Matt Allen is an experienced energy and regulatory attorney and strategic advisor whose practice is focused on oil and gas conservation matters before the Oklahoma Corporation Commission, including legislative proceedings, uncontested and contested adjudicative proceedings, and appeals to the Oklahoma Supreme Court. He routinely advises clients on a myriad of conservation, pollution and enforcement matters, including spacing, force pooling, unitizations, disposal, and related issues. He provides practical solutions to achieve operational and strategic goals, including obtaining permits to drill, advising on regulatory issues in acquisitions and divestments of oil and gas interests, and helping solve complex issues when the unexpected happens before, during, or after the drilling of a well.
He also advises clients on proposed energy legislation at the state level and has contributed to the drafting of the Shale Reservoir Development Act of 2011, the Oklahoma Energy Jobs Act of 2017, the Oklahoma Extended Lateral Act of 2017, and the 2025 amendments to the Oklahoma Carbon Capture and Geologic Sequestration Act.
Matt truly focuses on partnering with his clients in their operations. He regularly provides in-house education to in-house landmen in Commission matters, promoting optimal outcomes for the client. He understands the time-sensitive nature of the upstream oil and gas industry, working to keep his clients ahead of the drilling rig. Risk mitigation for the client is a cornerstone of Matt’s practice. He assists his clients in avoiding costly delays caused by the real-time changes in operational plans, and also unexpected changes of circumstances that are ever-present in the oilfield.
Regarded for his expertise in oil and gas law and regulatory policy, Matt has been a guest presenter at numerous energy industry events, including the Eugene Kuntz Conference on Natural Resources Law and Policy, as well as those sponsored by the Natural Resources and Energy Law Institute (formerly the Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Institute), Mineral Lawyers Society of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma City Association of Petroleum Landmen, and Tulsa Association of Petroleum Landmen. Since 2019, he has served on the planning committee of the Kuntz Conference and previously served on various planning committees for the Foundation for National Resources and Energy Law’s Annual Institute.
In addition to his private practice, Matt serves as an adjunct professor of oil and gas regulation law at the Oklahoma City University School of Law.
Matt’s achievements have earned him inclusion in Oklahoma Super Lawyers and The Best Lawyers in America (energy and regulatory law; energy law; oil and gas law), and The Journal Record’s 2016 list of Achievers Under 40 for his contributions to oil and gas legislation in Oklahoma. Best Lawyers named him “Energy Regulatory Lawyer of the Year” in Oklahoma City for 2027.