Steptoe & Johnson
Bio
Member, Chair, Energy & Natural Resources Dept.
Sharon Flanery concentrates her practice in the areas of energy and natural resources law and Chairs the firm's Energy & Natural Resources Department. As a petroleum engineer with both an operating and a legal background in the industry, she brings real-world experience to her practice. This experience includes acquisitions and divestitures, mineral leases, joint ventures, contract mining agreements, joint operating agreements, and sales and marketing agreements, as well as gathering, transportation, and processing agreements. In addition, she has substantial experience in land and legal due diligence associated with mineral transactions, as well as in the legislative and regulatory arenas. Her general property background includes leases, rights of way, deeds, land use, and damage issues. Flanery is also a member of the advisory board of the WVU College of Law Center for Energy and Sustainable Development.
- 2004-present Steptoe & Johnson PLLC, Charleston, WV
- 2001-2003 Vice President, Exploration, Columbia Natural Resources, Charleston, WV
- 1998-2001 AGC, Columbia Gas Transmission Corp., NiSource Corporate Services Company, Charleston, WV
- 1993-1998 Legal Department, CONSOL Energy, Pittsburgh, PA
- 1991-1993 Attorney, Thorp, Reed & Armstrong, Pittsburgh, PA
- 1987-1990 Reservoir & Production Engineering Supervisor, CNG Development, Pittsburgh, PA
- 1983-1985 Reservoir Engineer, Aramco, Saudi Arabia
- 1978-1982 Special Projects Engineer, Columbia Gas Transmission, Charleston, WV
Other Leadership Roles
Leads teams responsible for asset and stock transactions, lease transactions, and property due diligence projects involving over 3,000,000 gross acres.
Led team drafting a multi-million dollar supply agreement for the production and sale of biomass to an electric generating plant, which involved traditional contract issues, clean air and greenhouse gas regulations, potential tax credits and subsidies for renewable energy sources, corporate tax, and intellectual property.
Drafted legislation on behalf of a Fortune 500 energy client that clarified the requirements for notification of landowners in connection with coalbed methane development.
- John L. McClaugherty Award for Dedication and Service, Energy & Mineral Law Foundation, 2017 Law 360 Female Powerbroker
- United States Patent and Trademark License
- Past President, Energy & Mineral Law Foundation, 2013-2014
- Chambers USA America's Leading Lawyers for Business, Band One Leading Lawyer, Natural Resources
- The Best Lawyers in America®
- Best Lawyers® 2018 Charleston, WV Oil and Gas Law, Lawyer of the Year
- Best Lawyers® 2016 Charleston, WV, Energy Law, Lawyer of the Year
- Best Lawyers® Charleston, WV, Lawyer of the Year 2011
- Super Lawyers®
- Outstanding Alumni of the Year, WVU Mineral & Energy Resources Department
- Guest Lecturer, Distinguished Lecture Series, WVU College of Engineering and Mineral Resources
- Duquesne University Law Review
- Graduated cum laude, West Virginia University, Petroleum Engineering
- Executive Committee, Institute for Energy Law
- WVU College of Engineering and Mineral Resources Visiting Committee
- Peer Review Rated AV by Martindale-Hubbell
- Chair, Energy Law Committee, West Virginia State Bar
- Energy & Mineral Law Foundation Trustee
- Advisory Board, WVU College of Law Center for Energy and Sustainable Development
- Chair, Oil and Gas Practice Committee, Institute for Energy Law
- Executive Committee, Institute for Energy Law
- Past Director, North American Coalbed Methane Forum
- Independent Petroleum Association of America
- GABALTA
- Past Board Member, West Virginia Chamber of Commerce
- Past President, Alumni Association WVU Minerals & Energy Resources Department
- The West Virginia Symphony Board of Directors
- Women's Energy Network
