Morgan Lewis

Matthew H. Sepp

Senior Attorney

Matthew H. Sepp represents clients in a wide range of complex commercial litigation matters, with an emphasis on disputes in the energy and construction industries. His experience includes matters before the Environmental Hearing Board, state and federal courts, and administrative boards. Matthew also has co-authored several articles on emerging oil, gas, and environmental developments.

selected representations

  • Successfully represented an independent oil and gas operator against claims that hydraulic fracturing caused groundwater contamination. The landowner claimed contamination from deep upward migration of fracturing fluids from target shale, from releases from a drill cuttings pit and an impoundment, and from surficial spills and releases. The case was tried over the course of 20 hearing days before the Pennsylvania Environmental Hearing Board (EHB) in the first trial of its kind before the EHB.
  • Represented an oil and gas producer in litigation relating to claims of soil and water contamination, property damage, and personal injury.
  • Represented an oil and gas producer in litigation relating to preemption and land use issues.
  • Represented oil and gas producers in quiet title actions.
  • Represented oil and gas producers in lease and royalty disputes.
  • Represented a landowner in a criminal investigation alleging pollution of Commonwealth waters and destroying wetlands.
  • Represented an oil and gas producer against claims for breach of contract, negligence, fraud, fraud in the inducement, medical monitoring, nuisance, conspiracy, interference with contractual relations, and civil trespass.
  • Representing a construction manager against job-site personal injury claims on construction projects.

Education

  • Duquesne University School of Law, 1999, J.D.
  • University of Pittsburgh, 1996, B.A., Cum Laude

Admissions

  • Pennsylvania
  • Ohio
  • U.S. District Courts for the Middle and Western Districts of Pennsylvania

Awards and Affiliations

Member, Pennsylvania Bar Association

Member, Washington County Bar Association

Member, Marcellus Shale Coalition

Publications

Winter 2016 - Pennsylvania Companies are Allowed to Seek Pre-Enforcement Declaratory Relief, Environmental Litigation – American Bar Association Section of Litigation

December 2015 - District Court Invalidates Local Ordinance Prohibiting the Disposal of Waste from Natural Gas Development, Environmental Liability, Enforcement & Penalties Reporter, Vol. 26 No. 1

10/19/2015 - PHMSA Proposes to Expand the Requirements for Pipelines Carrying Hazardous Liquids

4/7/2015 - Looking Under Hydraulic Fracturing's Surface (Part I): Pre-Drill Water Testing Regulations

2014–2015 - Contributor, Environmental Spill Reporting Handbook, Vol. 1 and 2 Thompson-Reuters

Winter 2015 - Hydraulic Fracking Debate: The Importance of Pre-Drill Water-Quality Testing Environmental Litigation, American Bar Association Section of Litigation

12/18/2014 - New York Bans Hydraulic Fracturing

7/22/2014 - The Next Decade of Pennsylvania Shale Development, The Legal Intelligencer

6/24/2014 - Navigating the Pitfalls of Parallel Challenges to Shale Development, The Legal Intelligencer

2/5/2014 - Court Holds Reused Water and Condensate Are Not RCRA Solid or Hazardous Waste

12/20/2013 - Pennsylvania High Court Rules on Amended Oil and Gas Act

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