Energy Industry Team

What We Can Do for You

National and international energy policy has begun to move in new directions driven by economic, environmental and energy security concerns. Whether you are a renewable energy developer, existing power producer, traditional utility, competing retail energy provider, energy technology company, service or equipment provider to the energy industry, or simply a consumer of energy, now more than ever you need experienced and expert counsel to help navigate the myriad of existing and new government regulations, issues and opportunities relating to energy policy. Bryan Cave offers such counsel, and far more comprehensive service to our clients.

Using our knowledge, expertise and experience, we regularly advise clients regarding all aspects of energy-related matters, including strategic project development and financing, mergers and acquisitions, use and availability of tax credits and grants, construction, project siting and development, risk management, regulatory compliance and approvals, purchase and sale of energy, and litigation/dispute resolution of virtually any type of claim. We are acutely aware that most energy projects require significant capital investment, and therefore we provide our clients with the strategic advice necessary to finance projects in the capital markets, and to obtain such supplementary governmental approvals, grants, guarantees and tax benefits as may be necessary or desirable to fund projects. Bryan Cave has the expertise, experience and geographic presence to maximize our clients’ opportunities for success in domestic and international energy markets. Our commitment to clients is the highest level of professional excellence, providing not only counsel in light of current legal requirements, but also well informed advice on strategic directions a business can take in anticipation of future conditions.

Who We Are

Bryan Cave’s Energy Industry Team draws on experienced lawyers across the firm’s practice groups, including our Environmental/FERC Regulation, Corporate, International, Project Finance, Construction, Real Estate, Government Relations, Tax Benefits, Public Incentives, Government Contracts, Antitrust, and Intellectual Property practices. We couple these practices with an array of strategically located regional domestic and international offices to offer clients in energy and energy-related businesses a set of tools and resources that few firms can match. Our lawyers are at the forefront of energy policy and regulation, starting with our DC based lawyers and Bryan Cave Strategies Group who are actively engaged with federal legislators and regulators who develop and implement rapidly changing national energy policy.

Bryan Cave’s lawyers have a wide range of experience in energy matters. We know how the regulatory agencies work because we have attorneys who have held senior positions in government agencies and understand how regulators promulgate and interpret regulations. Firm lawyers include a former Chairman of the New York State Public Service Commission and of the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners ad hoc Committee on the first National Energy Act, as well numerous alumni of the EPA, the SEC, FTC and other federal regulatory agencies. We also have lawyers with prior experience as licensed engineers and contractors within the energy industry, who bring a special expertise and perspective to legal counseling on energy project design, development and construction.

Where We Can Be Helpful to You

Bryan Cave is one firm offering national and international resources to clients increasingly operating in or affected by developments in world energy markets. Our offices are strategically located in commercial centers that cover the major East Coast, South, Midwest, Southwest and West Coast geographic markets of the United States. In addition, Bryan Cave has experience in energy projects across the globe. In particular, our multiple European offices cover the European Union (“EU”) energy market. We also maintain a strong presence in the developing energy markets of Asia, with legal professionals or trade consulting professionals in eight of Asia’s key commercial centers, including Shanghai, Beijing and Hong Kong.

Examples of Experience

Firm lawyers have extensive experience in a wide variety of energy matters. These include representing regulated utilities in rate proceedings; power plant and transmission line permitting and construction; tariff interpretation; rulemaking and policy proceedings; FERC regulation of pipeline and electric power transmission rates and services; air permitting and New Source Review enforcement matters; and counseling and enforcement defense associated with a myriad of environmental and consumer protection regulations applicable to utilities and other retail energy suppliers. We are also extensively and actively representing clients involved in renewable energy and energy efficiency initiatives. For example, Bryan Cave’s lawyers have been involved in the financing, development and construction of renewable energy projects including wind, solar, and hydroelectric facilities; demand response and energy efficiency incentive regulatory policy proceedings; and licensing of technologies that can be deployed in “smart grid” projects. Some other notable areas where we have represented clients include:

FERC Regulation of Wholesale Electric Energy Markets;
Land use regulation necessary to accommodate solar energy facilities;
Development and permitting of wind energy projects;
Solar electric energy project development;
Ethanol and other bio-fuel technology development;
Licensing, and FCC as well FERC regulation affecting development of “smart grid” technologies;
Counseling Clients regarding existing and anticipated future carbon emission regulatory policies;
Demand response and energy efficiency incentive regulatory policy;
Acquisition and operation of District Energy facilities;
Operation and permitting of Cogeneration Systems;
Power plant and other energy production facility siting, engineering, construction, commissioning and operation, including negotiation and contracting for delivery of all materials and services for the project;
Environmental regulation, permitting and compliance applicable to energy projects;
Global procurement and sourcing for energy production projects, including long term service agreements;
Strategic planning and risk management, including feasibility, insurance and other risk minimizing strategies;
Natural gas transmission line siting, construction and environmental compliance;
Hydrocarbon investment and extraction projects and transactions;
Petrochemical plant investments;
Energy facility eminent domain proceedings;
Electric and natural gas utility rate proceedings;
Acquisition of US electric utility properties by foreign entities, including due diligence;
Power Purchase Agreements between unregulated independent power producers and utilities, regional system operators, or end users of electric power served through regulated transmission and distribution services;
Negotiating, drafting and interpreting contracts between gas, electric or other competing, unregulated alternative retail energy services companies and commercial customers;
Regulated tariff interpretation and enforcement;
FERC regulation of mergers and acquisitions of companies with jurisdictional energy assets;
FERC regulations applicable to oil pipelines;
Domestic and international litigation and dispute resolution of complaints related to energy project development, operation, or service delivery;