Benjamin Sullivan
General Counsel & Executive Vice President , Diversified Energy Company PLC
Photo by Diversified Energy .
KEN MAGILL
ALWAYS BE POLITE AND RESPECTFUL , even with an adversary , and always make sure everyone on the team gets the credit they deserve . Those are two of the philosophies that have underpinned the career of Benjamin Sullivan , general counsel and executive vice president of Diversified Energy Company PLC .
Sullivan graduated from the University of Kentucky with a bachelor ’ s degree in history and received a Juris Doctorate from the West Virginia University ( WVU ) College of Law in 2004 . He fondly remembers his days at WVU , including the great camaraderie with classmates , wonderful and engaged professors and ability to frequently and easily travel into the scenic areas around West Virginia , Pennsylvania and Maryland .
Sullivan recalls learning the importance of legal professionalism during his time in law school .
“ I was an intern one summer at Spilman Thomas & Battle while in college ,” he says . “ It was there I first learned the value of being honorable and professional even when in an adversarial role .”
Fresh out of law school , Sullivan took a job at Lewis Glasser PLLC in Charleston , WV , a firm specializing in corporate issues , energy and mineral law , real property law , commercial litigation and real estate , among other areas .
“ At that job , I learned that being overprepared was very important , and it allowed me to perform legal tasks at a very high level ,” says Sullivan . “ I also learned I did not particularly enjoy being a litigator but found I did enjoy the commercial and business side of law . Now , I have been general counsel at several companies and learned that I am a good project manager .”
Sullivan joined Diversified Energy in 2019 , assuming oversight of the company ’ s legal , real estate and governmental affairs functions . Diversified operates in 10 states and is listed on the London Stock Exchange . It has more than 1,500 employees , including almost 500 in West Virginia .
“ I enjoy helping the business accomplish its goals in a sustainable and ethical manner and coming up with commercial and legal solutions that are simple and elegant ,” Sullivan says .
Prior to joining Diversified , Sullivan worked with Greylock Energy and its predecessor , Energy Corporation of America , as executive vice president and general counsel . Before Greylock Energy , he worked as counsel for natural gas producer EQT Corporation .
Sullivan credits his success to being willing to work harder and longer than many others , having an analytical mind and being humble enough to recognize his own areas of weakness where it ’ s best to bring in outside help . He is proud of the growth opportunities he has helped create for his corporate clients and the resulting positive economic impact those deals have had for the surrounding communities .
“ The work and the transactions I ’ ve done have helped clients meet their business goals and ensure their operations are successful , creating sustainable , good-paying jobs for the communities where we operate ,” he says . “ I ’ ve worked on significant acquisitions that have materially grown my clients ’ businesses .”
Sullivan sits on the boards of directors of the Gas and Oil Association of West Virginia ( GO-WV ), Virginia Oil and Gas Association , West Virginia Chamber of Commerce and West Virginia State University Research and Development Corporation . He is also a member of the West Virginia State Election Commission . The appointment of which he is most proud is having been voted president of GO-WV .
“ Being elected to the boards of directors and to officer positions of various client-related organizations is very
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