars |
---|
Three week training course on international oil and natural gas sales/purchase contracts for selected government officials, Yerevan, Armenia; Advanced oil exploration training program for experienced Romanian state agency geologists and geophysicists, London, UK; Training course in legal aspects of international energy industry for top SOEKOR management personnel, Cape Town, South Africa. |
Language Skills
Language | Proficiency |
---|---|
Spanish | He is reasonably fluent in Spanish |
Fields of Expertise
oil exploration, oil geology, petroleum industry, geology, geologic mapping, structural geology, energy law, surficial geology, reservoir pressure, formation fracturing, mineral resource exploration, mineral resource geological investigation, environmental geology, oil well logging, geochemistry, stratigraphy, geotectonics, reservoir rock, remote sensing, mineralogy, enhanced oil recovery