Associates
John K. H. Akers, Jr., Senior Partner
John Akers has practiced oil and gas law in the state of Colorado for thirty years. He received his undergraduate degree from Gettysburg College in 1975 followed by his Jurist Doctorate from the University of Denver College of Law in 1978. He was then admitted to the Colorado Bar in March of 1979.
John started his oil and gas career as a landman and lobbyist for Exxon Minerals Company in Denver and moved through the land business to become a senior landman and finally the land manager for Weeks Energy Minerals Corporation. In 1985 John decided to establish his own practice as a federal unitization consultant and in 1988 expanded his practice to all areas of oil and gas law. In 1991 John was asked to join Hughes Clikeman and Associates as counsel for oil and gas, as well as personal injury. In 1994 he started his own practice with a specific focus on oil and gas law. He has had his own practice ever since.
John has extensive business and legal experience in all aspects of the oil and gas industry including, unitization, contracts, exploration, development, and extensive title experience.
Stan Grazis, Of Counsel
Stan Grazis has been a member of the Colorado Bar and has worked in the oil and gas industry as an attorney and geologist for over thirty years. He has devoted much of his law practice to the preparation of oil and gas title opinions.
Stan's law degree is from the University of Denver, where he was a member of the Order of St. Ives and managing editor of the Denver Law Journal. He also earned an M.S. in geology from the University of Colorado. He has published numerous papers on natural resources law and geologic maps through the U. S. Geological Survey. He also has taught continuing legal education courses and presented seminar papers on oil and gas law.
Prior to attending law school, Stan served as an officer in the U. S. Marine Corps.
Stan is a member of the Colorado and Denver Bar Associations, Denver Association of Oil and Gas Title Lawyers, Denver Association of Petroleum Landmen, American Association of Petroleum Geologists and Rocky Mountain Association of Geologists.
Eric Thompson, Attorney
Eric Thompson received his law degree from the University of Wyoming and is Bar Licensed in Wyoming and Colorado.
Jacque Jardine, Senior Paralegal
Jacque is a landman/paralegal with extensive experience examining county, state and federal records and drafting acquisition, drilling and division order title opinions, primarily for lands in Colorado and Wyoming.
Jacque has drafted title opinions for Akers & Associates LLC for more than nine years. She has worked with oil and gas companies, state and federal agencies and interest owners to resolve issues concerning mineral and leasehold ownership. She was employed by Davis, Graham & Stubbs LLP for twelve years in the oil and gas and corporate sections, where she reviewed title, drafted title opinions and curative instruments, and participated in due diligence for financings, mergers and acquisitions.
Jacque has a B.A. from the University of Arizona. Jacque is a member of Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation and Denver Association of Petroleum Landmen.
John "Austin" Akers, Paralegal
Austin Akers has worked in the oil and gas industry for the past five years intermittently while receiving a Bachelors Degree from Cornell University.
Austin started his career as a landman for Contex Energy Company in Denver and is now the President of Buffalo Royalties LLC, a mineral brokerage and investment company in Houston Texas.
Austin has business and legal experience in many aspects of the oil and gas industry including contracts, exploration, development, and title experience.
Sandra Christensen, Paralegal, Office Manager
Sandra Christensen attended Arapahoe Community College, graduating with honors, with an Associate of Applied Science and Paralegal degree. She was a member and was recognized with the "Distinguished Member" award in Phi Theta Kappa.
Sandra began her legal career working for the 18th Judicial District Attorneys' Office in 1992. From there she "jumped the fence" to work for Larry S. Pozner in criminal defense and Patrick Dale Tooley, ex-Chief Deputy District Attorney. To expand her knowledge base from criminal and civil litigation, Sandra went to work for Janet Perlstein of Haligman Lottner Ruben & Fishman, P.C. in transactional, leasing, and commercial real estate, which led her to oil & gas law with Akers & Associates LLC in November 2007.
Sandra has extensive paralegal experience which she now utilizes to manage Akers & Associates LLC. She has taken on the additional roles of bookkeeper, office manager and others.