Kate F. Barnaby, Esq.

Kate (Fetkenhier) Barnaby’s practice areas include oil and gas law, real estate law, business law, and banking law.  Ms. Barnaby devotes a substantial portion of her practice to the representation of oil and gas companies in all phases of exploration and production.  Ms. Barnaby represents both corporate and individual clients in suits involving issues pertaining to operating agreements, master service agreements, surface use issues, and royalty payment disputes.  Ms. Barnaby also regularly advises financial institutions, mortgage servicers, and title companies on how to resolve complex legal issues.

Representative Experience

• Successfully negotiated a favorable settlement in a multi-million dollar oil and gas related suit for under $200,000.
• Represented oil companies throughout the State of Michigan in various oil and gas related disputes including breach of contract and negligence cases.
• Represented numerous title insurance companies and their insureds in resolving complex real estate and title related disputes.
• Successfully handled many facilitative mediations and case evaluations in involving oil and gas, real estate, business law, banking law and title insurance issues.
• Represented numerous banks in collection and mortgage priority disputes obtaining favorable judgments for lenders in a significant number of cases.

Speaking Engagements

• 20 Common Title Issues in the Oil & Gas Industry. MAPL35th Annual Fall Seminar, Grand Rapids, Michigan, September 2012.
• The Thomas M. Cooley Law School Mentor Jet Speed Networking Speaking Engagement. Sponsored by the National Association of Women Judges and theWomen’s Lawyers Association of Michigan, Thomas M. Cooley Law School, Lansing, Michigan, October 2012.
• The Compulsory Pooling Process in Michigan. HalfMoon Seminars, Lansing, Michigan, March 2013.

Areas of Practice

• Oil & Gas Law
• Real Property Law
• Business Law
• Banking Law
• Title Insurance Law
• Litigation

Education

• Thomas M. Cooley Law School, J.D.
• Siena Heights University, B.A.

Professional Affiliations

State Bar of Michigan

• Member, Business Law Section
• Member, Real Estate Section

Ingham County Bar Association

Detroit Metropolitan Bar Association

Oakland County Bar Association

Michigan Oil and Gas Association (MOGA)

• Member of the Legal and Legislative Committee

American Association of Professional Landmen (AAPL)

COPAS of Michigan (Council of Petroleum Accountants Societies)

Michigan Association of Professional Landmen (MAPL)

Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation

International Right of Way Association(IRWA)

• Member, Chapter 7

American Land Title Association (ALTA)

Michigan Land Title Association (MLTA)

National Association of Lease Title Analysts (NALTA)

Admissions

• Michigan
• U.S. District Court, Western District of Michigan
• U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Michigan

Continuing Legal Education

• Due Diligence in Mining and Oil & Gas Transactions Courses (RMMLF)
• Oil & Gas Short Course (RMMLF)

Honors & Distinctions

• 2012 Up and Coming Lawyers, Michigan Lawyers Weekly

Attorney News & Announcements

Gallagher Law Firm Attorney One of Twenty “Up & Coming Lawyers” for 2012