Heather A. (Blandford) Hurst

Heather A. Hurst helps energy companies accomplish their operational and transactional goals. She focuses her practice on commercial and real estate transactions within the coal, oil and gas and renewables industries and counsels clients on environmental and safety compliance.

Heather assists industry clients with all stages of acquisition and divestiture of coal, oil and gas, and renewable energy assets and on a variety of land, commercial and title-related matters. She has abstracted and drafted title examination opinions for surface, oil and gas and coal interests, performed mineral title due diligence for oil, gas, coal, and renewable acquisitions, negotiated leases, options and agreements, and drafted a variety of transactional, commercial and operational instruments and agreements. Heather has also represented oil, gas, coal, and renewable owners, operators and companies in real estate closings, transfer, severance and property tax matters, and property, landowner and contract disputes.

She has also assisted coal, oil and gas and coal operators in compliance matters related to environmental and safety regulations, including obtaining required permits, conducting compliance audits and analysis representing clients in challenging Mine Safety and Health Administration enforcement proceedings and defending operators in administrative adjudications.

Prior to joining Buchanan, Heather represented numerous coal mining operators in Federal Mine Safety and Health Review Commission proceedings resulting in significant penalty and severity reductions for issued citations and elevated enforcement actions.