Michael K. Vennum

Michael is of counsel in the Vorys Pittsburgh office and a member of the finance, energy and real estate group.  His practice encompasses a broad range of real estate, corporate, financing and wireless telecommunications projects.  As part of his energy practice, he represents natural gas companies in regional land development matters, including local zoning and permitting challenges, and title review and curative.  Michael has successfully obtained land use approvals for well pad sites, central facilities compressors stations, pipelines and metering stations through Pennsylvania, Ohio and West Virginia.

Additionally, he represents cell tower companies, retail office brokers and commercial land developers seeking title review, land use approvals and lease negotiations.  Michael has counseled as to Federal and State Department of Environmental Protection regulations, Phase I Environmental Assessments and NEPA matters.

Michael has reviewed and negotiated commercial contracts for major real estate developers, commercial retailers and homeowners' associations, including retail lease agreements, master services agreements, HUD-related contracts and general purchase orders.  He has performed real estate negotiations related to the purchasing and subleasing of properties for commercial development, and coordinated and led due diligence projects related to mergers and acquisitions of corporate assets.

Further, Michael is an adjunct professor at California University of Pennsylvania, teaching courses in contracts and business.  He is a member of the Board of Directors of the Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera (CLO) and Energy and Mineral Law Foundation, for whom he has extensively published and presented legal education seminars.  He is also the co-author of the Pennsylvania Bar Institutes’ third edition of Law of Oil and Gas in Pennsylvania and LexisNexis’ 2019 edition of Hydraulic Fracturing Law and Practice.

Prior to joining Vorys, Michael was a partner with Burleson LLP.  He also served as corporate counsel for Cricket Communications, Inc. and Crown Castle USA, Inc.  He is licensed to practice in Pennsylvania, Ohio, West Virginia and New York.  He received his J.D. from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law and his B.S. in education from the Pennsylvania State University.

Honors & Recognitions

Pittsburgh Business Times “Who’s Who in Energy” List, 2014-2015

Professional & Community Activities

Pennsylvania Bar Association, Member, Environmental and Energy Law Section; Real Property, Probate and Trust Law Section

Energy and Mineral Law Foundation, Member

Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera, Board of Directors

South Fayette Township Volunteer Fire Department, Member