For over 30 years, Paula K. Manis, has successfully and continuously maintained a diverse oil and gas practice.  Starting out as a field landman for Amoco in Michigan, Ms. Manis has worked within and on the side of the oil and gas industry her entire legal career.

Licensed to practice law in Michigan, Ms. Manis counsels multiple major and independent oil and gas companies on a daily basis, in all aspects of oil and gas matters, from upstream to downstream.  She is experienced in pulling together sophisticated joint ventures and drilling programs, negotiating and drafting purchase and sale contracts, exploration agreements, JOAs and other industry-related contracts.  She has extensive experience in acquisitions and divestures, including negotiating and drafting letters of intent and buy-sell agreements, as well as working closely with clients through the entire due diligence process.

She is thorough and efficient at researching, drafting and reviewing title opinions, thus protecting her clients from developing or investing in wells, or projects with uncommitted interests, and preventing future lawsuits caused by careless or non-existent title work.  Over the course of her long career, Ms. Manis has rendered more than a thousand acquisition, drilling, division order, and financing transaction title opinions.

Being part of the Loomis team allows Ms. Manis to work closely with other members of the Oil and Gas Group and other practice groups within the Firm so that her clients receive not only quality, industry-specific representation but, if needed, representation in other areas, such as regulatory matters, environmental, securities, and taxation.

Having experienced the cyclical nature of the industry, Ms. Manis understands and appreciates the many and complex challenges that face her clients, and brings a common-sense, business approach to the legal services she provides.  Always mindful of the “big picture”, she strives to provide her clients with practical, comprehensive legal services at a competitive rate.  She credits this approach for her success in establishing long-term relationships with several industry clients in the Mid-West Region.

Ms. Manis is also experienced in alternative dispute resolution, serving as both a mediator and arbitrator in all civil matters, except domestic relations and class actions.  Although she continues to practice Oil and Gas Law, her practice now primarily consists of mediation and arbitration.  Currently, Ms. Manis has mediated over 2000 disputes.  She has received the following awards in Oil and Gas Mediation and Arbitration in recent years:  Lansing Lawyer of the Year (awarded by Best Lawyers of America), Oil and Gas Law (2020 and 2021); Lansing Lawyer of the Year (awarded by Best Lawyers of America), Arbitration (2016); Lansing Lawyer of the Year (awarded by Best Lawyers of America), Mediation (2014, 2019, and 2022); Best Lawyers of America, Oil and Gas Law (2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2022); Best Lawyers of America, Alternative Dispute Resolution (2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, and 2013); and Best Lawyers of America, Arbitration/Mediation (2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2022).

Practice Areas:

• Oil, Gas and Natural Resources Laws
• Real Estate Law
• Transactional Law
• Mediations/Facilitations/Arbitrations

Professional Memberships:

• Hearing Panelist for the State of Michigan Attorney Discipline Board
• Member, State Bar of Michigan
  • Former Chair of Oil, Gas & Natural Resources Committee of the Real Property Section
  • Member of the Environmental Law Section
  • Member of the Alternate Dispute Resolution Section
  • Former Member of the Alternate Dispute Resolution Council
  • Former Chair of the ADR Council Government Task Force subcommittee
• Member, Ingham County Bar Association
  • Member Real Property Section
• Member, Michigan Oil & Gas Association (1981 – Present)
  • Former Chair Legislative Liaison Committee
  • Member, Legal & Legislative Committee
  • Member of the former Public Relations Committee
• Member, Michigan Association of Petroleum Landmen (1981 – Present)
• Member, Ohio Oil and Gas Association
• Board Member, Dispute Resolution Center of Central Michigan, (2001 – 2010)
• Co-President, Dispute Resolution Center of Central Michigan (2005 – 2006)
• Neutral on the roster of the American Arbitration Association (2006 – Present)
• Member of the Ingham County Circuit Court ADR Oversight Committee (2003 – 2012)

Recognition & Public Service:

• Bar Register of Preeminent Women Lawyers of 2013 (Awarded by LexisNexis and Martindale Hubbell) – This award is exclusive to women lawyers who have achieved the highest possible rating in both legal ability and ethical standards.
• AV Preeminent Peer Review Rated, Martindale-Hubbell
• Leading Lawyer (2015, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, and 2021)
• Lansing Lawyer of the Year (Awarded by Best Lawyers of America), Oil and Gas Law (2020 and 2021)
• Lansing Lawyer of the Year (Awarded by Best Lawyers of America) Arbitration (2016)
• Lansing Lawyer of the Year (Awarded by Best Lawyers of America), Mediation (2014, 2019, and 2022)
• Best Lawyers of America, Oil and Gas Law (2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2022)
• Best Lawyers of America, Alternative Dispute Resolution (2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, and 2013)
• Best Lawyers of America, Arbitration/Mediation (2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2022)
• Author of “Across the Great Divide”: Surface Owners vs. Severed Mineral Owners.  What is “Reasonable Use”, Michigan Bar Journal, February 1999, Vol. 78, No. 2.

Education:

• Thomas M. Cooley Law School, Juris Doctorate, 1979
• Michigan State University, Post-Graduate Studies, 1975
• Michigan State University, B.A. Social Science Multi-Discipline Program, 1973