Morgan Pettit is an Associate in the Energy & Environmental Practice Group. She has always been drawn to the intersection of law, natural resources, and agriculture. Her legal career focuses on energy, minerals, and water law, a path inspired by her deep passion for serving landowners and entities in navigating complex state and federal regulations. Morgan’s experience spans a variety of industries, from oil and gas permitting, managing endangered species habitat, and assisting mining projects in navigating permitting and other regulatory issues. Morgan also enjoys assisting clients with complex property cases, including adverse possession, land grant and other quiet title issues. Morgan has also helped property owners navigate land use and zoning issues, provide legal advice as needed and representing them in administrative hearings.
Her background includes extensive work in agriculture and natural resource law, making her skill suitable for a variety of cases. Morgan is a former wilderness ranger, having spent time in the forests of Alaska, Colorado, Utah, and New Mexico. While working in New Mexico, Morgan supported small-scale producers in water rights litigation, representing their interests in hearings and balancing state requirements with individual needs. She has contributed to a variety of environmental and regulatory projects and has spent time learning about and providing advice regarding emerging challenges in mining law brought about by shifting judicial landscapes.
During law school, Morgan’s commitment to service led her to create “Wills for Ranchers,” a program providing estate planning information to underserved communities. This project was inspired by, and is a testament to, Morgan’s humble outlook on life. As a first generation college student, Morgan always looks for ways to give back to rural and historically underserved communities, similar to the one she came from, because she understands their profound need for these resources.
Morgan’s goal is to simplify complex legal issues for her clients and ensure they feel confident and informed when making momentous decisions. Currently, Morgan’s practice focuses on mining and water quality projects, driven by her belief that it is possible to both meet the country’s urgent, present needs while also protecting its natural resources.
Born and raised in northern Wisconsin, Morgan embraces an active, outdoor lifestyle. She cares for her dogs and livestock, and spends her free time gardening, hunting, fishing, and running trail races. She is an active member in the Elkhorn Search and Rescue Team.