Tara Hopper Rice

Practice Focus

Bar Admissions

  • Pennsylvania
  • Wyoming

Education

  • Duquesne University School of Law, J.D. (2012)
  • Duquesne University, M.A. (2007)
  • Saint Vincent College, B.A. (2006)

Related Links

Tara Hopper Rice

Associate

trice@dmclaw.com |
Direct: 412-392-5547

Two PPG Place
Suite 400
Pittsburgh, PA 15222-5402

Main: 412-281-7272
Fax: 888-811-7144

Profile & Honors

Tara Hopper Rice is an associate of Dickie, McCamey & Chilcote, P.C. She concentrates her practice in the areas of real estate and energy law with a focus on issues related to the development and purchase of oil, gas and other minerals. She is skilled in drafting and reviewing various types of title opinions, including drilling, leasehold, coal, and division order opinions and analyzing complex leaseholds and fractionalized heirships. She counsels clients on issues surrounding hydraulic fracturing and well-specific activities, such as contract review, subsurface trespass, environmental concerns, and insurance disputes. Ms. Rice has substantial experience with real estate litigation, including handling boundary and easement disputes as well as drafting Dormant Oil and Gas Act Petitions, Quiet Title Actions, and Complaints for Declaratory Judgment. She also practices family law, handling divorce, custody, and equitable distribution matters, as well as bankruptcy/workout and is a certified housing court arbitrator and mediator.

Prior to joining the firm, Ms. Rice practiced with a regional firm in Pittsburgh as a real estate, energy, and finance associate, with a focus on oil and gas litigation and real estate taxation matters. During law school, she served as an intern to the Honorable John Zottola of the Allegheny County Veterans Court as well as clerking at the Allegheny County District Attorney’s Office. Additionally, prior to attending law school, Ms. Rice was an as adjunct history professor at Life University in Georgia.

Practice Focus

Bar Admissions

  • Pennsylvania
  • Wyoming

Education

  • Duquesne University School of Law, J.D. (2012)
  • Duquesne University, M.A. (2007)
  • Saint Vincent College, B.A. (2006)

Related Links

Representative Matters

Representative Matters

  • Successfully represented numerous commercial and residential property owners and tenants before various Pennsylvania county boards and Courts of Common Pleas in real estate tax assessment cases
  • Achieved significant real estate tax reductions for national fast-food chain franchisees, regional grocery chain, and strip mall owner
  • Facilitated and completed an extensive review of oil and gas lease collateral for purchase by a credit-oriented alternative asset manager
Presentations & Publications

Publications

  • A Technical and Legal Overview of Induced Seismicity (Co-Author), Energy & Mineral Law Foundation, 2015
Admissions & Licenses

Admissions and Licenses

  • Pennsylvania Bar Admission
  • United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania
Memberships & Community

Memberships

  • Allegheny County Bar Association
  • American Association of Professional Landmen
  • Energy & Mineral Law Foundation
  • Northern Appalachian Landman’s Association

Community

  • Allegheny County Bar Association’s “Wills for Heroes”
  • Duquesne Law’s Veterans Clinic
  • Hempfield District Area Senior High School (former varsity lacrosse coach)
  • United States Army (ASVAB tutor)
Education

Education

  • Duquesne University School of Law, J.D. (2012), cum laude; Trial Advocacy Program; Criminal Law Journal; recipient of ACBA Bankruptcy and Commercial Law Section’s Gerald K. Gibson Memorial Award; American Bankruptcy Institute Medal of Excellence; recipient of CALI Excellence for the Future Awards® in Bankruptcy and Remedies and Damages; recipient of Certificate of Distinction in Clinical Work; Phi Alpha Delta Law Fraternity (Alumni Chair)
  • Duquesne University, M.A. (2007), magna cum laude, History and Archival, Museum and Editing Studies
  • Saint Vincent College, B.A. (2006), cum laude, History, minors in Education and Political Science