With over 30 years of legal experience, including acting as lead counsel in more than 100 jury trials, Ralph’s practice focuses on Oil and Gas Law as well as a wide scope of commercial transactions and litigations. Mr. Cantafio is licensed to practice in the state courts of Alaska, Colorado, North Dakota, Texas, Utah, and Wyoming, as well as a host of U.S. District Courts, the U.S. Tax Court, the U.S. Court of Claims, the 3rd and 10th Circuit Courts of Appeals and the United States Supreme Court.
Not only is Ralph a partner of Cantafio & Song PLLC with offices throughout Colorado, but he is also Lecturer (Adjunct Professor) teaching in the Global Energy Management Program educating graduate students at the University of Colorado, Denver. Ralph teaches Environmental, Regulatory, Legal, and Political Environment in the Energy Industry as well as Land Use and Energy Contracts.
Mr. Cantafio has also lectured foreign professionals, primarily from Nigeria and China, focusing on international oil and gas law, as well as international contracts and drafting of the same.
His education includes not only a Juris Doctorate from the University of Colorado School of Law, but a Master of Science in Mineral Economics from the prestigious Colorado School of Mines and a Master of Science in Global Energy Management from the University of Colorado-Denver, where he now teaches.
With two professional oil and gas certificates in Petroleum Land Management and Energy Finance from the University of Denver, numerous professional affiliations, publications as well as numerous industry presentations, Ralph’s knowledge of the oil and gas industry is extensive.
Ralph also lectures as to a wide breadth of issues concerning commercial transactions and litigation as well as contributes articles regularly to legal journals as well as other trade periodicals. He has occasionally written for the Texas A&M Law Journal.
Ralph is a member of the Judicial Performance Committee for the 14th Judicial District having been nominated by the Chief Judge of the 14th Judicial District and approved by the Chief Justice of the Colorado Supreme Court. Mr. Cantafio is also one of 139 attorneys, also approved by the Chief Justice of the Colorado Supreme Court, acting on the Colorado Supreme Court Hearing Board responsible for adjudicating cases involving claims of ethical violations by Colorado Attorneys.
Mr. Cantafio served as the Municipal Judge of Oak Creek, Colorado from 2008 through 2017 as well as a Board of Director Member of the Old Town Hot Springs (formerly the Steamboat Springs Health and Recreation Center) also from 2008 through 2017.
Steamboat Springs RE-2 Technology Commission and Fund Board
Board of Directors Member of Old Town Hot Springs
Blue Halterman Scholarship Fund
Corporate Sponsor for Bust of Steamboat
Yampa Valley Sustainability Council
Steamboat Dance Theatre
Steamboat Symphony Orchestra
Recent Publications