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Kerri Sturm

Member

Kerri Coriston Sturm maintains a diverse practice with a focus on oil and gas litigation. Kerri advocates for mineral owners, landowners, and non-operators in disputes involving oil and gas producers. Leveraging deep industry knowledge and a results-driven approach, Kerri helps clients navigate complex legal challenges, ensuring their rights and financial interests are protected.

Kerri’s industry-specific insight extends to the following:

  • Oil and gas disputes involving royalty underpayments, lease violations, and improper deductions by operators.
  • Protection of mineral rights by enforcing lease terms, defending against adverse title claims, and securing fair compensation in forced pooling proceedings.
  • Preservation of surface rights by resolving disputes over land use and unauthorized operator activities.
  • Representation of non-operators to safeguard the interests of investors and non-operators in joint operating agreements (JOAs), Joint Development Agreements (JDAs) and forced pooling disputes by the Oil and Gas Conservation Commissions in the Marcellus and Utica shale regions.

Education

J.D., The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law, Columbus, Ohio, 2002, Order of the Coif, Law Review, National Moot Court
B.A., cum laude, Grove City College, 1999, Economics

Recognitions

  • Recognized as a Who’s Who in Energy Law by the Pittsburgh Business Times

Memberships

  • Pennsylvania Bar Association
  • West Virginia Bar Association
  • Ohio Bar Association
  • National Association of Royalty Owners (NARO)
  • Energy & Mineral Law Foundation (EMLF)
  • Women’s Energy Network (WEN)

State Bar Licenses

Pennsylvania, Ohio, West Virginia, Florida
  • Representation of landowners against oil and gas producers in West Virginia, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Colorado to recover significant underpayment of oil and gas royalties based on deduction of post-production costs and failure to pay royalties for sales of natural gas liquids.
  • Recovery for landowners based on trespass by oil and gas producers for failure to lease, exceeding pooling authority, or production after lease termination date
  • Representation of landowners and non-operators in proceedings before the West Virginia Oil and Gas Conservation Commission and Ohio Oil and Gas Conservation Commission for forced unitization and forced pooling.
  • Defense of landowners in quiet title actions based on adverse heirship claims, survey discrepancies, tax sales and foreclosures
  • Defense of rights of landowners under the Ohio Dormant Mineral Act and the Ohio Marketable Title Act
  • Assist clients in negotiation of oil and gas leases and amendments, including for lack of pooling authority
  • Audit of oil and gas royalty payments on behalf of landowners and non-operators

The Clark Hill approach is equally pragmatic and growth-minded, which is why we understand our clients’ toughest business challenges. Our multidisciplinary, global team of advisors focuses on smart legal solutions, delivered simply.

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