Brent D. Chicken
Steptoe & Johnson PLLC
Brent is an experienced energy and natural resources attorney with extensive knowledge of the challenges faced by exploration and production, midstream and downstream/utility companies operating in the energy industry. He regularly represents his clients in complex commercial litigation disputes, business transactions, administrative/regulatory law and procedure, and title examination matters. In his litigation practice, Brent frequently defends his clients’ interests in the courtroom, in arbitration and in mediation related to various mineral matters, including constitutional, contract and real property issues. For his clients that are undertaking transactions, he provides guidance on title, due diligence and contractual issues during the purchase and sale of oil, gas and mining properties involving mixed fee, state, federal and tribal rights, and prepares accompanying sale, indemnity, surface use and subsurface penetration agreements.
In the regulatory realm, Brent advocates for his clients before various state and federal oil, gas and mining agencies; prepares and presents regulatory applications for well spacing, well density, well location exemptions, statutory pooling, flaring, bonding, and mine delineation; undertakes administrative appeals of negative agency decisions and inspections; and defends application protests.
Additionally, Brent regularly prepares comprehensive drilling, division order and acquisition mineral title opinions involving fee, state, federal and tribal lands. These include, but are not limited to, specialty opinions involving natural gas storage units, solution mining, hard rock mines, and “gob gas” areas. Brent also routinely counsels clients in tackling title curative matters, including negotiating and drafting various mineral and surface title instruments.
Prior to joining Steptoe & Johnson, Brent was a partner at a large national oil and gas firm, and two Denver-based energy firms, focusing on energy and natural resources litigation, oil and gas transactions, administrative and regulatory matters and title examination due diligence.
