Related Practices

Admitted to Practice

Alaska, 1979
U.S. Supreme Court, 2009
U.S. Court of Appeals 9th Circuit, 1990
U.S. District Court District of Alaska, 1980

Michael Jungreis

Partner

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Anchorage

T907.257.5372

F907.257.5352

Michael Jungreis has practiced law in Alaska since 1979. His practice is focused on natural resources, complex real property and commercial transactions, and commercial litigation.

Michael’s litigation experience includes numerous trials and appeals on many facets of business and real estate issues. Recent transactional work includes mining entity formation, mining property due diligence and acquisition, numerous commercial property acquisitions and sales, oil and gas transactions, and commercial financing issues. The recent disputes Michael has handled have been in the areas of construction; real property, including contaminated properties litigation; utilities, oil and gas agreements and other contracts; and partnership dissolutions. Michael has negotiated and documented a variety of business transactions, including the formation of new businesses, reorganizations, sales of assets, leases, intellectual property licenses, mining property acquisitions, and other contracts.

Representative Experience

Hilcorp v. PEAO

Defending oil and gas lessee in suit from unit operator for $46 million in unpaid unit expenses in Anchorage Superior Court. Issues include case of first impression on foreclosure of oil and gas lien; construction of oil and gas unit and unit operating agreements; propriety of expenses and amount of gas sale offsets. (Ongoing)

Mining claim acquisition and maintenance

Title work and maintenance of federal mining claims for uranium and rare earth mining company. (Ongoing)

Mining joint venture for Kaskanak Copper LLC

Negotiate mining joint venture regarding several hundred State of Alaska lode mining claims, including due diligence on claims, claim maintenance, negotiation of joint venture and joint venture documentation, formation of joint venture entities, and ongoing administration of joint venture. (Ongoing)

Financing for Cook Inlet Energy

Provide due diligence, title investigation and opinions for Alaska portions of financing of oil and gas development project. (2012)

Holiday v. Debenham Properties*

Defense of claims of easement and use restrictions on adjacent commercial properties, result was a settlement adopting mutually acceptable property restrictions. (2011)

In re Estate of Fiske*

Successful defense of personal representative of probate estate regarding classification of joint property as non-estate property against claims of other heir. (2011)

Polar LNG docket at Reg. Comm. of AK

Proceeding for North Slope gas pipeline before Regulatory Commission of Alaska. Represented Norgasco, Inc. (the Deadhorse, Alaska-based gas utility) who would be both a competitor, a possible supplier to, and a possible customer of, the proposed new pipeline. (2011)

Dutch Harbor property acquisition for Strawberry Hill LLC*

Represented buyer in purchase of warehouse, office, and apartment buildings from bankruptcy estate, including modification of ground leases, bankruptcy court approval, dealing with secured creditors, long-term sublessee issues, erosion issues, title issues, and other complexities. (2009)

Young v. P & M Garden Service*

Defense of majority shareholder in action for dissolution of commercial greenhouse operation; arbitration and mediation successful in preserving company for heirs of client. (2009)

Acquisition of gold mine*

Perform title due diligence and transfer of leases, claims and permits for large, operating gold mine in Alaska. (2008)

Harbor Enterprises v. Alaska Rubber*

Successful litigation for Harbor Enterprises to recover oil spill remediation costs. (2007)

JD Steel v. Alaska Mechanical*

Represented large gold mine in lien foreclosure and construction dispute. Matter successfully resolved with no foreclosure. (2006)

Murray v. Ledbetter*

Successful Alaska Supreme Court appeal reversing finding of fraud on the court and reinstating default judgment. (2006)

Captain Cook Estates v. Radford*

Represented predecessor trailer park in litigation with successor subdivision developer in litigation regarding cleanup from leaking fuel oil network.

Mining joint venture formation*

Formation of joint venture for iron mining project in Southeast Alaska.

* Denotes experience completed at a prior firm

Additional Qualifications

Managing Shareholder, Hartig Rhodes Hoge & Lekisch, Anchorage
Heller Ehrman White & McAuliffe, Anchorage
Section Chief, Federal Deposit Insurance Agency (in charge of Alaska litigation), Anchorage

Professional & Community Activities

Board Member, 2010-present; President – Commonwealth North
Board Member, Resource Development Council for Alaska, 2007-present
Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation, 2006-present
Member, 1979-present; Co-chair, Intellectual Property Section, 2000-2005; Discipline Panel, 1996-present; Fee Arbitration Panel, 1989-1997; Pro Bono Panel, 1983-1997; Statute and Bylaws Committee, 1989-1991 – Alaska Bar Association
Member, 1994-1998; President, 1998 – Anchorage Inn of Court
Local Magistrate Rules Revision Committee, U.S. District Court, 1996
Founding Member, Alaska High-Tech Business Council, 1995-2001
Chair, Alaska Governor's DNA Task Force, 1990-1991
Chair, Chugach Electric Association Bylaws Committee, 1989-1990
Board Member, Alaska Association for Historic Preservation,1989-1991
President, 1985-1988; Board Member, 1981-1989 – Anchorage Festival of Music

Education

J.D., University of Miami School of Law, 1978
- Associate Editor, Lawyer of the Americas (now University of Miami Journal of Interamerican Law)
- Jessup International Moot Court Team
B.A., Mathematics, University of Chicago, 1975