Gregory D. Russell

Greg is a partner in the Columbus office and leads the firm’s energy group, one of the most experienced energy state and national practices in the Midwest.  For more than 30 years, he has been advising producers and pipeline operators in Ohio on business and regulatory matters, ranging from asset transactions to unit operations and development, to leasehold and royalty disputes.  Greg's practice frequently involves appearing before state and federal courts and regulatory agencies.

Notable experience includes:

• Serving as trial counsel for the first modern unitization application proceeding under R.C. 1509.28; and successfully defending statutory unit orders against claims that they constitute unconstitutional takings of private property and violate private lease rights
• Representing oil and gas producers in multimillion-dollar asset transactions, including the negotiation of related purchase and sale, participation and joint operating agreements
• Counseling clients on the calculation of oil and gas royalties, including the ability and advisability of allocating post-production costs to royalty owners under common lease royalty provisions and market-enhancement clauses
• Representing oil and gas producers and industry participants in litigation matters involving issues of first impression in Ohio, including whether off-lease operations preliminary to drilling and unit formation will maintain a lease into its secondary term and what constitutes bad-faith pooling and bad-faith mineral trespass under Ohio law

Greg served as an adjunct professor at The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law, teaching a course on oil and gas law.  He is also a frequent speaker on a broad range of topics impacting the natural gas industry, including oil and gas leasing and contract matters, and regulatory (e.g., pooling and unitization), environmental and natural gas market issues.  Recently, he served as the chair of the Energy & Mineral Law Foundation’s Special Institute on Title and Development Issues in the Utica Shale (2013), and is a co-chair for the Oil and Gas and Landman sections for The Foundation for Natural Resources and Energy Law's 2025 Annual Institute.

Greg is an editor of the Vorys Energy & Environment blog.  The blog highlights news and breaking legal developments involving the crude oil and natural gas industries, alternative and renewable energy resources and the latest environmental issues.

Greg has the privilege of serving as general counsel to the Ohio Oil and Gas Association, and is a member of the Ohio State Bar Association, the Energy and Mineral Law Foundation, and The Foundation for Natural Resources and Energy Law.  He also serves as an editor for the Institute for Energy Law's Oil & Gas E-Reporter.

Greg received his J.D. from Harvard Law School and his B.A. summa cum laude from Washington and Lee University.  He received a Fulbright Grant to study mathematics at the TH Darmstadt in West Germany in 1988-1989.

Honors & Recognitions

The Best Lawyers in America, Columbus Oil and Gas Law "Lawyer of the Year," 2024

Columbus CEO, Best Lawyers, Oil and Gas Law, 2022-2024; Energy Law, 2024

The Best Lawyers in America, Oil and Gas Law, 2020-2025; Energy Law, 2013-2025

The Best Lawyers in America, Columbus Energy Law "Lawyer of the Year," 2014, 2018, 2021, 2025

Chambers and Partners, Leading Lawyer in Natural Resources and Environment, 2012-2022

Chambers and Partners, Leading Lawyer in Energy & Natural Resources, 2023-2024

"Who's Who in Energy," American City Business Journals, 2013-2015

Columbus CEO, Top Lawyers in Columbus, 2015-2016

Ohio Super Lawyers Rising Stars, Energy and Natural Resources, 2005-2006

Professional & Community Activities

Energy and Mineral Law Foundation, Board of Trustees, 2006 to present

Ohio Oil and Gas Association, Environmental and Safety Committee, Chair, 2005-2014; Legal Committee, Chair, 2015 to present

Ohio State Bar Association, Natural Resources Law Committee, Past Chair

Congregation Beth Tikvah, Board of Trustees, 2003-2013