John C. Moricoli Jr. to Receive Prestigious Eugene Kuntz Award

Media Contact: 
Melissa Caperton
(405) 325-2227
mcaperton@ou.edu

NORMAN, OKLA. – The University of Oklahoma College of Law will honor Oklahoma City attorney John C. Moricoli Jr. with the Eugene Kuntz Award in recognition of his distinguished career in the energy industry and his many contributions to oil and gas law.

The award will be presented at the Oklahoma Oil and Gas Reception on Oct. 30 at the Oklahoma Bar Center in Oklahoma City.

“John Moricoli Jr.’s dedication to energy law and regulation makes him the perfect candidate to receive this year’s Kuntz Award,” said OU Law Interim Dean Katheleen Guzman. “Since graduating with the OU Law class of 1974, he has steadfastly advanced oil and gas law in Oklahoma. Throughout his career, he has demonstrated his worthiness of an honor commemorating legendary law professor Eugene Kuntz.”

The Eugene Kuntz Award is named for former OU Law dean and renowned oil and gas professor Eugene Kuntz. The award is presented annually in conjunction with the Eugene Kuntz Conference on Natural Resources Law and Policy, one of the largest conferences in the nation focusing on oil and gas law. The conference, which will be held Friday, Nov. 1, is hosted by OU Law and the Oklahoma Bar Association’s Energy and Natural Resources Law Section.

Moricoli began his legal career with the Oklahoma City firm of Watson, McKenzie, Miller and Dunlevy, which later became Watson, McKenzie and Moricoli. In 1983, he founded the law firm of Moricoli, Wilson, Harris and Dubberstein – now Moricoli, Kellogg and Gleason – where he has since practiced.

His career has concentrated on oil, gas and energy law, with an emphasis on oil and gas regulatory matters before the Oklahoma Corporation Commission. He also has specialized in oil and gas related litigation, mineral title examination and transactional matters.

In addition to all Oklahoma courts to which he is licensed, Moricoli has practiced before all of the federal district courts in Oklahoma, as well as before the 10^th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. His contribution to Oklahoma jurisprudence in oil and gas matters has included his participation in over 25 published appellate decisions, many of them matters of first impression in the state of Oklahoma.

Moricoli graduated from New Mexico Military Institute in 1963 and went on to attend OU, where he graduated in 1968 with a B.S. in mechanical engineering. He then enlisted as a commissioned officer in the U.S. Army, where he served on active duty until 1971, serving in the Vietnam War and earning the rank of captain. Upon returning to civilian life, he enrolled in the OU College of Law, earning his juris doctorate in 1974.

OU Law is an international leader in oil and gas, natural resources and energy law – known as “ONE.” The college’s offerings in this area are synthesized within its ONE Center, which houses the elements of OU Law’s energy program: a J.D. certificate in energy and natural resources law; an online Master of Laws degree in energy and natural resources through the John B. Turner LL.M. Program; and an online Master of Legal Studies degree in oil, gas and energy law. In addition to hosting the annual Eugene Kuntz Conference, OU Law is also home to the Oil and Gas, Natural Resources, and Energy Journal (ONE J), the first journal of its kind.

The Oklahoma Oil and Gas Reception is sponsored by Devon Energy Corp., Mahaffey and Gore P.C., and Spencer Fane LLP. For more information on the reception or the Kuntz Conference, email cle@law.ou.edu or call (405) 325-7479.