Remembered fondly as a tough yet beloved professor, U of A School of Law Professor Emeritus Phillip Norvell passed away Sept. 18, 2025, after a brief illness.

Norvell graduated from the University of Oklahoma with a Bachelor of Arts. He received his Juris Doctor from the University of Oklahoma School of Law, where he was a member of The Order of the Coif and The Order of the Barristers. Prior to his teaching career, he practiced law as an antitrust trial attorney with the Bureau of Competition of the Federal Trade Commission in Washington, D.C.

Norvell was one of seven faculty members who joined the U of A School of Law faculty in 1975. For 43 years, he educated generations of Arkansas lawyers in property, oil and gas, and natural resources law. He loved teaching, which he continued to do after his retirement as professor in 2018, as an adjunct professor emeritus in 2023.

"Phil was a leading national expert in oil and gas law," said Dean Cynthia Nance. "He was a popular professor and a wonderful mentor to many students. He will be greatly missed by the law school community."

In addition to teaching, he served the legal community as an active member and leader of many professional associations concerning oil and gas, water and natural resources law. He was a member of the Board of Editors of the Oil & Gas Reporter. He also served the state as a 10-year member of the Arkansas Oil and Gas Commission and as a special assistant attorney general. Norvell lectured before numerous national and state mineral law institutes on the topics of oil and gas and water law. Known for engaging with the bar, he was named the 2014-15 Arkansas Bar Foundation Professor of Law.

His writings focused on mineral conveyancing and facilitating the development of oil and gas resources. His scholarship has been cited by the Texas Supreme Court and the Arkansas Supreme Court and was published in national journals and law reviews. He also served on the Natural Resources Section of the American Bar Association and the Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation in an editorial capacity.

Norvell is survived by his son, Matthew Norvell (Ping Chen); his daughter, Sarah Norvell (Maks Adach); and his grandsons, Ethan and Nolan Norvell. His funeral will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, Sept. 26, at Saint Paul's Episcopal Church in Fayetteville. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that contributions be made to the U of A School of Law in his memory. Online condolences may be given at www.mooresfuneralchapel.com.