Robert A. Willis Joins Burleson LLP; Served With Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission

DENVER, Sept. 27, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Burleson LLP announced today that Robert A. Willis has joined the energy law firm's Denver office and will concentrate his practice in oil and gas law, with a specialty in regulatory affairs.

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Willis most recently served as the Acting Hearings Manager, Enforcement Officer, and Hearings Officer for the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission. At the Commission, he recommended a range of actions on hearings applications and was deeply involved in rulemaking promulgated under the State Administrative Procedures Act and the Oil and Gas Conservation Act.  

His broad experience includes statewide oil and gas orders, enforcement matters, requests for spacing and drilling units, exceptions for well locations, and involuntary pooling of mineral interests.  

"Rob has a comprehensive understanding of the Commission's unique legal requirements and has played an important role in key decisions affecting the energy industry in Colorado," said Managing Partner Rick Burleson. "His qualifications and capabilities make him a tremendous asset to the firm and to companies operating in unconventional resource plays throughout the Rocky Mountain region."  

Jack Luellen, Managing Partner of Burleson's Denver office, added, "Rob knows oil and gas law, and he understands the regulatory environment from the inside out. That kind of insight and background is rare, and his addition to the firm underscores our commitment to offering the broadest range of capabilities and expertise in practice areas critical to the clients we serve."  

Willis is licensed to practice in Colorado and Wyoming, and has held a variety of positions in both states.  He is also a petroleum engineer, earning Engineer-in-Training status from the Wyoming State Board of Examining Engineers.  

Announcement of Willis' addition comes after the recent opening of Burleson's Denver location in Suite 3950 of the Wells Fargo Center at 1700 Lincoln Street.  The Denver office will help support clients in the Niobrara and Bakken formations, and throughout the Rocky Mountain region.

It is the third location the firm has established outside of Houston in the past two years, a growth fueled in part by Burleson's focus on serving companies with interests in unconventional shale plays. In 2009, Burleson opened its Pittsburgh office, which has since grown to 28 lawyers who focus on the Marcellus and Utica formations.  Last year, Burleson opened a San Antonio office, which now has 23 attorneys serving companies in the Eagle Ford Shale play.  

In addition to work related to the Niobrara, Bakken, Eagle Ford, Marcellus, and Utica shale formations, Burleson also represents clients in the Barnett, Fayetteville, Haynesville, and Woodford plays, as well as companies with a presence in the Permian Basin.

About Burleson LLP

Burleson LLP has earned a reputation as the energy law firm the energy industry goes to. It has grown significantly in recent years and now includes over 100 attorneys in offices in Houston, San Antonio, Denver, and Pittsburgh, as well as an international network of affiliate law firms across the globe. Serving clients in the upstream and midstream segments, the firm provides counsel to oil and gas producers, transportation companies, storage and processing businesses, and energy service providers. Burleson's far-reaching experience includes mergers, acquisitions, and divestitures; finance; private equity; venture capital; securities; corporate governance and compliance; patents and intellectual property; title review; real estate; litigation; and bankruptcy/restructuring, land use, and environmental law. For further information, visit www.burlesonllp.com.

SOURCE Burleson LLP