A partner from Jackson Kelly is hopping firms and state lines, taking his Wheeling, West Virginia-based energy-focused transactional practice to Obermayer Rebmann Maxwell & Hippel in Pittsburgh.

Michael Hooper, who had been the leader of Jackson Kelly's land and natural resource development practice, is now part of Obermayer Rebmann's business and finance department. Obermayer Rebmann was down to a single partner in Pittsburgh before Hooper's addition.

Hooper had been based in Jackson Kelly's Wheeling office since he joined the firm in 2003. He said he plans to continue serving his existing clients in Wheeling, while establishing a commercial and energy practice in Pittsburgh, where he said he has not previously focused much attention.