Michael’s practice primarily focuses on the energy sector in Oklahoma, North Dakota and Montana. He has significant experience in mineral title examination, concentrating in the drafting of drilling and division order title opinions in those states with significant experience concerning Bureau of Land Management and Bureau of Indian Affairs lands.
Michael regularly advises mineral and surface owners in Alfalfa, Garfield, Grant, Kingfisher, Major and Woods counties to protect his clients’ rights and interests including negotiating favorable oil and gas leases, surface damage agreements, seismic exploration permits, pipeline easements and right-of-ways, and also represents clients in lease cancellation litigation and complex class action litigation involving the underpayment of oil and gas royalties.
Michael represents small independent oil and gas producers, operators, working interest owners, contractors and sub-contractors in the oil and gas industry advising, litigating and negotiating contracts, joint operating agreements, participation agreements, purchase and sale agreements, liens, master service agreements, lease cancellation, and easements and right-of-ways. Michael also regularly advises clients concerning state regulatory matters at the Oklahoma Corporation Commission.
Michael has an extensive commercial litigation and transactional practice representing lenders, borrowers, sellers and purchasers in all aspects of the financing, purchase and sale of agriculture, commercial and residential real estate and oil and gas properties in Northwest Oklahoma.
Michael has also represented hundreds of landowners in the Chisholm View, Breckenridge, Rocky Ridge, DeWind Novus, DeWind Novus II, Blackwell and numerous other Wind Farms advising clients, reviewing and negotiating wind energy lease agreements, wind energy easements and transmission line/facility easements
