The Energy & Mineral Law Foundation (EMLF) is proud to announce it has presented its 2026 John L. McClaugherty Award to Brian Wells. The McClaugherty Award is the Foundation’s highest honor, and recognizes outstanding contributions to the field of energy and mineral law, and to EMLF. It is named after the late John L. McClaugherty, a founding member and former president of the organization.
Brian has been a member of EMLF for over twenty years, and has served in numerous leadership roles, including as president of the organization in 2015-2016.
2025 McClaugherty Award winner Sandra K. Fraley presented the award to Brian at EMLF’s 47th Annual Institute in June in Charleston, South Carolina. Sandy noted that Brian has a deep knowledge of the mineral industry, starting practically at birth to a coal mining family in Leslie County, Kentucky, and is also frequently described as “the consummate professional” and “one of the most valuable members of any team he joins,” highlighting his reputation for kindness and collegiality even in the face of difficult work.
“His friendships across the bench and bar are genuine, and the respect he has earned is rooted not only in his skill as a lawyer, but in his steadiness as a colleague and leader,” Sandy said.
When accepting the award, Brian first expressed appreciation for the excellent mentors he had, many of whom were in the room for the presentation of the award, and spoke of the role that EMLF had played in his career.
“I don’t think, in my years of practice, I have ever been involved in a transaction where there wasn’t a colleague who I knew from EMLF on the other side. This is an amazing organization, not just because of the information and the legal knowledge you possess, which is immense, but it’s also the collegiality of this room. And that’s what really draws all of us to the practice and what I’m excited to see the next generation carry on,” said Brian while emphasizing his gratitude for being honored with this year’s award.
The full presentation may be viewed here.
Brian Wells is a partner at Bricker Graydon Wyatt in Lexington, Kentucky, where he concentrates his practice in the area of general business law, mergers and acquisitions, real estate lending transactions, commercial leasing, and contract drafting and negotiation. He has also represented a variety of clients in commercial litigation matters before both state and federal courts. Brian is a member of the Corporate and Securities Service Team and is the Co-Service Team Leader of the Firm’s Natural Resources & Environmental Service Team. He has been routinely recognized by Woodward/White’s The Best Lawyers in America, Kentucky Super Lawyers, and Chambers USA. He is a graduate of the University of Kentucky and the University of Louisville Brandeis School of Law, and has an L.L.M. from Georgetown University.
The late John L. McClaugherty (1931-2003) was a former member and past president of the Energy & Mineral Law Foundation (then named the Eastern Mineral Law Foundation). Mr. McClaugherty was a native of Princeton, West Virginia, who attended Northwestern University and the West Virginia University College of Law. He served as a Staff Judge Advocate in the U.S. Air Force before joining the law firm Jackson Kelly in 1959, where he later became the managing member for nearly twenty years. Civic-minded, Mr. McClaugherty served as chief counsel to the Senate of West Virginia Counsel on the Judiciary from 1967 to 1975 and held numerous community leadership positions including President of the Board of Directors of the West Virginia Symphony Orchestra. He also frequently volunteered his time in service to the bar through his involvement with the American Bar Association, the American Judicature Society, the American Bar Foundation, the West Virginia Bar Foundation, the West Virginia State Bar Association, the Kanawha County Bar Association, and the West Virginia Judicial Council, among others.
EMLF is a non-profit organization that is an accredited provider of continuing education for lawyers, landmen, and other energy professionals. For more information about EMLF, visit emlf.org.