Overview

Amy has practiced in the area of natural resources and energy law for her entire legal career, with a special focus on mineral title examination and title opinion preparation. Prior to becoming a lawyer, Amy taught college-level English in Wyoming and Colorado and was a University Teacher of English as a Foreign Language with the United States Peace Corps in El Jadida, Morocco. Amy’s lifelong love for western lands continues to inspire her practice and motivate her efforts to find the most effective and innovative solutions to her clients’ ever-changing land use and development challenges.

Admissions & Education

Bar Admissions

• Colorado
• Wyoming
• Montana
• North Dakota
• Utah
• Texas

Court Admissions

• U.S. District Court of Wyoming

Education

University of Wyoming School of Law
J.D., 2005

University of Colorado at Boulder
Doctoral Studies, 1999-2003

• English and American Literature

Harvard Graduate School of Education
Ed.M., 2000

• Learning and Teaching

University of Wyoming
M.A., 1995

• English

University of Pennsylvania
B.A., 1991

• English

Expertise & Experience

Representative Results

Prepared hundreds of oil and gas and mining title opinions covering lands in Colorado, Wyoming, Montana, North Dakota and Utah, including acquisition, drilling, division order and financing opinions

Successfully negotiated numerous surface use agreements, leases, rights-of-way and other surface-related agreements involving energy and land use development in the Rocky Mountain region

Successfully completed curative probate proceedings involving real property, mineral and oil and gas rights in Colorado, Wyoming, Montana, North Dakota and Utah

Successfully completed environmental and title due diligence review for oil and gas operators in purchase and sale transactions, exploration and development agreements, and areas of mutual interest agreements for land, mining and oil and gas assets

Professional Accomplishments

Publications and Speeches

• “Show Me the Money! Resolving Common Partner Payment Issues,” Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation 67^th Annual Institute, July 2021, Author and Presenter
• “Oil and Gas Issues in Real Estate Transactions,” Cox Education LLC Seminar, March 2021, Instructor
• “Severed Mineral Interests and COGCC’s New Mission Change Rules:  Considerations for Surface Owners,” Colorado Bar Association, Real Estate Section Speaker Series, January 2021, Presenter
• “In 4-3 Decision, Colorado Supreme Court Finds Severed Mineral Owners’ and Lessees’ Consent Not Required for Taxation by Special Districts,” The Rocky Mountain Landman, October 2020, Co-Author
• “A Field Guide to Commercial Real Estate and Energy Development Conflicts,” Colorado Bar Association, Real Estate Section Spring Update, March 2020, Author and Presenter
• “Idaho Judge Blocks Revised Sage Grouse Plans in Seven Western States,” The Rocky Mountain Landman, November 2019, Author
• “Mineral Title Under Railroads, Streets and Alleyways,” Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation, Special Institute on Mineral Title Examination, September 2019, Author and Presenter
• “The Doctrine of Merger” (Field Landman Question of the Month), The Rocky Mountain Landman, December 2018, Author
• “Reconciling Perspectives:  Energy and Real Estate Development on Colorado’s Front Range,” Colorado Bar Association, Real Estate Section Fall Update, Panel Discussion, October 2018, Moderator
• “Federal Unit Wells” (Field Landman Question of the Month), The Rocky Mountain Landman, April 2018, Author
• “The Walking Deed: Dealing with Strangers to Title in Colorado,” The Rocky Mountain Landman, January 2018, Author
• “Mineral Rights – Gas and Oil Lease Basics,” Colorado Real Estate School Course #10161 (Cox Law Library), Instructor
• “Fence Laws in Wyoming, Colorado and Montana,” Wyoming State Bar Annual Meeting, September 2016, Presenter
• “Trust Issues in Title Opinions,” Denver Association of Petroleum Landmen, 2016 Speaker Series, January 2016, Co-Presenter
• “Applying Federal Environmental Laws to CO2 Enhanced Recovery,” Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation, Special Institute on Enhanced Oil Recovery, May 2015, Co-Author and Presenter
• “Mineral Title Under Railroads, Streets and Alleyways,” Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation, Special Institute on Mineral Title Examination, February 2015, Author and Presenter
• “Title Due Diligence in Oil and Gas and Mining Transactions,” American Bar Association Natural Resources & Environment Journal, Vol. 29 No. 2, October 2014, Co-Author
• “Conservation Easements and Minerals Development in Wyoming,” Wyoming State Bar Annual Meeting, September 2014, Presenter
• “Commencement of Operations under Fee Oil and Gas Leases,” Energy Law 360, July 2014, Author
• “Balancing Risk in Title Opinions,” Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation, Special Institute on Advanced Mineral Title Examination, January 2014, Co-Author and Presenter
• “Mineral Title Under Water Bodies, Railroads, Streets and Highways,” Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation Journal, Vol. 49 No. 1, 2012, Co-Author
• “Mineral Title Under Water Bodies, Railroads, Streets and Highways,” Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation, Special Institute on the Nuts and Bolts of Mineral Title Examination, April 2012, Co-Author and Presenter
• “Mineral Ownership under the Pacific Railroad Laws,” The Rocky Mountain Landman, October 2011, Author
• “Troubleshooting Uncertain Mineral Ownership in Montana,” The Rocky Mountain Landman, January 2011, Author
• “Vance v. Wolfe Adds Water Considerations for Colorado Oil and Gas Producers,” The Rocky Mountain Landman, October 2009, Co-Author
• “Title Opinion Requirements,” In-house client symposium, January 2009, Presenter
• “North Dakota’s Mineral Lapse Statutes,” The Rocky Mountain Landman, September 2008, Author

Professional and Community Involvement

• American Association of Professional Landmen, Member
• Colorado Bar Association, Member
• Colorado Bar Association, Natural Resources & Energy Law Section, Member
• Colorado Bar Association, Real Estate Section, Member and At-Large Section Council Member (2017-2020)
• Colorado Oil & Gas Association, Member
• Denver Association of Oil & Gas Title Lawyers, Member and Past President (2010)
• Denver Association of Petroleum Landmen, Member and Past Community Service Committee Chairperson (2012-2016)
• North Dakota Petroleum Council, Member
• Petroleum Association of Wyoming, Member
• State Bar Association of North Dakota, Member
• State Bar of Montana, Member
• Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation, Member
• Utah State Bar, Member
• Wyoming Association of Professional Landmen, Member
• Wyoming Bar Association, Member