Chesapeake Energy Corp. (NYSE:CHK) announced the appointment of James R. Webb as senior vice president of legal and general counsel.

Webb joins Chesapeake on a full-time basis after serving the past four months on a contract basis as chief legal counsel.

For the past 17 years, Webb has practiced law at McAfee & Taft and has served as a partner for the past 12 years. Prior to that, he worked at the law firm of Gorsuch Kirgis.

Webb graduated with a bachelor of arts degree from Austin College in Sherman, Texas, and a juris doctorate degree from Washington University in St. Louis, Mo.