Babst Calland Expands Energy Practice, Opens Ohio Office
Prominent Team of Energy, Environment and Litigation Attorneys Join Firm
Clay K. Keller, Richard J. Lolli, David E. Northrop Named Shareholders
The law firm of Babst Calland recently announced the continued expansion of its growing energy practice by opening its newest office in downtown Canton, OH, at the PNC Center.
The expansion of the Firm’s already well-established energy and natural resources practice is taking place at a time when many of the Firm’s existing energy clients participating in unconventional gas development are tapping Babst Calland’s multi-disciplinary practice group for its Marcellus and Utica shale experience and capabilities.
The Firm was founded 26 years ago and has represented energy-related clients since its inception. The Firm’s multi-disciplinary practice addresses a wide range of issues affecting its energy clients, including environmental, business and transaction services, title, litigation, land use, construction and employment & labor. More than one-half of Babst Calland’s 105 lawyers currently are involved in servicing the Firm’s energy clients.
Joining Babst Calland as shareholders are attorneys Clay K. Keller and Richard J. Lolli. Mr. Keller joins the firm effective June 15, 2012, and Mr. Lolli begins on June 25, 2012. Both are admitted to practice law in the state of Ohio and are active in county and state bar associations as well as the Ohio Oil & Gas Association and Ohio Land Title Association, respectively. Mr. Lolli’s extensive background is in the area of Title/Land Use and Real Estate law. Mr. Keller is a litigator representing clients on a broad range of oil and gas matters.
Joining Mr. Keller and Mr. Lolli will be Ohio attorney David E. Northrop after spending nearly 40 years practicing law in Columbus, Ohio. He is known for his representation of clients in their interactions with federal and state environmental regulatory agencies.
“Babst Calland serves the energy industry with a coordinated, multi-disciplinary team of lawyers that is focused on the broad spectrum of federal, state and local issues impacting our clients. The significant growth of Marcellus and Utica shale development over the past year has created the need for geographic expansion so that we can provide that same level of service to our clients in West Virginia and Ohio,” said Chester R. Babst III, managing shareholder of Babst Calland.
“The addition of Clay Keller, Richard Lolli and David Northrop gives our firm a team with more than 80 years of experience in handling environmental, real estate, title and litigation matters in Ohio and allows us to serve our Ohio clients with attorneys who understand the local landscape,” added Babst.