John J. Griffin Jr.Director
John Griffin has practiced in the areas of energy, environmental and natural resources litigation for more than 40 years. He has extensive experience representing major oil companies and independent oil and gas producers in multi-state class action litigation, complex commercial litigation and environmental litigation. His energy law cases have involved various disputes over royalty payments, gas purchase contracts, gas processing agreements, mineral conveyances, construction and operating agreements, gross production and petroleum excise taxes, environmental damage from oil and gas operations, as well as the interpretation of oil and gas leases and other industry agreements.
John is also an experienced litigator in the area of natural resources law, including Oklahoma Water Law. He has represented mining companies and oil and gas companies in litigation before the Oklahoma Water Resources Board, the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality and the Oklahoma Department of Mines. John’s natural resources law cases have involved a wide variety of disputes over groundwater and surface water rights, compliance with applicable environmental regulations, remediation of pollution, applications for mining permits and compliance with mining regulations.
Ranked Band 1 in Chambers USA for Energy & Natural Resources, John has been selected for inclusion in Best Lawyers in natural resources law, oil and gas law and water law, in addition to being named Best Lawyers Oklahoma City Lawyer of the Year in the following practices: Energy law (2016, 2021); Natural Resources law (2017); Environmental law (2018); and Mass Tort Litigation and Class Actions – Defendants (2020). John has also been listed since 2006 in the Oklahoma Super Lawyers magazine.*
*Crowe & Dunlevy has no input in the rating methodologies used by Best Lawyers, Super Lawyers and Chambers USA publications.
New York University School of Law
New York, New York
J.D., 1975
Honors:
Root Tilden Scholar
Berg Award for Academic Performance
University of Oklahoma
Norman, Oklahoma
1972,
Honors:
With Special Distinction
Phi Beta Kappa
PE - ET Honor Society
Letzeiser Honor List
Robert Dean Bass Scholar of Political Science
Outstanding NROTC Student
Appointment to U.S. Naval Academy
President, Kappa Sigma Fraternity
Omicron Delta Kappa
Top Ten Freshmen
President
- Oklahoma, 1975
- U.S. District Court Western District of Oklahoma, 1975
- U.S. District Court Northern District of Oklahoma, 1978
- U.S. District Court Eastern District of Oklahoma, 1978
- U.S. Court of Appeals 10th Circuit, 1978
- U.S. Supreme Court, 1981
- Oklahoma Bar Association Mineral and Environmental Law Sections
- Oklahoma Bar Association Long Range Planning Committee
- Oklahoma Bar Association Special Committee on Informational Advertising
- Oklahoma Bar Association Young Lawyers Division, Chairman, 1979
- American Bar Association Section of Litigation, Energy Litigation Committee
- American Bar Association Section of Environment, Energy and Resources
- American Bar Association Section of Taxation
- Independent Petroleum Association of America
- Mid-Continent Oil and Gas Association
- Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation
- Mineral Lawyers Society of Oklahoma City
- Judicial Conference of the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit
- Mandatory Arbitration Panel of the United District Court of Appeals for the Western District of Oklahoma
- Ranked in Chambers Band 1 (Energy and Natural Resources)
- Listed in Best Lawyers in Energy Law, Energy Regulatory Law, Environmental Law, Litigation – Environmental, Mass Tort Litigation/Class Actions – Defendants, Natural Resources Law, Oil and Gas Law, Water Law (2005 - Present)
- Named Best Lawyers Lawyer of the Year (OKC) in Energy Law (2016, 2021)
- Named Best Lawyers Lawyer of the Year (OKC) in Natural Resources Law (2017, 2022)
- Named Best Lawyers 2018 Lawyer of the Year (OKC) in Environmental Law
- Named Best Lawyers 2020 Lawyer of the Year (OKC) in Mass Tort Litigation/Class Actions - Defendants
- Named Top 50 Oklahoma Super Lawyers (2018 - Present)
- Ranked in Oklahoma Super Lawyers, Energy & Natural Resources, Business Litigation, Environmental Litigation (2006 - Present)
- President, Phi Beta Kappa Association of Oklahoma City, 1989
- Outstanding Young Lawyer, Oklahoma Bar Association, 1980
- Boy Scouts of America Distinguished Service Award, 1983
- Root Tilden Program, Steering Committee
- Speaker, “Earthquake Litigation in the Oilfield,” Crowe & Dunlevy's Avoiding a Shakedown: Induced Seismicity and the Legal, Regulatory and Operational Impacts of Earthquakes in Oklahoma, July 16, 2015, Oklahoma City, OK
- Speaker, "Current Developments in Oil and Gas Law," Oklahoma Bar Association hosted CLE, May 17, 2013, Oklahoma City, OK
- Speaker, "Current Developments in Oil and Gas Law," Oklahoma Bar Association hosted CLE, May 16, 2013, Tulsa, OK
- Phi Beta Kappa Association of Oklahoma City, Executive Committee
- Bank of Edmond N.A., Organizer and Director
- BancEdmond, Inc., Chairman of Board of Directors
- Oklahoma City United Way, Chairman, Legal Division
- Allied Arts Foundation, Co-Chairman, Legal Division
- Legal Aid Society of Oklahoma County, Pro Bono Attorney
- Legal Aid Services of Oklahoma, Inc., Pro Bono Attorney
- Legal Aid Society of Western Oklahoma, Inc., Auditor
- Oklahoma Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service, Board of Directors
- Scoutmaster, Troop 193 Last Frontier Council, Boy Scouts of America
- Oklahoma County Juvenile Bureau Citizens Advisory Committee
- Oklahoma City Golf and Country Club, Board of Directors
