Duane Mor r is LLP
Duane Morris: Experienced Representation for the Energy Industry in Regulatory, Litigation, and Transactional Matters Duane Morris LLP, among the 100 largest law firms in the United States, is a full-service firm of more than 500 lawyers. The firm represents clients across the United States and around the world through a combination of its 19 offices and relationships with two international networks of independent law firms.
Duane Morris’ Energy Practice Group provides representation on issues that span the range of energy law. In addition to extensive experience handling multibillion-dollar acquisitions and other complex financial transactions, the Energy Practice Group provides advice to clients on federal, state, and local legislative and regulatory energy matters, both directly and by serving as liaison to members of Congress, the executive branch, and energy agencies at all governmental levels. The Energy Practice Group regularly litigates complex regulatory issues before courts and agencies, including the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), the Department of Energy, the Department of the Interior, the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, and numerous state regulatory commissions. The group works closely with the National Association of Regulated Utility Commissioners and all of the major energy trade associations. Duane Morris advises clients on every aspect of the energy industry, including exploration and production, transmission, distribution, transportation, licensing, and compliance with safety and environmental laws. The firm has extensive experience in bankruptcy law and its interaction with energy law. While best known in the electric, gas, and hydroelectric and water fields, the Energy Practice Group also addresses oil, coal, nuclear power, nontraditional energy forms, and environmental compliance. The Energy Practice Group is composed of seasoned practitioners, many with backgrounds in government service. The chair of the group and partner in charge of Duane Morris’ Washington, D.C. office, Sheila Slocum Hollis, was the first director of FERC’s Office of Enforcement, establishing its policies and procedures. Several other Duane Morris attorneys have held senior positions at FERC. The partner in charge of the firm’s San Francisco office, Thomas Berliner, served as general counsel and water counsel to the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission.
Solution Provider
Electricity Duane Morris is at the center of the national energy law debate, representing clients, including governmental entities and investor-owned utility companies, in the implementation and interpretation of changes in electric transmission policies. The firm was instrumental in securing a major victor y at FERC for the Midwest Independent Transmission System Operator Inc., which was approved as the first regional transmission organization in the nation. (The representation was led by Stephen L. Teichler and Ms. Hollis.) The firm is currently involved in other federal electric restructuring initiatives, as well as initiatives pursued at the state level.
Natural Gas Duane Morris is also deeply involved in natural gas regulatory policy, infrastructure security, derivatives trading, and related issues at the forefront of national debate. The firm has represented the gamut of interests in the natural gas industry: producers, gatherers, processors, marketers, intrastate and interstate pipelines, local distribution companies, and consumers. This representation has included a broad range of services, such as short- and long-term business planning and policy development, drafting and negotiating contracts and other documents, tariff drafting and management, intervening in state and federal agency proceedings, managing compliance reporting responsibilities, and handling various types of litigation. Ms. Hollis was a key adviser on the Natural Gas Policy Act of 1978 at FERC. Mr. Teichler participated in the administrative proceedings implementing the Natural Gas Policy Act, as well as the series of orders restructuring the natural gas industry and apportioning restructuring costs.
www.duanemorris.com CONTACT INFORMATION Sheldon M. Bonovitz Chairman David T. Sykes Vice Chairman Sheila S. Hollis Chair, Energy, Environment and Resources Practice Group Charles J. O’Donnell Executive Director BUSINESS CONTACT
Sheila S. Hollis
[email protected] Phone 202.776.7810 Fax 202.776.7801
International Duane Morris also has sophisticated knowledge in international energy matters, working extensively in Mexico, Canada, the United Kingdom, the former Soviet Union, Eastern Europe, Africa, and other areas of the world. For example, Duane Morris lawyer Charles W. Whitney has played a leadership role in energy and project finance development activities regarding energy privatization and acquisitions in Europe, Korea, and Mexico.
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