Steve joined Pioneer Oil following a 32-year career in private practice as a mineral attorney. He began his legal career as an associate with the Evansville, Indiana based law firm, Buthod, Longest, Buthod, and Reitman and later as a partner at Buthod, Longest, Clark, Reitman, Steedman, and Link. Prior to joining Pioneer, he maintained a solo practice, representing independent oil and gas producers, operators, crude oil purchasers and industry service companies and professionals.
He is past President of the Indiana Oil and Gas Association (INOGA) and served that organization as its general counsel for over 10 years. He was awarded the Hall of Fame Award in 2017. Steve was appointed by State Review of Oil and Natural Gas Environmental Regulations, Inc. (STRONGER), under auspices of the Interstate Oil and Gas Compact Commission, as the oil and gas industry representative to a 9-person multi-stakeholder team charged with reviewing and recommending improvements to Indiana’s existing oil and gas regulatory framework and programs. (April 2005).
In addition to INOGA, Steve’s other memberships include the Indiana State Bar Association, the Evansville Bar Association and the Association of Corporate Counsel. He is admitted to practice before the Indiana Supreme Court, the U.S District Court for the Southern District of Indiana, the U.S Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit and the U.S Tax Court. He is frequent Author and Lecturer on oil and gas matters, including “Anatomy of an Oil and Gas Lease”, ICLEF, Energy and Mineral Law of Indiana (2008); “Oil and Gas Matters”, ICLEF, Energy Law in Indiana: Renewable and Non-Renewable Resources (2012) and “Handling Mineral Interest in Estate and Trust Administration, EBA (2012).
Steve received his B.A from Eastern Illinois University and his J.D from the University of Illinois College of Law.
