Zachary Smith

Associate

Education


  • University of Cincinnati, BS 2012
  • Chicago-Kent College of Law, JD, 2016

Admissions


  • Ohio

I joined Hameline & Eccleston, LLP in 2018 and developed expertise in the advising energy, oil, gas, and mineral clients on transaction matters covering properties in Ohio. In my practice, I focus on providing efficient and thorough mineral title opinions and due diligence services for clients looking to make mineral acquisitions.

After growing up in Cincinnati, Ohio, I received my bachelor’s degree from the University of Cincinnati. I then obtained my juris doctorate degree in Chicago from Chicago-Kent College of Law, where I focused my coursework on business law.

When I am not advising clients, I enjoy traveling to interesting food destinations and playing piano and saxophone. 

REPRESENTATIVE EXPERIENCE


  • Provide counsel to clients in the oil and gas industry interested in acquisition of property in the Ohio Utica Shale play
  • Develop strategies and advise clients regarding uncertainty surrounding current application of the Ohio Marketable Title Act to oil and gas interests
  • Negotiate and prepare purchase and sale agreements, land use agreements, and leasehold documents for oil and gas interests
  • Counsel business owners in need of full service entity formation, including choice of entity, entity formation, and drafting member agreements
  • Established complex family series LLC with valuable real estate holdings that included triggers to ensure the automatic passage of ownership interests and avoid probate issues
  • Advised client on risk management related to acquisition of leasehold interests, including issues regarding washout of nonoperating interests and operator duties
  • Assisted as title diligence in acquisition of $50MM worth of Oklahoma and Texas non-operating oil and gas assets