PHONE: 916.246.7340
FAX: 916.570.2525
EMAIL: cyamachika@daycartermurphy.com

Carlin A. Yamachika

PRACTICE AREAS

Oil & Gas
Renewable 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 Yamachika is a partner at Day Carter Murphy LLP. For over 20 years, she has provided a wide range of legal services in California and the Pacific Northwest for corporate clients – from Fortune 500 corporations to small businesses. Ms. Yamachika has extensive experience in assisting clients with the development, acquisition and divestiture of natural resources projects involving solar, wind, oil and gas, and carbon sequestration. Her practice focuses on real estate matters, including title due diligence and the preparation of real property agreements related to site control. She regularly negotiates and drafts agreements for complex energy transactions, such as purchase and sale agreements, joint operating agreements, surface use agreements, leases and easements. In addition, she utilizes her intimate knowledge of the energy industries to serve as local California counsel in connection with secured lending transactions.

  • Stoel Rives, LLP, Portland, Oregon, Natural Resources Group, Associate Attorney (2006-2007)
  • Downey Brand, LLP, Sacramento, California, Oil, Gas and Mineral Practice Group, Associate Attorney (1999-2006)

Oil & Gas

  • Prepared drilling, acquisition, division order, supplemental, and financing title opinions on onshore, offshore, private, state, and federal lands.
  • Represented oil and gas companies, energy companies, and lenders 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.
  • Represented mineral sands developer in obtaining requisite permits to operate a mine in Southern Oregon.
  • Represented major and independent oil and gas, geothermal, and energy companies in a full range of title, due diligence, and transactional matters as part of numerous acquisitions of producing and non-producing properties, to date the collective value of which has been in the billions of dollars.
  • Represented oil and gas companies in complex offshore leasing proposals and related title due diligence for financing transactions.
  • Advised clients on the interpretation and enforcement of the numerous provisions in Joint Operating Agreements and their related Exhibits, including Gas Balancing Agreements and COPAS Accounting Procedures.
  • Advised clients on aquifer exemptions and other permitting issues relating to Class II underground injection wells.
  • Advised clients on the interpretation of oil and gas leases, including allowable royalty deductions, consequences of a cessation of production, notice of default issues, suspension of royalties and consent to assign requirements.
  • Represented major and independent oil and gas, geothermal, and energy companies in all types of commercial loan and finance transactions and related counseling, including senior and subordinated credit facilities, second lien financing, working capital financing, and debt restructuring transactions.
  • Represented major and independent oil and gas and geothermal companies in the negotiating, drafting, and analysis of 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, easements, and power purchase agreements.
  • Represented client in surface owner dispute concerning surface access for oil and gas drilling operations and conducted related title review.

Renewable & Traditional Energy

  • Represented energy companies in the development of major underground gas storage projects in connection with 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.
  • Represented wind and solar energy companies in land acquisition and development of commercial energy projects, with an emphasis on real estate, title due diligence, development agreements and related matters.
  • Conducted real estate due diligence for purchase of a 100 MW AC photovoltaic solar power generation facility.
  • Assisted solar energy company in the acquisitions of fee lands for future development and provided advice with respect to potential conflicting land ownership rights.

Litigation

  • Successfully defended oil and gas exploration and production company against attempt to imply a covenant of further exploration into oil and gas lease, resulting in a published California Appellate Court 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-present)
    • 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
  • Kern River Oil & Gas Series, “Boilerplate – Is It Really?”