Steven P. Ruffatto

Phone: (406) 252-3441

Billings, MT

Working together with a well-qualified staff, firm lawyers strive to provide each client with prompt, personalized service of the highest caliber.

Steven (Steve) P. Ruffatto is an experienced natural resources lawyer who has been with the firm since 1976. He specializes in natural resources and real estate law, with emphasis on matters concerning the oil, gas, mining and energy industries including title examinations, property acquisitions and divestitures, property development and secured financing transactions. He has authored works for publication dealing with creation and transfer of mineral and royalty interests, environmental and reclamation regulation of mining, federal oil and gas leasing and mining in wilderness areas. Steve has served on the Executive Committee and as a Trustee of the Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation. Steve is on the Board of Litigation for the Mountain States Legal Foundation, a member of the Montana and Northwest Mining Associations, and a member and former officer of the Montana Association of Petroleum Landmen. He was a reporter for the Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation Mineral Law Newsletter, an update author for American Law of Mining and the 2002 Annual Institute Program Chair for the Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation. Steve is certified by Peacemaker Ministries Institute in its Christian Conciliation Certification Program.

PRACTICE AREAS

• Title Examinations
• Real Estate - Commercial
• Public Land Issues
• Property & Resource Acquisition
• Oil & Gas
• Natural Resources
• Mining
• Mergers & Acquisitions

BAR ADMISSIONS

• Montana

EDUCATION

• 1976 - J.D., University of Montana School of Law
  
• 1971 - B.A., Montana State University

AWARDS AND HONORS

• Listed in The Best Lawyers in America in Natural Resources Law
  
• Listed in Who’s Who in American Law
  
• Listed in The International Who’s Who of Business Lawyers in Mining
  
• Listed in Super Lawyers, Mountain States and Corporate Counsel Editions in Energy and Natural Resources
  
• Listed in Chambers USA America’s Leading Lawyers for Business

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS

• American College of Real Estate Lawyers
  
• Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation
  
• Montana & Northwest Mining Associations
  
• Montana Association of Petroleum Landmen
  
• Mountain States Legal Foundation, Board of Litigation