BKBH’s Energy Law Practice Group Attorneys:

• Steve Wade (Helena), Chair BKBH Energy LawPractice Group
  • Leo Berry (Helena)
  • Cathy Laughner (Bozeman)
  • Mark Etchart (Helena)
  • Kim Beatty (Helena)
  • John Tietz (Helena)
  • Stan Kaleczyc (Helena)
  • Jessie Luther (Helena)
  • Kyle W. Nelson Bozeman)

Energy Development & Transportation

BKBH represents domestic and out-of-state businesses on a wide variety of energy-related matters. For these clients, we provide a variety of legal services, including permitting, transactional, regulatory, litigation, real estate services and lobbying before local, state and federal bodies. BKBH’s energy clients include producers, processors, transporters, distributors, marketers and users of all forms of energy, including electrical generation from coal, wind and natural gas, oil and gas production, refinement, and transportation.

The lawyers in BKBH’s Energy Practice Group work closely with those energy clients in a continuing effort to assist them in adapting to changing regulatory and market conditions. Such assistance has included drafting and lobbying legislation, development and financing power projects, negotiation and renegotiation of power purchase and sale agreements, construction contracts, and operating agreements, and structuring and negotiation of the sale and acquisition of energy reserves, natural gas, crude and petroleum product, and electric transmission, negotiating real estate transactions and creation of strategic energy alliances.

BKBH’s energy lawyers are experienced in regulatory compliance issues pertaining to changes in climatic conditions. Climate Change is an emerging political and regulatory issue effecting both proposed and existing business operations of many of our clients. BKBH attorneys involved in this emerging issue are well positioned to represent our clients in the development of regulatory programs that deal with climate change and more specifically the potential regulation of carbon emissions.

Sub-Practice Areas:

• Energy Development, Permitting& Compliance
• Energy Regulation
• Climate Change
• Hard Rock Mining & Coal

Representative Matters:

• BKBH was lead counsel for the permitting of a major power project. The client’s application for a permit to produce power was challenged on the theory that the Montana DEQ erred in issuing the approval. After a contested case hearing, the Board of Environmental Review upheld DEQ’s MACT approval. Montana DEQ’s decision was appealed to the District Court in Musselshell County, but the appeal was dismissed.