Best Lawyers in America for Natural Resources Law

T.J. practices governmental affairs law, administrative law, environmental and natural resources litigation, and general commercial litigation. His experience includes a variety of legal matters including issues related mining, oil and gas, agriculture, water rights, water quality, energy, employment law and civil rights. T.J. serves as a lobbyist for clients on state and local issues, including activities dealing with drafting legislation, testifying before legislative committees, and develo...

Andrea A. Kehrl is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Natural Resources Law and Water Law. Andrea A., who practices law in Longmont, Colorado, has been recognized since 2027. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Andrea A. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Natural resources litigator with proven record of success in the courtroom. Expertise in regulatory frameworks governing oil and gas, land use and local government. Known for skillful navigation of highly contentious and political issues. Julia Rhine helps her clients traverse Colorado’s complex oil and gas landscape with political savvy and collaborative problem solving. She focuses her practice on cases involving state and local government regulatory frameworks, the National Environme...

Matthew E. Jensen is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Natural Resources Law and Water Law. Matthew E., who practices law in Salt Lake City, Utah, has been recognized since 2019. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Matthew E. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Preeminent natural resources attorney. Obtains and defends development approvals for energy, mining and recreation industries. Executive level experience in the ski industry. Andrew Spielman is a widely respected energy, public lands and natural resources lawyer assisting with policy and regulatory issues involved in developing new facilities, as well as in the public land use and environmental permitting process. Committed to client success, Andy helps navigate the cyclical nature of the ene...

Dalva "Dal" L. Moellenberg practices environmental and natural resources law concentrating on water quality and water rights, Superfund, hazardous waste, mining law and mined land reclamation, toxic substances matters, including compliance counseling, permitting, legislation, rulemaking and litigation. Mr. Moellenberg's recent experience includes: Representing business groups and chairing a subcommittee that drafted Arizona legislation (S.B. 1452, 1997) that amended the state Water Quality As...

Gwenneth O'Hara is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Natural Resources Law. Gwenneth, who practices law in San Francisco, California, has been recognized since 2026. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Gwenneth is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

J. Craig Smith, Esq., is a founding member of the Salt Lake City firm of Smith Hartvigsen, PLLC, where he practices in the areas of water law, land use, and redevelopment law. He has argued more than 30 appeals before the Utah Supreme Court. Mr. Smith is listed in Utah Legal Elite, Superlawyers and Best Lawyers publications. Major accomplishments include, lead counsel for the development of the Amangiri Resort in southern Utah and obtaining the passage of federal legislation to obtain water r...

Cliff Atkinson has practiced for more than 44 years in the areas of complex commercial and tort litigation in a broad spectrum of difficult cases. He, with his good friend and now retired colleague John Thal, founded the Firm in 1992 on the principle that a small, directed, hard hitting litigation firm can deliver the highest quality of personalized services to its clients. In his many years of practice, Cliff has litigated and tried cases to verdict, judgment, or other successful resolution ...

E. Lynn Grayson is a partner in the environmental law firm of Nijman Franzetti LLP in Chicago. She is consistently recognized as a leading environmental lawyer by Chambers USA , The Best Lawyers in America , Who’s Who: Environment , Illinois Super Lawyers, and the Leading Lawyers Network . She is AV Peer Review Rated, Martindale-Hubbell’s highest peer recognition for ethical standards and legal ability. Ms. Grayson formerly was a partner and chair of the environmental practice gro...

Troy A. Eid, the former U.S. Attorney for the District of Colorado, is a principal shareholder in the firm's Denver office. He has wide-ranging experience in complex federal, state and tribal litigation at the administrative, trial and appellate court level. Mr. Eid also handles a wide range of sensitive commercial transactions and disputes that require statutory, regulatory or administrative approval. Recent examples include: Spearheading the statutory review and community participation proc...

William B. Burford is a partner in the firm's Oil & Gas/Energy section. His practice focuses on Natural Resources Law and Oil and Gas Law, with experience handling oil and gas title examination and transactional matters involving fee, state, and federal lands in Texas and New Mexico. Mr. Burford advises clients on a broad range of energy-related legal matters, including title review, due diligence, leasing, acquisitions, divestitures, and other transactions associated with oil and gas dev...

Stan Ingram has been a practicing attorney for over 40 years, concentrating his practice in the areas of Oil and Gas Law, Exploration and Regulatory Matters, Licensure and Certification Law, Health Law, Chancery Practice and Real Estate Matters. The unique co-specialties of Oil & Gas and Licensure and Certification Law did not happen by chance. Before going to law school, Stan served as an investigator for the Mississippi Medical Board. After law school graduation, Stan accepted a positio...

Mark C. Kalpin is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Energy Law, Energy Regulatory Law, Environmental Law, Natural Resources Law and Oil and Gas Law. Mark C., who practices law in Boston, Massachusetts, has been recognized since 2023. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Mark C. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Laura Maffei brings her experience as a geologist to her practice in environmental and natural resources law. She has extensive experience in Clean Water Act regulation in both Oregon and Washington where she assists clients with negotiating permit conditions and complying with permits. Ms. Maffei has litigated a number of Clean Water Act cases in both state and federal court, including defending against citizen suits and challenges to state-wide Clean Water Act regulations. Ms. Maffei provid...

Paul H. Stephenson, III was admitted to the Mississippi Bar in 1977. He is also admitted to practice before all state and federal district courts in Mississippi, as well as the Supreme Court of the United States and the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. His practice has focused on business, commercial and financial disputes at the trial and appellate levels involving a wide array of subject matters. Paul's experience includes complex class actions, oil and gas controversie...