WEST VIRGINIA RECORD

CHARLESTON – Steptoe & Johnson member G. Kurt Dettinger has been named to Oil and Gas Investor’s 20 Under 40 for principals and advisors in asset acquisitions and divestitures.

The 20 Under 40 list profiles the leaders in oil and gas A&D from across the country, as well as their deals. Dettinger is the only member of the 20 Under 40 headquartered in the Appalachian Basin, and is recognized alongside leading professionals headquartered in Houston, Dallas, Fort Worth, Irving and Denver.

Dettinger joined Steptoe & Johnson in 2012 after serving as General Counsel to Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin. During his time in the governor’s office, Dettinger drafted legislation introduced by Tomblin and passed by the state Legislature, including the Horizontal Well Control Act of 2011, which solidified a place in West Virginia’s economy for responsible energy development.

“Kurt’s leadership, drive, and knowledge of our energy industries were vital to my ability to chart West Virginia’s course for responsible energy development for decades to come. Passing legislation is very similar to negotiating private transactions – it involves strategic thinking, tough negotiations, and striking the right balance. I am pleased to see that Kurt’s dealmaking skills are being recognized in the private sector,” Tomblin said.

After returning to private practice, Dettinger regularly advises domestic and international oil and gas exploration and production companies, midstream companies, downstream consumers of natural gas and NGLs, and other energy companies in connection with asset acquisitions and dispositions, strategic realignments, and developing demand for downstream uses of shale gas and its derivatives.

Dettinger is a frequent speaker across the country on issues surrounding oil and gas transactions and joint development opportunities, and has testified before the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee at a field hearing chaired by U.S. Senator Joe Manchin on the topic of production of shale gas in West Virginia. As a complement to his transactional practice, Dettinger assists clients and policymakers in identifying and implementing energy policies that bolster domestic energy production and move the country closer to energy independence.

“We are extremely pleased that Kurt has been named one of the top 20 young professionals working in the area of oil and gas acquisitions and divestitures in the U.S.,” said Sharon O. Flanery, Steptoe & Johnson Energy and Natural Resources Department Chair. “This national recognition is a testament to Kurt’s drive, creativity, and his ability to create unique, client-focused solutions for companies in the energy industry, and other industries.”

Dettinger focuses his practice in the areas of energy law, energy and financing transactions, and government relations from the firm’s office in Charleston. As a member of the firm’s Energy Transactional team, he regularly assists energy developers, producers and midstream suppliers in all aspects of corporate and transactional law.

He earned his Bachelor’s degree from Marshall University and received his J.D. from the West Virginia University College of Law. He also served as a judicial intern to the Honorable Robert B. King, Circuit Judge, United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit.

For more information about the firm, visit www.steptoe-johnson.com.