Brendan A. O'Donnell

Director
Oil & Gas Law
Environmental & Energy Law
Renewable Energy, Zoning
and Land Use

412.288.2226

Practice Areas

Oil and Gas Law • Litigation • Environmental and Energy Law • Business/Commercial Litigation • Environmental and Complex Torts Coverage • Enforcement • Hazardous Material Contamination • Real Estate Transactions • Superfund Matters • Oil and Gas Royalty Disputes • New Lease Negotiations • Pipeline Right-of-Way Negotiations • Surface Access Agreements • Royalty Audits • Tax and Estate Planning • Lease Expiration Claims • Curative Title Litigation • Zoning and Land Use • Commercial Real Estate • Renewable Energy, Zoning and Land Use • Solar, Wind and Renewable Energy Lawyers | Attorneys
Head shot photo of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Oil and Gas Lawyer Brendan O'Donnell at Houston Harbaugh

Overview

An attorney in Houston Harbaugh’s Oil and Gas Practice, Brendan O’Donnell has represented oil and gas owners across Pennsylvania in a wide array of oil and gas matters for over a decade. This experience has involved not only the Marcellus shale and the Utica shale, but more traditional oil and gas development as well.

Brendan maintains a diverse practice, representing clients in all matters involving oil and gas spanning the transactional and litigation realms. On the transactional front, Brendan routinely assists landowners with negotiating oil and gas leases, pipeline rights of way and surface use agreements and subsurface easements related to horizontal drilling as part of Marcellus and Utica shale development.  Brendan also frequently reviews royalty statements and oil and gas ownership issues as well as preparing deeds and title curative documents. Brendan also maintains an active litigation practice, representing clients in state and federal courts, as well as private arbitration matters. This litigation often involves title disputes, pooling and unitization challenges, lease termination questions and royalty/ post-production cost claims.

Assisting clients across the spectrum from contract negotiations through litigation and appeals gives Brendan valuable first-hand knowledge about how oil and gas agreements are prepared, how disputes arise and how courts resolve these issues. Brendan stays up-to-date on developments in oil and gas law and writes frequently on the these topics. Additionally, as alternative energy generation like wind and solar are increasingly being developed in oil and gas producing regions, Brendan assists clients with navigating the interplay between these complex energy developments and evaluating solar agreements.

Brendan complements his oil and gas practice by representing property owners, including oil and gas owners, in zoning and land use matters. Brendan has represented clients before municipal bodies and in appeals to court. Brendan is also active in the firm’s Energy and Environmental Law Practice.

Regardless of the type of representation, Brendan prides himself in providing clients with realistic, pragmatic advice. Hiring an attorney is an investment and Brendan focuses on how he can provide value to clients.

Outside of the office, Brendan serves on the Town of McCandless Planning Commission and lives with his family in McCandless. Brendan has visited every one of Allegheny County’s 130 municipalities.

Experience

Education & Credentials

Education

  • University of Pittsburgh, J.D. Cum Laude, Order of the Coif, Dean’s Scholarship, Senior Business Manager – Law Review
  • University of Pittsburgh, B.A. Magna Cum Laude

Bar Admissions

  • Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
  • U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania
  • U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit

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