JD Journal » energy practice group

Venable Adds Five Attorneys to Energy Practice Group

rebneely — Fri, 25 Nov 2011 14:19:44 +0000

In recent days, Venable LLP announced it has added three partners and two associates to its Energy Practice Group.

David DeSalle, Daniel Malabonga and Brian Zimmet join the firm’s Washington office as partners. In addition, Michael Splete and Jason Wool join as associates. Mr. DeSalle, Mr. Malabonga and Mr. Splete join from Duane Morris and Mr. Zimmet and Mr. Wool join from Hunton & Williams.

Brock Landry, co-Chair of the firm’s Government Division was quoted as saying in a press release at the firm’s website: “Our regulatory practices are at the heart of Venable’s expansion. Energy issues occupy such a critical role in our economy today, and that makes the addition of these three partners both timely and fortuitous. We welcome them to Venable.”

Mr. DeSalle advises clients on a variety of transactional and regulatory issues and represents them before state and federal courts and regulatory agencies. In addition, he assists clients with complex commercial transactions, regulatory compliance, informal and formal investigations, and other relevant matters. He has significant experience with transmission planning and generation interconnection issues, especially with regard to the development of renewable energy resources in less robust areas of the electric grid. He also represents a number of business interests in the emerging regulatory and litigation matters involving unconventional shale formations, especially the Marcellus Shale. He earned his JD from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law and is a member of the District of Columbia and Pennsylvania bars.

Mr. Zimmet focuses his practice on nearly all aspects of federal regulation and restructuring of the electric utility industry, with a particular emphasis on electric reliability matters. He received his JD from the University of Virginia Law School and is admitted to both the District of Columbia and Maryland bars.

Mr. Malabonga concentrates his practice on electricity and ancillary service markets, and includes matters under the jurisdiction of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and state regulatory agencies. He is admitted to practice in the District of Columbia, New York and the Philippines. He earned his law degree from the University of the Philippines College of Law.

Michael Splete joins Venable as an associate from Duane Morris. He focuses his practice on energy law and matters related to generator interconnection, energy markets and regulation. Prior to private practice, he served as law clerk to administrative law Judges Herbert Grossman and Karen Johnson of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. He was also law clerk to the Honorable James E. Baker of the US Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces. Splete earned his JD from George Washington University Law School and his BA from Cornell. He is also certified as an Accredited Professional under the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Green Building Rating System.

Jason Wool is an associate who joins from Hunton & Williams, where he worked closely with Mr. Zimmet. Wool focuses on energy and utility regulation, including reliability, renewable energy issues, nuclear energy issues and licensing of generation and transmission facilities. Jason graduated from William & Mary Law School and earned his BA from Haverford College.

Venable’s Energy group has a wide range of experience in the regulation of electricity, petroleum and natural gas markets, and in transactions involving electric, petroleum and natural gas assets and products.

An American Lawyer Global 100 law firm, Venable serves corporate, institutional, governmental, nonprofit and individual clients throughout the U.S. and around the world. Headquartered in Washington, DC, with offices in California, Maryland, New York and Virginia, Venable LLP lawyers and legislative advisors serve the needs of our domestic and global clients in all areas of corporate and business law, complex litigation, intellectual property, regulatory and government affairs.

Former Co-Chair of Greenberg Traurig’s Energy and Natural Resources Joins Foley & Lardner’s LA Office

rebneely — Fri, 16 Sep 2011 14:52:44 +0000

This week, Foley & Lardner LLP announced Charles E. Schwenck joined as a partner in the firm’s Los Angeles office. There, he will work with the Energy Practice Group and Energy Industry Team, as well as the Transactional & Securities and Finance & Financial Institutions Practices.

Prior to the move, Schwenck was a shareholder at Greenberg Traurig, LLP; there he served as co-chair of the Energy and Natural Resources Practice.

Schwenck has an impressive resume, with over 30 years of experience with energy, infrastructure and other commercial and industrial projects, in both domestic and international situations, to his credit. He has significant experience in the structuring, drafting and negotiating arrangements for the development, construction, financing, fuel and feedstock supply, product sales, ownership and operation of said projects. Additionally, Schwenck provides representation to developers of energy and water projects before federal and state regulatory agencies, to companies involved in mergers and acquisitions in the energy industry, and to lenders involved in the acquisition of portfolios of energy loans and leases, all on a regular basis.

Schwenck’s experience spans industries and disciplines; he has done work in project finance in engineering and construction, traditional and alternative energy, mining, water supply and treatment, chemicals, transportation, and telecommunications. He has also testified before various Congressional committees and state legislative bodies on behalf of engineering, construction and electric power industries.

Schwenck also has significant experience in the alternative energy industry. This includes his representation in conjunction with the production of electricity from various alternative energy sources, the production of ethanol, biodiesel and other synthetic fuels from various feedstocks, among other areas.

Earlier in his career, Schwenck served in the roles of senior vice president, general counsel and a member of the board of directors of LG&E Power Systems, as well, he served as general counsel at Fluor Corporation and as division counsel for the Bechtel Group’s Power Division.

Steven Barth, co-chair of Foley’s Transactional & Securities Practice was quoted as saying in a press release at the firm’s website: “Charlie has an impressive track record of success representing various stakeholders in energy and infrastructure projects, both in the United States and throughout the world. As we continue to help clients navigate the various financial and regulatory issues that arise in energy-related projects, Charlie’s wide-ranging experience will be instrumental in further strengthening our transactional capabilities.”

Founded in 1842, Foley & Lardner LLP is a full service law firm with over 900 attorneys in 21 offices around the world.

Morning Roundup

joshua — Fri, 24 Sep 2010 10:54:21 +0000

Good morning everyone! Today is Friday, September 24th. Here’s a quick look back at yesterday’s stories.

Reed Smith was brought on as U.S. corporate and securities counsel for China Sun Group High-Tech Co…

Quarterly revenue at Britain’s 100 biggest law firms increased by an average of 5 percent for the three-month period ending July 31…

Arnold & Porter acquired three attorneys from Sonnenschein…

Four Davis Polk partners were named ‘Top Lawyers’ in California…

Troutman Sanders appointed a new managing partner in its Washington, D.C office…

The Best Lawyers in America 2011® will feature 58 attorneys from Winstead PC…

Troutman Sanders Appoints New D.C. Chief

joshua — Thu, 23 Sep 2010 16:23:22 +0000

Troutman Sanders has appointed Amie V. Colby as managing partner of its Washington D.C. office, the firm said in a press release this week.

Colby, 38, has been a partner at Troutman Sanders since 2007 and is a member of the firm’s energy practice group. She succeeds Kevin C. Fitzgerald, who led the D.C. office since 1999 and was recently promoted to the firm-wide position of executive partner for client development strategic planning.

“We are confident that Amie will provide exciting, dynamic and exuberant leadership that will continue the growth of the D.C. office and continue the positive integration of the firm’s merger with Ross, Dixon & Bell, LLP,” said Robert W. Webb Jr., chairman and managing partner of Troutman Sanders. “We look forward to her leadership.”

Colby, who represents clients in the energy industry before the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, will continue her legal practice while overseeing the firm’s 90+ attorneys in the nation’s capital. She is a graduate of Vanderbilt University, received her law degree from Georgetown University in 1999, and joined Troutman Sanders as an associate that same year. She has previously served as the chair of the firm’s D.C. Recruiting Committee

Troutman Sanders opened its D.C. office in 1993, which signaled the firm’s first expansion outside of its Atlanta headquarters. Today, the firm has offices in 16 cities on three continents.

As for Fitzgerald, who also is a member of the law firm’s executive committee, he will continue his legal practice. He is a partner in the firm’s energy practice group and counsels energy companies, investors and developers in the electric, natural gas and renewable energy markets.
Troutman Sanders LLP, founded in 1897, is an international law firm with over 650 lawyers and 16 offices in North America, Europe and Asia.

Morning Roundup

joshua — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 12:35:44 +0000

Good morning everyone! Today is Friday, September 3rd. Here’s a quick look back at yesterday’s stories.

Dinsmore & Shohl added two new partners in its Columbus, Ohio office…

Grant & Eisenhofer added three attorneys to its antitrust practice…

Sidley Austin’s Thomas Cole was honored by the National Association of Corporate Directors…

Steptoe & Johnson opened an office, and acquired the energy practice group from Culbertson, Weiss, Schetroma and Schug…

Steptoe & Johnson Nabs Energy Team for New Office

joshua — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 16:03:47 +0000

Steptoe & Johnson is opening an office in Pennsylvania following the acquisition of the energy practice group from the firm of Culbertson, Weiss, Schetroma and Schug .

The new office is Steptoe & Johnson’s ninth in the U.S. According to a firm press release, the office will cater to Steptoe & Johnson’s Appalachian clients. The firm also has six offices in West Virginia and one each in Ohio and Kentucky. A second Pennsylvania office, in Southpointe, is slated to open later this year.

With the addition of the CWSS energy practice group, Steptoe & Johnson’s Energy Team will field approximately 190 attorneys and paraprofessionals who will provide legal services to Appalachian energy industry clients throughout the nation. The firm’s team of energy practitioners focuses on services to the energy sector including coal, oil and gas and renewables.

“Establishing a physical presence in Pennsylvania was a natural decision for our firm as our Energy Team comprises one of the largest and most diverse practices in the region,” stated Susan Brewer, CEO of Steptoe & Johnson.

Steptoe & Johnson PLLC is a regional, business-focused firm with particular strengths in energy, labor, employment and litigation. It comprises over 200 lawyers resident in nine locations throughout West Virginia, Ohio, Kentucky and Pennsylvania.

Former FERC Enforcement Director Joins Hogan & Hartson Energy Practice in Washington, D.C.

aostler — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 19:51:35 +0000

Today Hogan & Hartson LLP publicly stated that Susan J. Court has become part of their Washington, D.C. office. She will join the energy practice group as a partner.

Court was formerly the Director of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s Office of Enforcement, or FERC. While at FERC, she was in charge of 170 lawyers, accountants, auditors, economists, and other staff in charge of keeping to the Federal energy laws and rules. She was also key in helping set up NERC guidelines and rules.

Court also served on FERC’s natural gas counsel in a senior position during its restructuring of the regulation of natural gas. She is also involved continually in international energy issues; she recently spoke in Argentina at the 24th World Gas Conference and will be attending the 25th World Gas Conference in Kuala Lampur, Malaysia in 2012.

Director of the firm, Kevin Lipson, voiced that she will be well received by Hogan & Hartson. He stated, “We are very fortunate to have Susan join us. Her knowledge of the industry and regulatory environment in which our clients operate is unparalleled. She will be a great asset to our firm and the firm’s clients.”