Kit F. Pettit, Partner

kpettit@bernsteinlaw.com
412-456-8115
412-456-8135 fax
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Twitter: @BBlawfirmPA

Kit F. Pettit is a Partner with Bernstein-Burkley, P.C. and is responsible for the management of the firm’s Real Estate and Oil, Gas & Energy practices.

Kit’s practice focuses on transactional matters related to the acquisition, sale and development of commercial real estate and other business transactions. He also routinely represents financial institutions and borrowers in commercial and corporate finance transactions, devoting significant time in the area of real estate and construction financing. Additionally, Kit represents commercial and residential property owners in real estate tax assessment appeals.

Kit’s oil, gas and energy-related work focuses on the representation of property owners in leasing matters and all types of land use agreements. He has counseled landowners and landowner groups in over 20 counties throughout Pennsylvania, and is well-respected as a landowner’s advocate in the industry. Kit also represents business clients with various interests in the Marcellus and Utica Shale plays. He provides due diligence support to clients in the sale of oil and gas-related assets and recently closed a $10+ million-dollar transaction on behalf of a client with a publicly traded company.

In addition to Kit’s real estate and oil and gas-related work, Kit acts as outside general counsel to numerous small- to mid-size companies and has experience in corporate organization and formation, commercial leases and various type of business contracts. Kit also provides support to the firm’s Bankruptcy & Restructuring group by documenting workouts and debt restructures.

Prior to joining Bernstein-Burkley, P.C. in 2010, Kit served as In-House Counsel and a Member of the Board of Managers to several affiliated Pittsburgh based business entities with aggregate annual revenues in excess of $50 million.

Kit has lectured on various oil and gas-related topics, and he has been a panelist and speaker for the Pennsylvania Bar Institute, Allegheny County Bar Association, Lorman Educational Services, National Association of Royalty Owners (N.A.R.O.) and the Vistage International.

Background:

• Born in Pittsburgh, PA
• Admitted to the bar of Pennsylvania in 2002
• Admitted to practice before the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania 2003
• Ohio University, B.S., Cum Laude, Pre-Law/Legal Communications 1999
• University of Pittsburgh School of Law, J.D., 2002

Affiliations and Memberships:

• Allegheny County Bar Association
• Pennsylvania Bar Association
• National Association of Industrial and Office Properties
• Young Professionals in Energy
• National Association of Royalty Owners
• Western Pennsylvania Conservancy
• Youth Wrestling Coach, Upper St. Clair Athletic Association

Publications:

• Protecting a Land Owner’s Rights in Negotiating an Oil & Gas Lease
• Pipeline Easements for Marcellus Shale Development
• A Few Facts About Division Orders and Natural Gas Leases
• Navigating Oil and Gas Lease Issues (Contributor)
• Choosing the Best Form for a Business Entity
• Abandoned and Unclaimed Royalties
• Quoted in, “Pa Democrat Hopefuls United for Shale Gas Severance Tax,” Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, May 5, 2014
• Quoted in, “Allegheny County Council  Goes Deep into Deer Lakes Drilling Plan,” Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, April 13, 2014
• Quoted in, “Allegheny County’s Airport Gas Drilling Pact with Consol a Great Deal, Lawyer Says,” Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, March 5, 2013
• Quoted in, “Checks from Drilling May Dry Up Amid Low Gas Prices,” Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, May 23, 2012
• Quoted in, “A Big Firm Moves In, Landowners Face New Types of Shale Leases,” Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, December 11, 2012