Cherokee Attorney Robert Thompson III Named to Indian Oil

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Robert Thompson-Cherokee

Native Brief: DENVER - Robert S. Thompson III, a shareholder in the Denver office of international law firm Greenberg Traurig LLP, has been appointed to the Indian Oil Valuation Negotiated Rulemaking Committee representing the interests of the Western Energy Alliance. According to the Secretary of Interior Ken Salazar's announcement, Thompson will serve a three year appointment ending December 2013.

The Indian Oil Valuation Negotiated Rulemaking Committee will advise the Office of Natural Resources Revenue on regulations to address the valuation of Indian oil as they relate to the major portion requirement in Indian oil and gas leases. The mission of the Office of National Resources Revenue, according to their website is:

to ensure the full and fair return to the American people of federal and Indian royalties and other monies owed for the use of public resources in the production of conventional and renewable energy and mineral resources.

The range of the committee will be limited to the major portion calculation for oil produced from Indian leases. The committee, scheduled to meet quarterly, has their first meeting in February 2012.

Thompson has 30 years of experience in American Indian law and energy and natural resources matters with a focus in the oil and gas industry. He continues to represent the oil and gas industry on resource development, production, rights of way, easements, leases, joint ventures and partnerships with respect to Indian and public lands. He has helped develop Indian natural resources, the statutory and regulatory requirements applicable to such developments, and previously participated in drafting valuation regulations for natural gas production from Indian lands.

Thompson is an enrolled member of the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma. He received his BS, magna cum laude, from the University of Georgia in 1973, and in 1979 received his JD from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

posted January 17, 2011 6:20 am est