Ryan McKee is one of Beatty & Wozniak’s resident experts when it comes to conquering regulatory hurdles for our clients. A member of the team for over a decade and a shareholder with the firm since 2018, Ryan’s practice focuses on permitting, compliance, and title issues on federal, state, and fee lands throughout the Rocky Mountain West.
Before practicing law, Ryan spent time as a landman, conducting research on mineral and leasehold titles in Colorado and Wyoming. Earning his J.D. from the University of Denver’s Sturm College of Law in 2009 with a focus on natural resources and environmental law, he quickly moved to work as a legal intern advocating for independent power producers in front of the Colorado Public Utilities Commission, supporting fair competition for both conventional and emerging energy resources.
At Beatty & Wozniak, Ryan counsels upstream and midstream companies on the full lifecycle of oil and gas development — from securing surface and mineral rights to obtaining permits and drafting agreements. He routinely advises on state and local siting applications, spacing and pooling orders, and regulatory variances. His background also includes negotiating purchase and sale agreements, joint operating agreements, master service contracts, and other commercial instruments essential to energy operations.
Outside of work, Ryan is an avid soccer player and fan and enjoys exploring the Colorado outdoors.
Education
University of Denver Sturm College of Law, Denver, Colorado
- J.D. – 2009
Southwestern University, Georgetown , Texas
- B.A. – 2004
- Honors: Member and Corresponding Secretary of Kappa Alpha Fraternity
- Honors: Member of S.U. soccer team, 2000-2001
- Major: Communications
- Major: Political Science
Bar Admissions
- Colorado, 2009
Professional Associations
- Colorado Bar Associations, Present
- Denver Bar Association, Present
- Denver Association of Oil and Gas Title Lawyers, Present
- Denver Association of Petroleum Landmen, Present
- Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation, Present
- Western Energy Alliance, Present
Representative Experience
- Prepared permitting applications for energy and midstream developments, including applications for location siting, the establishment of drilling and spacing units, pooling interest for development, and state and local rule variances
- Negotiated contracts impacting ownership and operations on fee, federal, and state lands, including purchase and sale agreements, oil and gas leases, surface use and master service agreements, and joint operating agreements
- Drafted instruments of conveyance of real property including deeds, stipulations of interest with language of cross conveyance, and release instruments
- Advised clients on permitting strategy and regulatory compliance issues
Published Works
- Federal Case Law Update (Co-authored), Oil, Gas & Energy Resources Law, Texas State Bar, Volume 36, No. 4, 2012
Classes & Seminars
- Federal Case Law Update (Co-Presenter), Denver Assn. of Oil & Gas Title Lawyers, 2012