Western Lands and Energy

Fulbright's Western Lands and Energy lawyers help energy resource companies navigate the many regulatory, property and environmental issues that are obstacles to development. Historical circumstance and geology have made lands owned or controlled by the federal government and Native Americans prime locations for the development of energy resources. Together, these lands comprise a third of the land within the United States.

Read Fulbright's Latest
Western Lands & Energy Newsletter
For more information
contact Jeff Dykes or Poe Leggette.

"Public lands" have remained under federal ownership with the transition of western territories to statehood. "Acquired lands" have been obtained by the federal government under a variety of statutes. These holdings have been placed under the administration of the Bureau of Land Management, the United States Forest Service, the Department of Defense, the National Park Service and the United States Fish and Wildlife Service.

Indian tribes also own and enjoy governmental jurisdiction over substantial holdings throughout the United States, and individual tribal members own lands "allotted" to them under prior legislation. Agreements with Native Americans almost always involve the Bureau of Indian Affairs in the exercise of the government's trust responsibility.

Fulbright's Western Lands and Energy lawyers provide legal services and government relations assistance specifically associated with energy resource development on federal and Indian lands.

A part of Fulbright's premier domestic and international energy practice group, Fulbright's Western Land and Energy Practice is comprised of experienced practitioners in regulatory compliance, transactions, litigation, arbitration and advocacy before governmental agencies.

Fulbright's Western Lands and Energy lawyers provide essential guidance in the often politically-charged atmosphere in which natural resource companies must operate in the Rocky Mountains, Alaska, California, Appalachia and other parts of the country.

Maintaining open dialogue with those who regulate the energy industries, Fulbright's Western Lands and Energy lawyers counsel clients on front-end regulatory matters with the twin goals of:

• minimizing a client's litigation risk and
• maximizing a client's return on capital investment by reducing the time needed to navigate the regulatory and legal obstacles confronting a leasing, exploration or development project.

View Fulbright's
Western Lands & Energy Brochure

Fulbright's Western Lands and Energy lawyers counsel oil and gas companies on obtaining and operating mineral leases on federal and Indian lands, as well as complying with related environmental statutes and regulations. And Fulbright's Western Lands and Energy lawyers also help prepare permit and environmental documentation, work with federal regulators to process permits and documents, and defend clients' projects from legal challenges by environmental and anti-industry groups.

Lawyers in our Western Land and Energy Practice work with federal regulators and legislators to create, revise and interpret laws, regulations, and policies that impact these industries. The insights we offer our clients are informed by practical experience. For example, a senior partner in the practice served in the U.S. Department of the Interior as Assistant Solicitor for Onshore Minerals, and another as General Counsel of a major gas producer and pipeline transporter.

In addition, Fulbright's senior advisor on government affairs has served in five presidential administrations, most recently as the Senior Advisor to the Secretary of the Interior with the responsibility of managing the confirmation process for those senior officials President George W. Bush nominated for positions requiring the advice and consent of the United States Senate.

Oil and natural gas companies operating on federal or Indian lands rely on our experience for a wide range of needs.

Read more about our Western Lands and Energy experience. 

For further information or questions about Fulbright's western lands and energy practice, please contact Jeff Dykes or Poe Leggette.