G. Christopher Van Bever, Esq., P.E.

G. Christopher Van Bever, Esq., P.E. is a Partner at Dentons in Lexington, specializing in Mergers and Acquisitions. He is an experienced lawyer and engineer representing coal, oil and gas, landholding, and other natural resources industry clients in connection with mergers and acquisitions, real property and commercial transactions, corporate finance, environmental compliance and permitting, and regulatory enforcement matters.

Chris has extensive experience advising clients on due diligence review, structuring, negotiation, and documentation of M&A and joint venture transactions, including the acquisition and divestiture of coal mining operations, oil and gas operations, and related reserves and assets. He has represented clients in two separate Rule 144A secured notes offerings raising over $1 billion, and has advised coal industry clients in domestic and export coal sales transactions across all major U.S. coal basins. He also represents construction industry clients in contract negotiations and dispute resolution, and has obtained a $1.1 million award on behalf of a client in a Dissenters Right Action following a bench trial in the Eastern District of Kentucky.

He holds a J.D. from the University of Kentucky College of Law (1991) and B.S. degrees in Mining Engineering and Civil Engineering from the University of Kentucky. He is a registered professional engineer and has completed executive education in Finance and Accounting for the Non‑Financial Manager at the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania. He is admitted to practice in Kentucky, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, and the U.S. District Courts for the Eastern and Western Districts of Kentucky.

Chris has been selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America in Mining Law, Corporate Law, and Natural Resources Law (2024‑2026).