Over the course of his distinguished career, veteran attorney John Reeves has established himself as one of Oklahoma’s most experienced and trusted oil and gas attorneys, highly respected for his sharp legal acumen and a deep knowledge of the energy industry that spans six decades. His clients range from independent drillers to large oil and gas companies who seek his advice and assistance in navigating complex regulatory issues and disputes.
John’s practice is concentrated on representing working interest owners in regulatory and oil and gas conservation matters before the Oklahoma Corporation Commission, including spacing, location exception, multi-unit horizontal well, increased density, and pooling proceedings. His vast experience includes assisting clients with obtaining authorization for units for secondary or tertiary recovery of oil and gas in reservoirs, including drafting plans of unitization and obtaining authorization for injection wells.
In addition to having nearly 50 years’ experience negotiating clients’ complex interests when dealing with the model form joint operating agreement, he is a recognized authority on pooling orders, which he analyzes, drafts and presents before the OCC. He has also successfully represented numerous clients in contested cases before the OCC and in appeals to the Oklahoma Supreme Court.
Accomplished in the practice of oil and gas law and policy, John drafted a significant amount of the state’s Shale Reservoir Development Act in 2011, which helped spur development of horizontal drilling, and he has been involved in drafting the Commission’s rules, particularly on the implementation of drilling horizontal wells. He also advised on the drafting of the 2025 amendments to the Oklahoma Carbon Capture and Geologic Sequestration Act. Over the years, he has also been a frequent guest speaker on oil and gas law and policy at numerous local, state and national events.
John’s achievements have earned him perennial inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America (natural resources law; oil and gas law), which has named him “Natural Resources Lawyer of the Year” in Oklahoma City for 2012, 2015, 2021, and 2024, and “Oil and Gas Lawyer of the Year” in Oklahoma City for 2014, 2016, 2019, and 2025. He was also honored in Oklahoma Super Lawyers for many years and is the 2021 recipient of the University of Oklahoma College of Law’s Eugene Kuntz Award.