Marcellus Shale Practice Group

Bonus payments and royalties from Marcellus Shale drilling often produce life-changing wealth for many landowners.  This impacts not only long-term future planning, but also immediate planning for mitigation of the current income tax liabilities facing landowners who receive windfall bonus payments. 

The attorneys of the Marcellus Shale Practice Group have worked extensively with landowners throughout western Pennsylvania who are entering into or have entered into leases with drilling companies seeking to explore the Marcellus Shale.  Our attorneys are involved in all aspects of Marcellus Shale planning, from the review and negotiation of leases to short and long-term income tax planning and estate planning to protect this source of wealth for our clients, their children and grandchildren, while substantially reducing current income tax liability for the landowner.  The attorneys in the Marcellus Shale Practice Group provide the following:

Ø   Review and negotiation of leases and related forms to help landowners understand the documents they are being asked to sign and assist them in negotiating the most favorable terms

Ø   Income tax planning to significantly reduce current income tax liabilities resulting from windfall bonus payments and royalty payments

Ø   Short and long-term estate planning to reduce potential death tax liability

Ø   Use of family limited partnerships, limited liability companies, business trusts and other legal entities to provide immediate and future income tax and death tax savings, while providing for continuity of the family farm

Ø   Provide a means for succession planning to transfer the family farm to the next generation while keeping the senior generation in full control of the business operations until the next generation is ready.

Ø   Design a plan that will allow for asset protection from creditors, give families the ability to employ family members and provide benefits such as health insurance and 401k retirement plans

Ø   Marcellus Shale planning is not a “one-size-fits-all” proposition; we work with clients to design personalized plans to meet each client’s individual circumstances and needs.

We work with clients on an individual basis to learn and understand their needs and their individual circumstances and formulate personalized plans that will help them achieve their goals.  We will help you evaluate your circumstances and relevant tax and other considerations and help you decide which options, or combination of options, will provide for the greatest reduction of income tax liability and potential federal and state death taxes.

For more information, contact Michael A. Carr or Raymond M. Roberts

Marcellus Shale Practice Group

• Michael A. Carr

• Raymond M. Roberts

The materials on the Jones, Gregg, Creehan & Gerace, LLP World Wide Web site have been prepared for informational purposes only and are not legal advice. This information is not intended to create, and receipt of it does not constitute, an attorney-client relationship. If you believe we could be of service to you, please contact one of our attorneys directly.