Stites & Harbison, PLLC

1958-2010 In Memoriam

Stephen G. Allen, 51, died on April 1, 2010, after a courageous battle with cancer.

He was trained as a professional mining engineer—an asset he used to help his clients find innovative solutions for sensitive environmental and transactional issues. After he earned his mining degree, Steve worked for a major Eastern Kentucky coal company, beginning a 25-plus year career in the field of coal mining and natural resources.  He was a LEED Accredited Professional and a member of the firm's Green Law Practice Group.

Steve represented several Appalachian and Midwestern coal producers, first as an attorney based in Philadelphia and then upon his return to his native Kentucky. His practice centered on legal and environmental aspects of coal mining, including mineral development and property transactions, environmental compliance, reclamation surety bonds and coal supply transactions.

He was Co-Chair of the firm's Ethics Committee and is listed in The Best Lawyers in America® (2007-2010) and Kentucky SuperLawyers (2009).

 Recent Assignments

• Led team of attorneys in due diligence for potential purchaser of $400+ million coal mining operations
• Frequently represented large and small coal producers in navigating transfer, assignment or sale of mining permits, ownership and control, and applicant violator system (AVS) issues
• Counseled a seller through the protracted negotiations for the sale of 46 mining permits of a coal company in southern West Virginia
• Counseled numerous coal producers on issues of force majeure under coal supply contracts

 Recent Speaking Engagements and Publications

• "Coal Industry Land Law," HalfMoon Seminars, Lexington, Ky., January 22, 2010

• "Mineral Transactions: From Due Diligence to Closing—Permit Transfers," 31st Annual Mineral Law Conference, October 2006

• "Engineer's Liability Under Environmental Laws," the 18th Annual Kentucky Professional Engineers in Mining Seminar, August 2005
• "Force Majeure under Coal Supply Contracts," the 26th Annual Institute of the Energy & Mineral Law Foundation, May 2005
• "Coal Supply Contracts: Impossibility, Commercial Impracticability, and Failure of Purpose," the 29th Annual Mineral Law Conference, October 2004

Before Stites & Harbison

Mr. Allen was a professional mining engineer for a large energy company with extensive mining operations in Appalachia for almost seven years before he became an attorney. After law school, Mr. Allen practiced with a prominent Philadelphia law firm where his practice was focused almost exclusively on coal mining.

More Than Stites & Harbison

Steve was a Trustee and member of the Executive Committee of the Energy & Mineral Law Foundation. He was most recently the Program Chair for EMLF's 30th Annual Institute in May 2009, and Course Coordinator of the EMLF's inaugural Coal Law Short Course in Morgantown, West Virginia, in August 2009.  He was the Chair of the Natural Resources Section of the Kentucky Bar Association for 2006-2007. He was a professional mining engineer licensed in Kentucky and Pennsylvania.

Besides Stites & Harbison

He was fond of woodworking, making rustic furniture and working on his family's cabin in the mountains.