Andrew A. Irvine

Andrew Irvine is a seasoned legal professional with nearly 20 years in the mining and energy sectors, specializing in mineral tenure, transactions, and environmental compliance. He has demonstrated mastery in navigating complex legal landscapes, leading to successful project permitting and multimillion-dollar transactions, and is adept at fostering collaborative partnerships and committed to excellence in client service.

Before joining Stoel Rives, Andrew was legal & corporate engagement director for the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative; and a solo practitioner focusing on permitting, environmental review and compliance, public lands, and wildlife. He was awarded a Fulbright U.S. Scholar to Ecuador, where he investigated and developed regulatory solutions to problems resulting from artisanal and small-scale mining in the country.

Education

Lewis & Clark Law School, J.D., Certificate in Environmental & Natural Resources Law, 2006

Colorado School of Mines, M.S., Mineral Economics, Environment & Public Policy Specialization, 2003

University of Notre Dame, B.S., Geological Sciences, 2001

Admissions

Colorado

Wyoming

U.S. District Court for the District of Wyoming

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit

U.S. Court of Federal Claims

Languages

• Led environmental permitting and compliance initiatives for significant groundwater development and a multistate natural gas pipeline, demonstrating skill in navigating complex legal frameworks, administrative review, and regulatory compliance.
• Directed comprehensive due diligence for high-value mining transactions, including uranium project financing and asset purchases, as well as successful sales of $2.8 billion in copper/nickel assets and $1.3 billion in coal assets.
• Successfully overturned federal government application of reclamation fee provision to lignite coal at a major Wyoming mine.
• Prepared extensive federal and state mineral title opinions for major potash development in New Mexico and developed innovative mineral leasing option for potash project in Nevada.

Insights & Presentations

Publications

• “From expectations to ESG: Strengthening corporate accountability,” Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative, December 13, 2023
• “Meeting the EITI supporting company expectations: An assessment of current practice,” Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative, June 11, 2021
• “The Electrical Vehicle Movement—How Policy and Regulations are Fueling Momentum and Impacts in the Global Energy and Mining Industries,” Special Institute on International Mining and Oil & Gas Law, Development, and Investment, FNREL, April 1, 2019
• “Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining in Ecuador--Building and Implementing an Effective Legal Framework,” Int'l Mining and Oil & Gas Law, Dev. and Investment, Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation (RMMLF), April 1, 2017
• Scope of Title; Definitions; Administration of Public Lands and Minerals, chapter 3–Federal Lands and Minerals, The American Law of Mining 2nd edition, January 1, 2016
• “The Plight of the Packgoat: Legal Issues Concerning Removal of Domestic Livestock from Public Lands Across the West,” Wyoming State Bar, ENR Section, June 1, 2015
• “Wyoming—Mining,” Mineral Law Newsletter, RMMLF, January 1, 2015

Presentations

• “Beyond the Horizon: The Role of Counsel in Driving a Strategic Approach to ESG and Sustainability,” Special Institute on Human Rights, Natural Resources and Energy Law, Foundation for Natural Resources and Energy Law (FNREL), Coral Gables, Florida, April 11–12, 2024
• “Coup you gonna call?—GCs as a quarterback to geo-political risk management” (moderator), African Mining Indaba General Counsel Forum, Cape Town, South Africa, February 8, 2024
• “Breaking the Taboo: a genuine conversation about tackling corruption risks in an increasingly competitive environment,” Investing in African Mining Indaba, Cape Town, South Africa, February 6, 2024
• “Navigating political complexity and enabling effective collaboration on critical mineral supply chains certification,” Future Minerals Forum, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, January 11, 2024
• “Race to the Top: How EITI Company Disclosures Contribute to ESG Performance,” EITI Global Conference, Dakar, Senegal, June 13–14, 2023
• “The Role of Industry in Driving Effective ESG Performance” (moderator), Special Institute on International Mining and Oil & Gas Law, Development, and Investment, FNREL, Mexico City, Mexico, April 19–21, 2023
• “Leveraging Extractive Sector Transparency – ESTMA and EITI,” Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada (PDAC) Side Event, Toronto, Canada, March 5, 2023
• “Balancing the Triangle of Trust Between Communities, Government and Investors,” Future Minerals Forum, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, January 11–12 2023
• “Investor Interview: Top ESG Considerations for Those in Finance and Investment,” International Mining and Resources Conference + Expo (IMARC), Sydney, Australia, November 2–4, 2022
• “Working Together to Improve Governance in the Long-term” (moderator), General Counsel Forum—A Legal Indaba, Cape Town, South Africa, May 12, 2022
• “IRAQ IOC Forum: Global Perspective on Company Engagement in the EITI,” IRAQ IOC Forum, Virtual, February 14, 2022
• “Keynote Panel Discussion: Investor Requirements—What Can Countries Considered High Risk do to Attract Investment?” Future Minerals Forum, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, January 11–13, 2022
• “Levelling the Playing Field: Improving NOC AND IOC Transparency,” EITI Leaders’ Summit: The Future of Energy, Africa Oil Week, Dubai, United Arab Emirates, November 11, 2021
• “How Extractive Companies Can Lead on BOT” (moderator), Beneficial Ownership Transparency Forum, London, United Kingdom, September 7, 2021
• “Qatar Petroleum and the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative: Implications for State Companies in the Middle East and North Africa,” Natural Resource Governance Institute, Virtual, July 1, 2021
• “March Towards Accountability” (moderator), Extractives General Counsel Forum, Virtual, June 29, 2021
• “Shining Light to Improve Efficiency: Taking the Lead on SOE Transparency,” EITI Leaders’ Summit on Enhancing Transparency of State-Owned Enterprises in the Extractive Industries, Cape Town, South Africa, November 24, 2020
• “Panel Discussion: Sustainability,” General Counsel Forum: A Legal Indaba, Cape Town, South Africa, February 6, 2020
• “Enhancing Transparency in National Oil Companies,” 1st OPEC—ECS—OFID Annual Legal Workshop on Energy, Law and Development, OPEC Secretariat, Vienna, Austria, October 30–31, 2019
• “Workshop with Mining Industry on Beneficial Ownership Transparency,” EITI Workshop, Lusaka, Zambia, October 10, 2019
• “The Role of Institutional Lenders and Investors in Promoting Social and Environmental Responsibility,” International Bar Association 2019 Annual Conference, Seoul, South Korea, September 23–27, 2019
• “Securing Mineral Supply at the Heart of the Electric-Car Boom,”, International Bar Association 2019 Annual Conference, Seoul, South Korea, September 23–27, 2019
• “The Electric Vehicle Movement—How Policy and Regulations Are Fueling Momentum and Impacts on the Global Energy and Mining Industries,” Special Institute on International Mining and Oil & Gas Law, Development, and Investment, Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, April 10-12, April

• Fulbright U.S. Scholar Award, U.S. Department of State, J. William Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board, January 2016

Professional

• Co-Chair, Sustainability Committee, Special Institute on International Mining & Energy Law, Development, and Investment, The Foundation for Natural Resources and Energy Law, 2019–2023
• The Foundation for Natural Resources and Energy Law
• Wyoming Mining Reporter, Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation (RMMLF) Mineral Law Newsletter, 2015–2019
• Environment & CSR Committee, Int'l Mining and Oil & Gas Law, Dev. and Investment, Brazil, RMMLF, 2018–2019
• Environment & Sustainability Committee, Int'l Mining and Oil & Gas Law, Dev. and Investment, Ecuador, RMMLF, 2016–2017
• Mining Section Program Committee, International Mining and Oil & Gas Law Special Institute, RMMLF, 2013–2014

Civic

• Board Member, Yellowstone-Teton Clean Cities, designee of U.S. Dept. of Energy Clean Cities Program, 2017–2019
• Mentor, Teton Mentor Project, Teton County School District #1, 2008–2016