Natural Resources, Energy, and Renewables Attorney in Montana
Legal counsel for energy development, renewables, and natural resource matters in Montana and Colorado.
In states where energy development, mineral rights, and land use intersect on nearly every project, having the right attorney matters. KLH Advisors represents landowners, operators, and energy companies on mineral rights negotiations, oil and gas leases, regulatory compliance, permitting, and energy development, ranging from traditional extraction to wind, solar, and energy storage.
Attorney Kelley Lewis brings over a decade of experience working at the intersection of energy law, government relations, and regulatory strategy. With increasing governmental regulation, oversight, and public scrutiny, her background as a former lobbyist and Washington insider gives clients a level of strategic insight that most energy attorneys can’t offer.
Oil and Gas Law
Oil and gas operations in Montana are subject to a complex web of federal, state, and tribal regulations.
As an oil and gas attorney in Bozeman, Kelley Lewis has the regulatory knowledge and industry relationships to help operators, landowners, and energy companies navigate permitting, compliance, negotiations, and land access issues.
Our specialties include:
Oil and gas lease drafting, review, and negotiation
Regulatory compliance
Permitting strategy and application preparation
Montana Board of Oil and Gas Conservation hearings and relations
Land access and right-of-way agreements
Operator and joint venture agreements
Federal and state regulatory review
Landowner negotiations
Our team navigates oil and gas permitting in Montana, guiding our clients through local regulations, working directly with the Montana Board of Oil and Gas Conservation, and preparing and strategizing permit applications.
We represent our clients in hearings, disputes, and negotiations with other operators. With deep local insight and relationships, we reduce risk, streamline approvals, and keep projects moving forward.
Energy and Renewables
Montana’s energy landscape extends well beyond oil and gas. We work with companies developing wind, solar, energy storage, microgrids, and other renewable energy projects on the legal and regulatory aspects of permitting, financing, and construction.
Kelley helps small- to midsize energy companies navigate the regulatory and permitting process, manage operations, and negotiate land access and contract terms.
She also works with larger corporate clients in the Bozeman area and throughout Montana as outside counsel specializing in federal and state regulatory review and compliance.
Tribal Law Attorney in Montana and Colorado
Companies that want to work with Tribal governments regarding the development of natural resources or energy on tribal lands must have sensitive, sophisticated representation. Kelley’s history of success in navigating energy development on tribal lands for her clients is unparalleled.
As a former co-chair of the North Dakota Petroleum Council’s Tribal Lands Committee during the peak years of oil and gas development on the Fort Berthold Indian Reservation, Kelley worked with companies to respond to and negotiate on issues such as land access, permitting, and environmental matters.
In addition to her professional experience working on tribal issues throughout the West, she draws on personal experience, as her family owns land on the Crow Reservation in Montana.
Mineral Rights
Mineral rights transactions require careful legal attention, whether you’re negotiating a new lease, reviewing royalty terms, or resolving a dispute over surface use. As mineral rights lawyers, we help landowners and operators protect their interests and understand the long-term implications of the agreements they sign.
Our lawyers focus on:
Mineral rights lease review and negotiation
Mineral right transfers
Royalty and payment disputes
Surface use agreements
Oil and gas drilling and spacing applications and permits
Board of Oil and Gas hearings and relations
If you’re a landowner who has been approached about leasing mineral rights, or an operator who needs legal support in structuring mineral agreements, we can walk you through your options and make sure the terms reflect your actual interests.
Related Legal Services
Energy and natural resources projects often involve real estate transactions, construction agreements, and business structuring decisions alongside the regulatory and permitting work.
Connect with a Mineral Rights Attorney
Schedule a consultation with Kelley Lewis to discuss your mineral rights, oil and gas, energy development, or natural resources legal needs in Bozeman or elsewhere in Montana.
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Before you sign a lease, enter a joint venture, or begin the permitting process. An oil and gas attorney can identify unfavorable terms, help you understand your regulatory obligations, and structure agreements that protect your position. If a dispute or compliance issue has already surfaced, earlier legal involvement typically leads to better outcomes.
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Surface rights cover the use of the land itself, while mineral rights cover what’s beneath it. In Montana, mineral rights can be severed from surface rights, meaning different parties can own each.
This raises legal questions about access, surface-use agreements, and who conducts development activity. If you own one but not the other, understanding how the two interact is critical before signing any agreements.
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Timelines vary depending on whether the project involves federal, state, or tribal land and the complexity of environmental review. Federal permits issued by the BLM can take significantly longer than state permits issued by the Montana Board of Oil and Gas Conservation. Your timeline will depend on the specifics of your project and location.
Having legal counsel involved early helps avoid delays from incomplete applications or missed regulatory requirements.
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Pay close attention to royalty rates, lease duration and renewal terms, surface use and reclamation provisions, and what happens if production stops. Many standard lease forms favor the operator.
Having an attorney review the lease before you sign helps ensure the terms protect your interests and reflect what was actually negotiated.
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Yes. Mineral rights can be bought, sold, gifted, or passed through an estate like other property interests. Over time, mineral rights can become fractionated among multiple heirs, creating complications regarding lease approval, royalty distribution, and decision-making authority.
An attorney can help sort out ownership and structure agreements that work for all parties involved.
Mineral Rights Law FAQs
Have more questions about mineral rights, oil and gas law, or energy law?
Energy Industry Partner Review
“I have worked with Kelley in both her current capability at KLH Advisors PLLC and in her previous role at QEP Resources. She continues to be an incredibly informed and valued member of our trade association, and her input has been critical in shaping the direction of Western Energy Alliance’s advocacy efforts on key wildlife and mitigation issues. Given her knowledge of regulatory policies and experience with government affairs on these issues, among many others, I would highly recommend her to help with any issues impacting your company.”
— Tripp Parks, Vice President of Western Energy Alliance