Energy and Utilities Industry Legal Services

Vorys has a long history in energy development and its regulation in Ohio and the broader Appalachian Basin. We have counseled—and continue to counsel—clients in all types of energy related matters, including conventional and unconventional oil and gas development, renewable energy generation, traditional electric generation, biomass generation and public utility proceedings. That experience, coupled with our ability to call on firm attorneys across the spectrum of law, enables us to advise clients on all types of regulatory and transactional work related to the energy space, from simple leasing and well-field service contracts to sophisticated financing and purchase sale agreements and the permitting of electric generation facilities.

We are also well versed when it comes to helping our energy clients navigate the dispute resolution processes involved when disagreements arise or litigation is necessary to protect our clients’ interests. Our energy attorneys routinely appear before state and federal courts, administrative agencies and arbitration panels on significant oil and gas matters (including class action royalty litigation and lease disputes) and electric and renewable energy matters (including utility rate litigation and utility-scale solar and wind farm permit hearings).

Recognitions

We are proud to have been recognized for our efforts in external publications, including as a top honors band 1 “Leading Law Firm” in Ohio for "Energy & Natural Resources" in the 2024 edition of Chambers USA, as well as receiving top honors as a Tier 1 firm in Central Ohio for “Energy Law,” “Natural Resources Law” and “Oil and Gas Law” in the Best Lawyers^® 2024 "Best Law Firms” report.

Organizational Involvement

Vorys attorneys have long been leaders in professional organizations in the energy field. Our firm is a charter member of the Energy & Mineral Law Foundation (EMLF) and a long-standing member of the Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation. Our lawyers have held executive positions with the leading trade organizations in the oil and gas industry both nationally and in the Appalachian Basin, including the Independent Petroleum Association of America (IPAA), the Ohio Oil and Gas Association and the EMLF.

For years, Vorys attorneys have actively participated in the Ohio State Bar Association Natural Resource Committee, including serving as chair on five different occasions. In Pennsylvania, our attorneys have been active in the Marcellus Shale Coalition, Pennsylvania Independent Oil and Gas Association, Michael Late Benedum Chapter of the American Association of Professional Landmen (AAPL) and the Northern Appalachian Landman's Association Chapter of the AAPL.

Experience

Vorys represents a full spectrum of clients in the oil and gas industry, and has done so for decades – from leading conventional and unconventional producers, to pipeline companies, drilling and service providers, injection well operators and financial institutions. Our energy attorneys have advised clients on all types of transactional work in the oil field, from simple leasing and joint operating agreements to complex financing and asset acquisition agreements. Among other matters, Vorys has helped clients to undertake geophysical surveys, develop master drilling programs, acquire and sell oil and gas and pipeline assets, negotiate gas purchase and sales contracts, prepare securities offerings and to develop one of the largest independent gathering systems in the Appalachian Basin.

Energy production in the Appalachian Basin, like elsewhere, presents a myriad of challenges, and Vorys attorneys have been on the forefront of addressing many of them. We represented, for example, the first applicant for a unit order under Ohio’s statutory unitization process needed to drill a horizontal well in the Utica Shale when there were unleased interests in the proposed unit. We have also been involved in virtually every major change in Ohio law advancing the energy industry’s interests in the modern era, including major revisions to Ohio’s statutory and regulatory oil and gas law.

And when those challenges have involved legal disputes, Vorys attorneys have stood as both a sword and a shield. Among other things, we have successfully defended our clients against natural gas royalty class action claims, represented major creditor groups in the Enron and Columbia Transmission bankruptcies, challenged obstacles to energy development caused by local regulation, and defended against lease termination and subsurface trespass actions. As a consequence, our energy attorneys frequently appear before state and federal courts and arbitration panels, as well as state regulatory agencies and public utilities commissions.

Utica/Marcellus Shales

Given the firm’s rich history in the oil and gas space, and with offices in Columbus, Cleveland and Akron, Ohio, as well as Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Vorys energy attorneys are located in the heart of the Utica and Marcellus shales, and well positioned to assist clients in their development.

Renewable and Alternative Energy

We are privileged to work for clients at the forefront of the renewable energy industry. Our team has extensive experience assisting with the development of utility scale solar projects, wind farms, waste energy (including scrap tires and bio-mass), ethanol plants, fuel cells, landfill and industrial gas, industrial co-generation and coke oven gas.

We frequently provide counsel on regulatory and business matters involving power siting and local zoning issues, environmental permitting, power grid interconnections transmission and distribution, as well as commercial contracting issues and renewable energy credits. Our team assists developers from the initial phases of a project through project financing, construction and commercial operation.

Our highly skilled team consists of attorneys from various backgrounds and practice groups. Their collective experience includes but is not limited to: