Michael has significant oil and gas experience in many of the most significant shale plays in the country, including the Eagle Ford, Permian, Marcellus, and Utica shales. Michael’s practice primarily focuses on royalty litigation, allegations of unconventional development contamination, lease disputes, crisis management, and regulatory compliance and enforcement. He frequently publishes articles on emerging issues in the unconventional development industry, including induced seismicity and wastewater management.
Michael also has extensive experience interfacing with federal and state agencies, including the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Department of Justice, U.S. Chemical and Hazard Investigation Board, U.S. Department of the Interior, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, and Texas Railroad Commission. Michael has drafted and filed comments on behalf of trade associations concerning rule proposals with the potential to impact unconventional development and has defended operators against allegations of breaches of federal and state environmental protection laws and regulations.
Michael joined Harris, Finley and Bogle, P.C. in 2016 after working for a firm in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Admitted to Practice
- Colorado
- North Dakota
- Oklahoma
- Pennsylvania
- Texas
- West Virginia
- Wyoming
- U.S. Court of Appeals, District of Columbia Circuit
- U.S. District Court for the District of North Dakota
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas
- U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas
- U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas
- U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas
- U.S. District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia
Education
- Master of Laws, Energy, Environment, and Natural Resources Law, University of Houston
- Juris Doctor, Boston College Law School
- Bachelor of Arts, Boston College
Presentations and Publications
- "Texas Supreme Court Decision Clarifies Surface Estate Rights," The American Oil & Gas Reporter, 2017. Co-authored with William G. Bredthauer.
- "Trump Administration Initiating Major Changes," The American Oil & Gas Reporter, 2017.
- "EPA Changes to the Risk Management Program," 47 OSHR, 2017.
- "EPA's New Risk Management Rule Is Here ... For Now," Law360, 2017.
- "Act 13 And Pennsylvania Fracking: The Drama Continues," Law360, 2016.
- “Wastewater Management Regulation in the Appalachian Basin,” Energy and Mineral Law Foundation, 2016.
- “Regulatory Environment Still Evolving,” The American Oil & Gas Reporter, 2016. Co-authored with Kevin J. Garber.
- “2015 Oil and Natural Gas Wastewater Management Update,” The PIOGA Press, 2015. Co-authored with Kevin J. Garber.
- “2014-15 Major Developments Affecting Oil and Natural Gas Extraction,” Pennsylvania Bar Institute, 2015. Co-authored with Kevin J. Garber and Jean M., Mosites.
- “Sifting Through Smog: Examining Public Participation and Standards of Judicial Review in Texas Greenhouse Gas Litigation,” Texas Environmental Law Journal, 2015.
- “Bursting the Bubble: Moving Toward ‘The Common Sense Principle’ When Considering Air Aggregation of Oil and Gas Facilities,” The Villanova Environmental Law Journal, 2015.
Additional Highlights
- Member, Energy & Mineral Law Foundation
- Alumnus, AmeriCorps
