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Matt Snow

Owner/Partner

matt.snow@learlaw.com - 801-538-5005

Matt is a preeminent expert on mineral title law in both conventional and non-conventional U.S. shale plays.  Since helping found Lear & Lear in 2001, Matt has represented energy companies of all sizes in acquiring, developing, operating, and financing their projects.


Matt’s practice centers on oil and gas law, including title, transactional and due diligence matters.  Matt represents numerous independent oil and gas producers throughout the United States, working primarily with their land departments in matters related to acquiring rights to explore, produce and transport oil and gas.  Matt has extensive experience in preparing drilling, division order and financing opinions and has in-depth experience with acquisitions and sales of producing and non-producing properties, including performing all aspects of curative work and drafting transactional documents and agreements. 


Matt also has significant experience in the development of solar, wind and energy storage projects and assists companies in preparing and reviewing project development plans, surveys and title insurance commitments, performing title curative work in connection with financing and sale transactions and drafting related documents involving real property rights. Matt represents clients in administrative actions and hearings before state and federal agencies and is currently listed in the Best Lawyers in America for Oil and Gas Law.

Practice Areas

Title Work

  • Drilling & Division Order Title Opinions

  • Acquisition Opinions

  • Financing Opinions

  • Supplemental Title Opinions

  • Curative Title Work

  • Lease Negotiations

  • Financing Title Matters

Transactional & Due Diligence

  • Purchase & Sale Agreements

  • Permitting

  • Environmental Due Diligence

Acquisition & Divestiture

  • Due Diligence

  • Title

  • Contract Issues

  • Deal Structuring

    • Transfer of Title

    • Indemnification

    • Confidentiality

    • Lien Priority

  • Third-Party Consents and Waiver

    • Consents to Assign

    • Waiver of Preferential Purchase Rights

  • Transactional Documents

    • Letter of Intent

    • Confidentiality Agreements

    • Purchase & Sale Agreements

    • Title Defects

  • Closing Documents

  • Curative Title Documents

Commission & Regulatory

  • Well Siting and Spacing

  • Pooling, Unitization, and Communitization

  • Surface and Downhole Commingling of Oil and Gas

  • Vertical, Directional, and Horizontal Drilling

  • Gas Flaring

  • Surface Use & Bonding

  • Salt Water Disposal & Other Types of Injection Wells

  • Oilfield Waste Facilities

Renewable Energy

  • Site Identification

  • Land & Title Issues

  • Due Diligence

  • Rights-of-Way

  • Contractor Agreements

  • Project Development Documents

  • Regulatory Compliance

Natural Resources

  • American Indian Law

  • Acquisitions of Mineral Interests on Federal, State & Private Lands

  • Compliance & Regulation

  • Permitting

  • Due Diligence

  • Transactions

  • Public Leasing & Permitting

  • Alternative Energy Projects

  • Mineral Development

  • Surface Use & Conservation Easements

Admissions

Matt is admitted to practice in the following jurisdictions:

  • New York

  • North Dakota

  • Ohio

  • Oklahoma

  • Pennsylvania

  • Texas

  • Utah

  • West Virginia

Professional & Civic Organizations

  • New York State Bar, member

  • North Dakota State Bar, member

  • Ohio State Bar, member

  • Oklahoma State Bar, member

  • Pennsylvania State Bar, member

  • Texas State Bar, member

  • Utah State Bar, member

  • West Virginia State Bar, member

  • Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation, member

Education

  • University of Utah (J.D., 1998)

  • University of Utah (B.A., 1995) (English)

Recognition

  • The Best Lawyers in America, Oil and Gas law (2012-Present)

  • 2020 & 2023 Salt Lake City Oil and Gas Lawyer of the Year

  • Utah Business magazine, Legal Elite, Energy/Natural Resources Law (2010-Present)

  • Mountain States Super Lawyers Rising Stars, Energy & Resources (2009)

Publications

  • Other Federal Conservation Mechanisms, Federal Onshore Oil and Gas Pooling & Unitization III, Paper 19 (Rocky Mt. Min L. Fdn. 2006)

  • A “Primer” in Utah Appellate Practice, 2000 Utah L. Rev. 111 [co-authored]

  • Chapter XXIII Conflicts in the Development of Other Minerals, 2 LAW OF THE FEDERAL OIL AND GAS LEASES (Rocky Mt. Min. L. Fdn., Rel. 2008) [co-authored]

  • Coal and Coaled Methane Development Conflicts Revisited: The Oil and Gas Perspective, PUBLIC LAND LAW, REGULATION, AND MANAGEMENT, Paper 10 (Rocy Mt. Min. L. Fdn. 2003) [co-authored]

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