W. Henry Lawrence

Member

Biography

Hank Lawrence focuses his practice on energy and environmental litigation. He represents clients before federal, state, and appellate courts and administrative agencies in civil, criminal, and penalty proceedings. In addition, he provides client counseling and advice in permitting, compliance, and transactional matters involving energy and environmental statutes and regulations. Mr. Lawrence previously served as Head of the firm’s Litigation Department.

Representative Experience

Litigated Marcellus shale well claims on surface use, ownership, drilling rights, pooling, and lease interpretation
Defended gas well hydraulic fracturing damage claims
Defended major energy producers against claims that leasehold rights were limited to sands and drilling methods known in 1900
Obtained leasing rights through co-tenancy statute, partition, and missing heir petitions
Defended class action cases on royalty payments
WV Supreme Court decisions on duty to develop/protect from drainage and scope of mineral leasehold rights
US Fourth Circuit decisions on the scope of Marcellus rights
Mass tort claims relating to fluid disposal wells and permit discharges
Jury trials and defense of corporations and management officials prosecuted for criminal violations of federal environmental laws
Prosecuted dozens of preliminary and permanent injunctions to halt interference with gas transmission pipelines and well access disputes
Defended multi-million dollar arbitration claims in a coal dispute for contract breach and tortious interference
Litigated claims for property contamination and CERCLA cleanup actions
Prosecuted drilling, mining, quarry, and water permit appeals and defended subsidence and blasting claims, NOVs, and cessation orders
Defended mass tort claims for mining and drilling-related water and property damages, including medical monitoring
Class action defense of gas line replacement and burial depth issues

Show All

Licensed In

West Virginia

Education

J.D. William & Mary Law School

B.S. Duke University

Memberships

Vice Chair, Board of Directors – United Hospital Center
United Way
Board of Trustees – The Nature Conservancy (West Virginia Chapter)
Former Trustee, Energy and Mineral Law Foundation (EMLF)
The Foundation for Natural Resources and Energy Law
Fellow, West Virginia Bar Foundation

Achievements

Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business – Energy & Natural Resources (2021-Present)
Peer Review Rated AV by Martindale-Hubbell
The Best Lawyers in America®, Bet-the-Company Litigation (2024-Present), Commercial Litigation (2008-Present), Eminent Domain and Condemnation Law (2018-Present), Energy Law (2009-Present), Environmental Law (2001-Present), Litigation – Banking and Finance (2015-Present), Litigation- Environmental (2011-Present), Litigation – Land Use and Zoning (2018-Present), Litigation- Real Estate (2013-Present), Natural Resources Law (2008-Present), Oil and Gas Law (2010-Present)
Best Lawyers® 2024 Morgantown, WV Natural Resources Law, Lawyer of the Year
Best Lawyers® 2024 Morgantown, WV Energy Law, Lawyer of the Year
Best Lawyers® 2020 Morgantown, WV Energy Law, Lawyer of the Year
Best Lawyers® 2018 Morgantown, WV Litigation, Lawyer of the Year
Best Lawyers® 2016 Morgantown, WV Energy Law, Lawyer of the Year
Super Lawyers®, Business Litigation Law, Energy & Natural Resources Law, Environmental Litigation Law, Bridgeport, WV (2007-2019)

Speaking Engagements

“Leadership Traits,” Lawyer Leadership Institute, WV Bar Foundation (Stonewall Resort) May 2022
Lawyer Leadership Institute, WV Bar Foundation (Stonewall Resort) May 2021
“Shale Gas Law 2016 – Litigation Update”, WVU College of Law CLE (Morgantown), November 2016
“Hot Topics and Future Disputes,” Litigation Update Panel, IEL 7th Law of Shale Plays Conference (Pittsburgh) September 2016
“Litigation Update Panel,” IEL 5th Law of Shale Plays Conference (Pittsburgh) September 2014
“Horizontal Well Act & the Pre-Emption Issue,” WVONGA Shale Alliance/Unconventional Gas Meeting (Bridgeport) April 2014
“EPA Investigations,” Energy Leadership Summit (Southpointe) September 2013

Show All

Related Services

Related News & Resources

Press Release

Steptoe & Johnson PLLC Proud to Have More than 145 Attorneys Reco...

BRIDGEPORT, W.Va. – Steptoe & Johnson PLLC is pleased to announce that 135 of the firm’...

Stay informed. Sign up for our mailing lists.

Click Here