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Colby L. Branch is a Partner in the Billings office and a member of the Oil and Gas Practice Group. Colby’s practice focuses on oil and gas law and Native American law, including title examination of federal, fee, state and Indian lands, contract matters, and representing clients before state and federal regulatory agencies. A significant component of his practice involves the representation of clients in the negotiation and implementation of natural resource exploration and development projects on Indian Reservations.

Colby graduated with highest honors from the Gonzaga University School of Law. He also holds a M.S. degree in Geology, and worked as a petroleum geologist prior to attending law school. He reports for the Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation on recent developments in Montana oil and gas law, and has presented several papers pertaining to mineral development on Indian Reservations at the Foundation’s Special Institutes. Colby is a former President of the Montana Petroleum Association, and continues to serve on the Association’s Board of Directors.

  • Best Lawyers in America®, Native American Law; Oil & Gas Law, 2007-present
  • Benchmark Litigation – Litigation Star
  • Recipient of the Foundation for Natural Resources and Energy Law Joe Rudd Scholarship, 1998-1999
  • Montana Oil and Gas Update Co-Author for the Foundation for Natural Resources and Energy Law Newsletter

  • President, Montana Petroleum Association, 2013-2015; Director, Montana Petroleum Association, 2000-present
  • American Association of Petroleum Geologists, 1983-present
  • State Bar of Montana
  • American Bar Association

  • Accessing Indian Lands for Mineral Development, Natural Resources Development in Indian Country, Paper No. 3 (Rocky Mt. Min. L. Fdn. 2005)
  • Indian Lands – Surface Access and Use, Severed Minerals, Split Estates, Rights of Access and Surface in Mineral Extraction Operations, Paper No. 7 (Rocky Mt. Min. L. Fdn. 2005)
  • Indian Mineral Interests, 3 Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation, American Law of Mining, 2nd Ed., ch. 67 (LexisNexis Matthew Bender 2010) (co-author and update author)
  • Indian Leasing, 2 Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation, Law of Federal Oil and Gas Leases, ch. 67 (LexisNexis Matthew Bender 2010) (update author)

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