Mining

The mining industry has never faced greater challenges than it does today.  Access to resources and capital is constrained, the prices of fuel and steel are at record highs and external factors, such as climate change, further complicate the path to success.  Every day we assist our clients to overcome challenges relating to the financing, exploration, development and production of mineral properties. We have played a leading role for our clients in projects in the United States and around the world, and we are the leading law firm for project permitting and development of mineral properties in Alaska.

Our client base ranges from junior exploration companies to the largest mining conglomerates in the world. We offer mining companies a full spectrum of legal services, from project financing to permitting for major developments. We represent mining companies in the full range of transactions, and in the development and exploitation of mining technology.  We also represent mining companies in litigation relating to operations, environmental matters and intellectual property rights. We are routinely asked to undertake due diligence for financial institutions, junior companies and major mining companies interested in investments in mining properties or active operations. We have a deep bench in environmental and public lands issues and regularly assist leading mining companies with major mine permitting and regulatory strategy; land exchanges, land sales and acquisitions; and post-operation remediation and decommissioning. Our attorneys have significant experience with the federal programs that play a key role in mine permitting, such as the preparation of Environmental Impact Statements under NEPA, Endangered Species Act consultation and compliance, and permitting of facilities under the Clean Water and Clean Air Acts. Our clients frequently ask us to work with agency leaders and industry associations to promote improvements in government policies, regulations and laws affecting the mining industry.

It is an unfortunate reality that most major mining projects will be challenged by project opponents. As one of the leading law firms in the country in the defense of mine permitting, we regularly represent our mining clients before administrative agencies and the courts, including the U.S. Supreme Court.