Mark Barron is a Chambers-ranked energy lawyer who has guided some of the country’s largest producers of oil and gas through high-profile litigation, establishing himself as a “go to” counselor for energy companies and trade associations developing advocacy responses to regulatory initiatives. Mark routinely assists clients to meet their day-to-day operational objectives by interacting with government decision makers, developing strategic policy initiatives, crafting optimal business agreements and litigating disputes.
A prolific author and speaker on topics affecting energy producers, Mark has testified before Congress and been featured or quoted in dozens of industry and mainstream media outlets on topics related to energy policy, hydraulic fracturing, and commercial development on public lands.
Mark serves as the business development partner for BakerHostetler's Denver office.
Energy and Environmental Litigation
- Lead counsel for national oil and gas trade associations in the industry’s successful defense of Trump Administration’s repeal of Obama-era regulations intended to govern hydraulic fracturing on federal and Indian lands. Drafted and argued successful summary judgment motion affirming the Bureau of Land Management’s authority to rescind the regulations – originally issued in 2015 -- which had previously been set aside as beyond BLM’s statutory authority and in violation of the Administrative Procedure Act. California v. Bureau of Land Mgmt., 2020 WL 1492708 (N.D. Cal. Mar. 27, 2020).
- Lead defense counsel to Colorado E&P company in case in which Plaintiff landowners sought $100 million resulting from alleged antitrust violations and fraudulent inducement of oil and gas leasing contracts. After multiweek trial, jury rejected each of Plaintiffs’ claims and court awarded the E&P company more than $1.7 million in attorneys’ fees on its contractual counterclaim.
Regulatory
- Lead counsel for national oil and gas trade associations involved in efforts to prepare technical comments in opposition to the Environmental Protection Agency’s entry of a consent decree related to air quality enforcement initiatives in North Dakota. Authored the comment document and counseled association members on outreach strategies for communication with relevant legislative and executive branch officials.
- Lead counsel for national oil and gas trade associations involved in efforts to review and prepare technical comments to the Bureau of Land Management's proposed rulemaking related to changes in royalty rates and other financial terms of federal oil and gas leases. Authored a comment document, supervised economic analysis responsive to the agency's proposal and led a team of financial and technical experts representing dozens of independent producers in nationwide advocacy efforts.
Energy Operations and Transactions
- Lead counsel for mineral acquisition company performing internal restructuring of business operations. Drafted revised standard purchase and sale agreement and prepared guidelines and handbook for mineral acquisition processes.
- Lead counsel for Colorado E&P company preparing for comprehensive drilling program. Negotiated and drafted dozens of master service agreements for regulatory, operational, and material vendors.