Mr. Preservati has over 25 years of experience in the energy industry as a C-suite executive, general counsel and litigator. His primary area of practice is energy law with an emphasis in complex litigation and energy/climate policy.

Bar Admissions

Admissions

• West Virginia State Bar
• Illinois State Bar
• West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals
• Illinois Supreme Court
• United States Supreme Court
• United States District Courts for the Northern and Southern Districts of West Virginia
• United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois
• United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth and Seventh Circuits

Education

• University of Notre Dame, B.A.
• Loyola University Chicago School of Law, J.D.
• Johns Hopkins University, M.S., Energy Policy and Climate, summa cum laude

 

Significant Accomplishments

Representing energy clients in all facets of litigation, including complex, “bet-the-company” matters

Representing coal companies in civil and criminal investigations relating to mining injuries and fatalities

Representing corporate plaintiffs in multi-million dollar disputes

Representing global Fortune 100 company and serving as de facto general counsel for multiple subsidiaries

Representing energy clients before state and federal courts

Representing energy clients before state and federal administrative agencies

Representing clients in high-stakes litigation regarding the sterilization of millions of tons of recoverable coal reserves

Drafted West Virginia statutes and regulations regarding the drilling and operation of oil and natural gas wells and natural gas pipeline safety

Representing businesses in personal injury, medical malpractice and product liability matters

As in-house counsel for a Fortune 500 electric utility, litigated and managed thousands of personal injury, asbestos and wrongful death cases; managed admiralty and maritime operations

Representing clients in federal white-collar criminal cases and assisting corporations in responding to complex federal grand jury subpoenas

Publications & Presentations

• Author, Understanding the Shortfalls of the 2021 Interim Social Cost of Carbon, Environmental & Energy Litigation, American Bar Association Litigation Section, Summer 2022, Vol. 6 No. 3
• Presenter, Interference with Coal Mining Operations, National Council of Coal Lessors, Washington, D.C.
• Presenter, Oil & Gas Issues, 35th Annual West Virginia Mining Symposium, Charleston, WV
• Presenter, Oil & Gas Interferences with Coal Mining Operations, 33rd Kentucky Mineral Law Conference, Lexington, KY
• Presenter, Marking Gas Lines, 36th Annual West Virginia Mining Symposium, Charleston, WV
• Presenter, Practical Implications of Oil & Gas Well Spacing for Coal Mining Operations, Spilman Environmental Forum, Wheeling, WV
• Interviewer, Climate Change and Fossil Fuels, Interview of Dr. Patrick Moore, Founder of Greenpeace, Vancouver, Canada
• Presenter, Recent Developments in Global Energy Markets, Lex Mundi, Prague, Czech Republic
• Presenter, Overview of Recent Climate Change Litigation, Spilman Energy Forum, Charleston, WV
• Moderator, Conversations on Climate Change, panel of four worldrenowned climate scientists, Spilman Energy Forum, Charleston, WV
• Presenter, Impacts of Citizen Groups & Non-Governmental Organizations in Energy and Renewable Efforts, Lex Mundi Joint Global Meeting, Columbia University, New York, NY
• Presenter, Geo-Political Challenges to Energy System Integration (ESI), Lex Mundi Environmental and Energy Joint Global Meeting, Paris, France
• Author, The US Should Pursue CCS Technology, Johns Hopkins University
• Author, Climate Change Adaptation Plan for the Ohio River Basin, Johns Hopkins University
• Interviewer, European Commission Carbon Markets, Interview of Damian Meadows of European Commission
• Author, China's National Climate Policy: Goals vs. Implementation, Johns Hopkins University
• Author, Cognitive Dissonance and the Appalachian Coal Miner's Aversion to Electric Vehicles, Johns Hopkins University
• Author, The Road Less Followed - Changing the Allocation of Funding between Highways and Mass Transit in Future Federal Surface Transportation Bills, Johns Hopkins University
• Author, Multi-Step Framework for Developing Climate Change Adaptation Response Plans, Johns Hopkins University
• Author, FERC Order 1000 - A Useful Tool that Needs Revamping, Johns Hopkins University
• Author, Climate Change Induced Migration Case Study - Bangladesh, Johns Hopkins University
• Author, Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies - Savannah, Georgia, Johns Hopkins University
• Author, Whether the Social Cost of Carbon Determined Pursuant to President Biden's Executive Order 13990 Meets the Admissibility Requirements for Scientific Expert Testimony in U.S. Federal Court, Johns Hopkins University
• Panelist, Pathways for Workforce Development and Training - Enabling Regional and Community Benefits - West Virginia Hydrogen Hub Coalition - Charleston, WV