Energy

With one of the premier, more experienced energy practices in the country, Steptoe is well-equipped to find creative solutions to complex energy matters. Our long-established relationships with leading energy producers, transporters, and marketers have led to an extensive practice involving counseling, litigating, and representing companies before the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), other federal and state agencies, and the Congress.

Electric Power. Listed in Chambers USA 2007 in the Energy: Electricity category, Steptoe boasts one of the more respected Electric Power practices in the United States. We represent electric utility companies and other electric industry participants in matters involving antitrust, mergers and acquisitions, bulk power transactions, industry restructuring, transmission access and pricing, electric rates, nuclear plant litigation, and hydroelectric licensing.

Our attorneys negotiate and seek approval of contracts for wholesale power and transmission ventures, prepare documentation for developing financial joint generation and transmission ventures, represent utilities before FERC, and litigate disputes before federal and state trial and appellate courts and the US Supreme Court. We also provide corporate, commercial, and regulatory counsel to developers and investors in electric power projects and represent foreign governments and other parties in privatization initiatives.

Energy Transactions. Our Energy Transactions practice represents buyers, sellers, and marketers in almost every kind of wholesale power and energy transaction, including municipalizations, pipeline financing, asset sales and purchases, mergers and other stock transactions, joint ventures, leases, and other forms of agreement. We also advise on antitrust issues associated with rate filings, transmission arrangements, planning for electric power supply, diversification efforts, and mergers and acquisitions. Our clients include major energy producers, suppliers, foreign governments, domestic and international pipelines, holding companies, and quasi-governmental corporations.

Oil & Gas Pipelines. For more than 30 years, our pipeline attorneys have provided legal services to clients in the energy industry, with extensive experience working to develop, finance, and operate domestic and foreign pipelines. We offer clients highly experienced counsel in the areas of economic and safety regulation, domestic and international transactions, and a wide range of other energy-related fields of practice. Chambers USA 2007 describes our strong reputation "for assisting foreign pipeline companies with US regulatory and cross-border issues."

Clients of our pipeline practice include major oil companies and independent pipelines (including owners of the Trans Alaska Pipeline System and many integrated and independent lower 48 systems), as well as foreign governments.

Petroleum Marketing. Steptoe represents the individuals and companies that sell approximately 80% of the motor fuels at retail in the United States. In the course of this representation, we are regularly involved with energy legislation in the US Congress.

Noteworthy

Received a #1 Ranking in Chambers USA 2007, America's Leading Business Lawyers; Energy: Oil & Gas (District of Columbia) and ranked in Chambers USA 2007, America’s Leading Lawyers; Energy: Oil & Gas (National)
Electric Power practice listed in Chambers USA 2006 in the Energy: Electricity category
Steptoe partner Tim Columbus ranked in National Journal's Top 25 Lobbyists for motor fuels and energy in 2007
Electric Power Win; FERC Must Expand Refund Remedy

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Publications

Briefing: Update on the European Commission's Anti-Trust Inquiry into Business Insurance
January 15, 2007