PHONE: 916.246.7340
EMAIL: cyamachika@daycartermurphy.com

Carlin A. Yamachika

PRACTICE AREAS

Oil & Gas
Renewable & Traditional Energy
Litigation
Opinions

EDUCATION

Northwestern School of Law of Lewis & Clark College (J.D., 1999; Environmental and Natural Resources Certificate)
Western Washington University (B.S., Environmental Policy and Assessment, 1996)

ADMITTED TO PRACTICE IN

California
Oregon

Carlin counsels energy clients on a wide range of complex real estate matters. With a focus on meeting demanding timelines, she negotiates transactions that advance strategic objectives and safeguard clients’ long-term interests. Her comprehensive understanding of title and real estate issues have been instrumental in the successful development and financing of energy projects across the oil and gas, geothermal, and renewable energy sectors.

As the energy landscape evolves, Carlin continues to adapt her practice to best serve her clients’ emerging needs. Her deep knowledge of the oil and gas industry allows her to guide clients through the ever-changing challenges of drilling operations and bringing production online. She leverages her extensive oil and gas experience to support clients developing carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) projects—negotiating and drafting leases, easements, and other real estate agreements, and issuing drilling and pore space title opinions.

Carlin also plays an integral role in helping renewable energy clients bring their innovative development ideas to fruition. Ensuring that each project has the necessary site control, she guides clients through title due diligence and prepares and secures critical real estate documentation for prospective sites. Carlin’s ability to balance investor requirements with practical business objectives makes her a trusted advisor in complex tax equity transactions.

  • Stoel Rives, LLP, Portland, Oregon, associate attorney (2006-2007)
  • Downey Brand, LLP, Sacramento, California, associate attorney (1999-2006)

Oil & Gas

  • Prepare drilling, acquisition, division order, supplemental, and financing title opinions on onshore, offshore, private, state, and federal lands.
  • Negotiate, draft and analyze all types of operational and transactional agreements, including purchase and sale agreements, joint operating agreements, unit agreements, farmout agreements, development and exploration agreements, leases, surface use agreements, and easements.
  • Served as special counsel in connection with numerous multi-million dollar project finance transactions, including the negotiation, drafting, and analysis of transaction documents, the conduct of real property title due diligence and the issuance of financing title opinions, and related project finance advice and counsel.
  • Advised on all title, due diligence, and transactional issues in numerous property acquisitions, with total deal value exceeding billions of dollars.
  • Worked on complex offshore leasing proposals and related title due diligence for financing transactions.
  • Advised clients on the interpretation and enforcement of Joint Operating Agreements and associated exhibits, including Gas Balancing Agreements and COPAS Accounting Procedures.
  • Advised clients on interpreting oil and gas leases, including allowable royalty deductions, cessation of production implications, notice of default matters, royalty suspensions, and assignment consents.
  • Served as local real estate counsel in a full range of commercial finance transactions.
  • Handled a surface owner dispute regarding drilling access and performed related comprehensive title review.

Renewable & Traditional Energy

  • Deliver full-scope real estate support for wind, solar, battery energy storage, and geothermal projects, including drafting and negotiating leases, easements, common facilities agreements, and other key documents.
  • Provided real estate support for the development of major underground gas storage projects involving the acquisition of rights in land for storage, pipeline and compressor station easements, and mineral owner consents, as well as the negotiation of master services agreements, drilling contracts, and other operational and transactional documents.
  • Managed real estate aspects of a 40 MW AC solar project, from title review and site acquisition and documentation to supporting a tax equity transaction.
  • Conducted real estate due diligence for acquisition of a 100 MW AC solar project.

Litigation

  • Defended an oil and gas E&P company against claims of an implied covenant of further exploration in a lease, achieving a published appellate decision. (Lundin/Weber Co. v. Brea Oil Co. (2004) 117 Cal.App.4th 427.)

  • The Foundation for Natural Resources and Energy Law
    • Renewable Energy Task Force (2019-2023)
    • Pacific Northwest Reporter (2007-2021)
  • California Women in Energy
  • California Independent Petroleum Association
  • Bakersfield Association of Petroleum Landmen

  • Castles and Bears, Inc., Past Secretary (September 2015 - 2017)
  • Oregon Humane Society, Volunteer (September 2008 – 2010)
  • Legal Aid Services of Oregon, Pro Bono Volunteer (2007)
  • Challenge Air for Kids and Friends, Volunteer (August 2007)
  • Voluntary Legal Services of Northern California, Wills Clinic, Pro Bono Volunteer (2004 - 2006)

  • 65th Annual Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Institute, "Ethics for In-House Counsel: Best Practices for Establishing (and Maintaining) Attorney-Client and Work-Product Privileges in an Electronic World"
    July 2019
  • 35th Annual West Coast Landmen's Institute, "Oil and Gas Conveyances in California: How to Get (or Give) What You Want"
    October 2017
  • Private Client, "Farmout Agreements and JOAs"
    May 2017
  • Private Client, "Key Considerations for Farmout Agreements"
    November 2016
  • 62nd Annual Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Institute, "Everything Old is New Again: Lease Maintenance Issues that Arise When Oil Prices Drop"
    July 2016
  • Day Carter & Murphy LLP Bakersfield Breakfast Series, "Lease Maintenance Issues in Today's Market: What's Enough?"
    May 2016
  • 31st Annual West Coast Landmen's Institute, "The Changing Tide of Your JOA Form for Horizontal Operations"
    September 2013
  • Day Carter & Murphy LLP Bakersfield Breakfast Series, "Force Majeure: Is Your Clause Keeping Up With the Times?"
    April 2013
  • 30th Annual West Coast Landmen's Institute, "Title Issues Prior to Drilling: One Colorful Story at a Time!"
    September 2012
  • 28th Annual West Coast Landmen’s Institute, "Common Transactional Pitfalls in Acquisitions of Oil and Gas Properties"
    September 2010
  • HalfMoon Seminars, "Gas, Oil, and Mineral Land Law"
    January 2010
  • NADOA 35th Annual Institute, "Voluntary Pooling in California: Pitfalls and Practices"
    October 2008
  • 25th Annual West Coast Land Institute, "Understanding Ethics: The Moral Compass of a Petroleum Landman"
    October 2007
  • HalfMoon Seminars, "Oregon Real Estate Title Issues: Understanding Mineral Rights and Surface Issues"
    June 2007
  • Lorman Education Services, "Contract Negotiations and Preparation in the Oil and Gas Industry: Drafting Complete and Unambiguous Contracts in California"
    December 2005
  • 21st Annual West Coast Landmen’s Institute, "Landmen and the Unauthorized Practice of Law"
    September 2003