The Appalachia Energy Law Conference is held in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The conference focuses on legal issues related to onshore energy production, primarily oil and gas production in Appalachia. The conference brings together clients, attorneys, professional landmen, and other professionals to learn and discuss important cases, concepts, and trends. In addition, the conference features networking opportunities with other attendees.

Conference Co-Chairs

Megan S. Haines
Reed Smith LLP
Pittsburgh, PA

Jennifer J. Hicks
Babst, Calland, Clements & Zomnir, PC
Charleston, WV

Registration Options

Early registration pricing is available through August 19, 2025.

$525 - Regular Registration Fee (Regular Price: $560)
$425 - IEL Advisory Board Member (Regular Price: $460)
$425 - IEL Supporting or Sustaining Member Employee (Regular Price: $460)
$425 - IEL Young Energy Professional Member (Regular Price: $460)
$425 - EMLF Member (Regular Price: $460)
$425 - Government Employee (Regular Price: $460)
$425 – In-House Employee (Regular Price: $460)
$125 - Full-time Law Professor
$75 - Law Student

Schedule and Faculty

Tuesday, September 2

5:30 – 7:30 p.m. - WELCOME RECEPTION

The Industrialist Hotel, Pittsburgh, Autograph Collection
405 Wood Street -- Pittsburgh, PA

Wednesday, September 3

7:45 a.m. - Registration

8:20 – 8:30 a.m. - Welcome, Overview and Introductions

8:30 – 9:00 a.m. - Keynote (30 min)

Keynote: Keynote Invited

Interviewer: Courtney Loper, Head of Government Relations and Public Affairs, EQT Corporation, Denver, Colorado

9:00 – 10:00 a.m. - Navigating the Trump Administration Energy Regulatory Landscape (60 min)

Joseph Dawley, Baker Hughes, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Matt Morrison, Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP, Washington, D.C.
Anna Sanyal, Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease LLP, Columbus, Ohio

10:00 – 10:30 a.m. - BREAK

10:30 – 11:30 a.m. - Riding the Next Wave of US LNG (60 min)

This session will cover the current state of the US LNG export market, including a discussion of (i) recent trends in US liquefaction projects, (ii) current market considerations for project developers and LNG offtakers and (iii) shipping/bunkering regulatory and administrative developments.

Lindsey Swiger, Norton Rose Fulbright US LLP, Houston, Texas
Alex Niebruegge, Norton Rose Fulbright US LLP, Houston, Texas

11:30 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. - The Changing Midstream Legal Landscape in 2025 (45 min)

Daniel Richey, Babst, Calland, Clements & Zomnir, PC, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

12:15 – 12:50 p.m. - NETWORKING LUNCH

12:50 – 1:25 p.m. - Employment Law Update: Everything You Need to Know to Stay Ahead of the Curve

In this informative session, we will cover major employment law developments since the inauguration and provide you with guidance concerning changes you should be making now to avoid being a target of litigation.  Topics to be covered include:  Developments in EEO law, including DEI, development sin wage and hour law, including class actions and PAGA, non-competition and non-solicitation agreements, and agency enforcement initiatives.

Christian Antkowiak, Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney PC, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

1:25 – 1:40 p.m. - BREAK

1:40 – 2:25 p.m. - Emerging Legal Issues: Tips from In-House Counsel (45 min)

The panel will focus on emerging legal issues in the upstream market and tips on how to position yourself for business development tomorrow.

Moderator: Candace Smith, Steptoe & Johnson PLLC, Lexington, Kentucky

Panelists:

Katrina Bowers, Associate General Counsel – Litigation, Diversified Energy Company, Charleston, West Virginia
Stefanie Burt, Deputy General Counsel, EQT Corporation, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Jamie Chapman, Associate Counsel – Litigation, Antero Resources Corporation, Bridgeport, West Virginia

2:25 – 3:10 p.m. - Incident Response From Beginning to End: Investigation and Response, Insurance, and Indemnity (45 min)

Gregory J. Krock, McGuireWoods, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Benjamin H. Patton, Reed Smith LLP, Houston, Texas

3:10 – 3:25 p.m. - BREAK

3:25 – 4:10 p.m. - How Data Centers are Changing the Energy Landscape (45 min)

Increased load from data center development is transforming the electric industry. Hyperscalers have driven significant growth in renewable energy projects and PPAs associated with these projects. In addition, unprecedented electricity demand needed for artificial intelligence processing has data center operators and electric utilities exploring new behind-the-meter and microgrid opportunities. This presentation will discuss various opportunities and challenges the electric industry is facing from mounting data center load.

Devin Parram, Bricker Graydon LLP, Columbus, Ohio
Andrew Stuyvenberg, Kirkland & Ellis LLP, Washington, D.C.

4:10 – 5:10 p.m. - It’s More than Fake Cases: Attorney Ethics for New Practice Technology (Ethics) (60 min)

This presentation will include an introduction to and practical examples of AI tools in the oil and gas and legal industries, tips to safeguard your business and practice while taking advantage of AI tools, and the ethical obligations along the way.

Travis L. Brannon, K&L Gates, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Amanda R. Cashman, K&L Gates, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

5:10 p.m. - ADJOURN

Hotel Information

Fairmont Pittsburgh
510 Market Street
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15222

Room rate is $244++/night for Standard Fairmont room

Cutoff is Aug 13, 2025.

Book Hotel

Sponsorship Opportunities

Welcome Reception (Exclusive) - $5,000 - SOLD

September 2nd
The Industrialist Hotel
405 Wood Street, Pittsburgh, PA

Recognition in all marketing material
Company/firm logo displayed in the conference program
Company/firm logo displayed on slides during breaks
Recognition on the conference website
Recognition via signage at the reception
3 complimentary registrants at the conference
2 additional complimentary guests at welcome reception
An opportunity to display company/firm materials at the conference

Wi-Fi Sponsor (Exclusive) - $5,000

Name Reflected in Wi-Fi Access Code
Recognition in all marketing material
Company/firm logo displayed in the conference program
Company/firm logo displayed on slides during breaks
Recognition on the conference website
3 complimentary registrants at the conference
An opportunity to display company/firm materials at the event or at the conference

Breakfast (Exclusive) - $4,000

Recognition in all marketing material
Company/firm logo displayed in the conference program
Company/firm logo displayed on slides during breaks
Recognition on the conference website
2 complimentary registrants at the conference · An opportunity to display company/firm materials at the conference

Morning Break (Exclusive) - $4,000

Recognition in all marketing material
Company/firm logo displayed in the conference program
Company/firm logo displayed on slides during breaks
Recognition on the conference website
2 complimentary registrants at the conference
An opportunity to display company/firm materials at the conference

Afternoon Break (Exclusive) - $4,000

Recognition in all marketing material
Company/firm logo displayed in the conference program
Company/firm logo displayed on slides during breaks
Recognition on the conference website
2 complimentary registrants at the conference
An opportunity to display company/firm materials at the conference

Lanyard Sponsor (Exclusive) - $3,500

Sponsor name contained on conference lanyard
Recognition in all marketing material
Company/firm logo displayed in the conference program
Company/firm logo displayed on slides during breaks
Recognition on the conference website
2 complimentary registrants at conference
An opportunity to display company/firm materials at the event or at the conference

Hosted Luncheon - $2,750 each

Recognition in all marketing material
Company/firm logo displayed in the conference program
Company/firm logo displayed on slides during breaks
Recognition on the conference website
Recognition at luncheon
1 complimentary registrant at the conference
An opportunity to display company/firm materials at the conference

Exhibitor (Non-law firms) - $2,500 each

Recognition in all marketing material
Recognition on the conference website
1 complimentary registrant at the conference
An opportunity to display company/firm materials at the conference

For more information about sponsorship opportunities, please contact Licia Maria Hogarth, Sponsorship Director, at 972.244.3424 or lhogarth@cailaw.org.

Other Information

Press Policy

All IEL conferences are held under the Chatham House Rule. Participants, including journalists, are free to use any information received, but comments may not be attributed to any speaker identiﬁ ed by name or affiliation.

Photo/Audio/Video Release

Registration for or attendance at this event acknowledges consent to be recorded or photographed. We reserve the right to use any photograph/video taken at our events, without the expressed written permission of those included within the photograph/video. We may use the photograph/video in publications or other media material produced, used or contracted including but not limited to: brochures, invitations, books, newspapers, magazines, television, websites, annual reports, newsletters, etc. To ensure the privacy of individuals, images will not be identified using full names or personal identifying information without written approval from the photographed subject

Visa Information

If you require a letter of invitation to obtain a visa for this conference, payment of the registration fee must first be made. If you apply and do not receive a visa, please send us a copy of the rejection letter from the consulate, and we will cancel your registration and issue a refund. Please email iel@cailaw.org for more details.

Nondiscriminatory Policy

The Center for American and International Law does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, religion, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other protected status in educational activities, scholarship programs or admissions.

Privacy Policy

We do not sell or rent information to any outside parties. By providing your information, you will receive postal and electronic communications from the Institute for Energy Law (IEL) of The Center for American and International Law (CAIL) in accordance with CAIL's Privacy Policy. If we co-sponsor a program with another organization, information may be shared between the parties. All such co-sponsors will be identified on the event details and registration page. At any point, you can opt-out or unsubscribe by selecting either link at the bottom of each email or call us at 972.244.3400.

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16th Appalachia Energy Law Conference

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