Jerris Johnson is a CPL whose background includes over two decades of energy industry experience. He has worked all areas of the United States in oil and gas and renewables, in-house and as a consultant. He is continuously engaged in land acquisition and management through technology and innovation.

Jerris has served in various capacities for the AAPL, The Salvation Army, the United Way, and his church.

www.linkedin.com/in/JerrisJohnson

Andy Graham has practiced energy and mineral law with Steptoe & Johnson PLLC over the last 20 years in Texas and West Virginia, focusing on mineral title examinations, assisting clients buying or selling mineral, midstream and renewable energy assets, and handling surface use issues arising from energy development. He also teaches energy land management at West Virginia University in Morgantown, West Virginia and writes about energy law developments for the Foundation for Natural Resources and Energy Law’s Mineral and Energy Law Newsletter.  He has been included in Woodward/White’s The Best Lawyers in America® every year since 2012.  He graduated from Shepherd College, in Shepherdstown, West Virginia, received his law degree from the West Virginia University College of Law in Morgantown, West Virginia, and is admitted to practice law in West Virginia, Texas, and Ohio.

Robert W. (Eli) Kiefaber is a founding partner of Kiefaber & Oliva LLP. Eli focuses his practice on mineral title issues, oil and gas transactions and litigation, real estate matters and business litigation. His practice includes title opinions, division order opinions, joint operating agreements, acquisition and divestiture of oil and gas assets, federal leases, pooling and unitization, environmental and regulatory matters, and energy and environmental litigation, including the Clean Air Act and the Endangered Species Act.

Eli has an extensive background in oil and gas matters and business litigation. He has prepared hundreds of title opinions, including drilling title opinions, division order opinions, supplemental title opinions and acquisition title opinions. Eli’s experience also extends to complex business litigation where he has represented Fortune 500 companies in environmental litigation, real property disputes, breach of contract matters, and a variety of other business disputes in state and federal courts.

Eli is also a regular speaker on issues relating to the development of unconventional shale plays and has given presentations regarding legal issues of oil and gas development in Texas, Ohio, Colorado and other shale play states. He is also active in the oil and gas community and an active member of the American Association of Petroleum Landmen, Houston Association of Petroleum Landmen, the North Houston Association of Petroleum Landmen, the Houston Bar Association – Oil and Gas Section, and the State Bar of Texas – Oil and Gas Section. Eli is also a member of The College of the State Bar of Texas.

Eli earned his B.A from Kenyon College and his J.D., with honors, from Marquette University Law School. Eli is licensed to practice law in Texas, Ohio and Colorado. He is also admitted to practice before the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas, U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit.

Gerald Walrath is a 1997 graduate of the University of Houston Law Center and is admitted to practice in Texas, North Dakota, and Oklahoma. He has spent most of his legal career in oil, gas and energy law and related matters, focusing on title and operational issues. He is presently a Managing and Founding Partner with Kirby, Mathews & Walrath, PLLC, having established the firm in 2013.  

Prior to this, he served as Partner and Section Manager for an oil and gas-focused firm, and has also been employed as Counsel and Vice President of Project Development and corporate Secretary for a publicly traded exploration and production company. Prior to graduation from UHLC, he fulfilled several clinical and administrative roles for a county's mental health authority.

Renee grew up in Titusville, Pennsylvania, the birthplace of the oil industry. In 2016 she was inducted into the Titusville High School Athletic Hall of Fame, and today her athletic pursuit involves golf and horseback riding. Renee is currently on the Executive Committee of the Energy and Mineral Law Foundation and a frequent speaker for energy conferences across the country.  She would love to discuss everything horses with you or any title questions you may have.