Current association: Counsel with Lewis Gianola PLLC

Past associations: Enforcement Office with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission; Senior Counsel with Columbia Gas Transmission Corp; Chief Deputy Attorney General, State of West Virginia; Partner with Lewis Glasser PLLC

Law School: Washington & Lee School of Law

Undergraduate: Tulane University

Spouse: Sarah Gottlieb

Children: Max Gottlieb

Hometown: Charleston, WV (originally, Clarksburg, WV)

Favorite restaurant: 1010 Bridge located in Charleston

EMLF Involvement: Member since 1985, Officer, current Board of Trustees, frequent
presenter and published article associated with EMLF Annual Institute

Community Involvement: President and Board Member of Temple Israel, Volunteer for
Legal Aid of West Virginia and Meals on Wheels.

You are an accomplished litigator. What drew you to litigation? I always enjoyed oral advocacy and persuasive writing. Whether at trial or appellate level, complex commercial litigation required those skills.

Many of the cases you have handled through the years have been in mineral and natural resources law. How did you get involved in this area of law? I may be one of the few people to have their career benefited by a government shutdown, but that is how I first got into the energy space. In the early 1980’s, I went to DC to work for the Department of Justice. But because of a government shutdown, I was left in DC jobless. After some frantic phone calls, I learned that FERC, as an independent commission, was not hampered by the hiring freeze due to the shutdown. After working several years for FERC, I returned to West Virginia to work for an interstate pipeline early in my career. I recognized that mineral and natural resources law was a very fertile area for developing a private practice in my home state of West Virginia.

Over the years, you have been very active in various mineral or energy organizations. What has EMLF meant to you? Has your involvement had a positive effect on your career? I cannot overemphasize how valuable my involvement in EMLF, and other organizations such as AAPL, have been to my career. It has presented numerous opportunities to speak directly to business decision-makers and in-house counsel, who
decide which outside counsel to hire. Plus, it has allowed me to develop a great group of friends and fellow practitioners who have provided me with comradery and support in my years of mineral and energy practice.

Do you find time to travel for fun? Do you have a favorite place to visit? As a result of now being “Of Counsel,” I have much more time to travel both domestically and internationally. I have visited so many wonderful places that I cannot designate a “favorite.” I have recently visited Morocco, New Zealand and Costa Rica, which are all incredible places.

Favorite books/authors, genre? Other hobbies? As to non-fiction, I enjoy reading political and foreign policy tombs. As to fiction, any well written detective book is fun. As to hobbies, I play the guitar (poorly) and enjoy hiking and traveling.

You have been practicing law for a number of years and have had substantial success. Is there any advice you would give to new lawyers and law students who are about to become lawyers? I advise that each young lawyer and law student be exposed to various areas of the law to the extent they are able before deciding on a particular practice area or interest. For example, as seen in an adjoining space, I advised my son Max to become involved in mineral law and participate in EMLF and similar organizations to develop expertise in such a practice.