Rosanna Dufour, often called ‘Rosie’ by members of the firm has been assisting Ralph A. Cantafio, Esq. with Oil & Gas industry-related matters for over two decades. A Colorado native, Rosanna graduated from the University of Northern Colorado (UNC) with a bachelor’s degree in Applied Geography with an emphasis in Geographic Information Systems (GIS). While attending UNC, she contributed to grants awarded to the Geography department by the National Geographic society analyzing statewide spatial economic data. Her deep Colorado roots and vast knowledge and understanding of the industry as it relates to land made Rosanna a perfect fit to assist with and research Oil & Gas legal issues.
After college Rosanna worked with Mr. Cantafio to help build his Oil & Gas area of practice. Initially, a majority of her time was spent negotiating the terms of Oil & Gas leases, Surface Use Agreements, and industry-related contracts; eventually expanding her knowledge of contract law and severed mineral estates. She spent an extensive amount of time attending Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation course during this time. This skill set led to conducting title searches to assist in the drafting of Title Opinions and other aspects of real estate and water law research.
As the firm’s practice has expanded to additional states active in the natural resource industries, so has Rosanna’s knowledge and understanding of natural resource law in North Dakota, Utah, Wyoming, and Texas. Proficient in running mineral title, searching state databases of production, and tracking and transferring mineral inheritance for probate. Rosanna is well versed in utilizing public and private database resources, including county-level public records, state-level department databases, and National level GIS resources, and historical archives. Her longstanding experience within the Oil & Gas industry for the firm has provided her with the opportunity to work on a wide scope of projects for land and mineral owners, industry professionals, corporations, and grassroot organizations.
Rosanna takes great pride in being able to help clients navigate through legal matters in the Oil & Gas industry that can feel intimidating to individuals and families unfamiliar to the industry and this area of law. She has assisted Mr. Cantafio in numerous educational publications specifically directed to help people better understand their mineral rights, how to protect them, understand their value, and effect estate planning pertaining to natural resource assets. Links for many of these publications can be located on this website. She has stayed active in the land, royalty, and mineral owner communities of producing counties and states to assure the firm is always at the forefront of industry trends, laws, and practices.
Currently working remotely from Pagosa Springs, Colorado enables Rosanna to work with the clients’ schedules and timeframes. She happily makes herself available during non-business hours to move matters forward as efficiently as possible. When she is not assisting the firm with matters Rosanna owns and operates PJ’s Fine Bamboo Rods with her husband, Paul. They have two teenage children and love the outdoors and everything about the Colorado lifestyle.