James (“Jay”) A. Carr II is an accomplished attorney specializing in oil and gas and real estate law, providing strategic counsel to oil and gas producers, real estate developers, and home builders. With extensive experience in both transactional and regulatory matters, he helps clients navigate complex legal issues with confidence and precision.

Before joining Atencio Hall, PLLC, Jay was a partner in the finance, real estate, and energy practice group of an AMLAW 200 law firm and served as assistant general counsel for a public home builder. His practice encompasses a broad range of services, including oil and gas transactions, title review, due diligence, and litigation. Jay regularly prepares title opinions, lease agreements, purchase and sale agreements, and operating agreements for producers. He also represents clients before the Ohio Division of Oil and Gas Resources Management and advises on regulatory compliance.

A recognized leader in his field, Jay serves on the Real Estate Section Council of the Ohio State Bar Association and is a former trustee of the Energy and Mineral Law Foundation (EMLF). He is a frequent speaker at industry events hosted by EMLF, the Institute for Energy Law, the American Association of Professional Landmen, and state and local bar associations. His contributions to legal scholarship include three chapters in LexisNexis’s Hydraulic Fracturing Law and Practice and key input on the 2020 Edition of the Ohio Standards of Title Examination published by the Ohio State Bar Association.

Jay holds a B.S. in business management cum laude from Grove City College, a J.D. from Duquesne University, and an MBA summa cum laude from Ashland University. He is admitted to practice in Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia, as well as the United States District Courts for the Western District of Pennsylvania and Southern District of West Virginia. Recognized for his excellence, Jay has been named one of the best oil and gas lawyers in central Ohio by Columbus CEO^® and highlighted in Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch^®.