Most Highly Regarded Firms: California 2009 - Energy
California is home to the world's second largest oil company, Chevron and other Fortune 500 energy companies including Occidental Petroleum, Sempra Energy and Calpine.
While such internationally renowned producers remain major contributors to the state's economy, Governor Schwarzenegger's continued commitment to CO2 reduction and the increased use of renewables has brought with them a surge in project development and venture capital in alternative energy, necessitating a shift in focus for the Californian Energy Bar. In this chapter we identify 18 lawyers from 12 firms who are at the forefront of this changing marketplace.
Michael Day of Goodin MacBride Squeri Ritchie & Day LLP has built a "strong reputation" as a "leader" in the energies field. Day regularly represents clients before the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) and has acted as regulatory counsel for Wild Goose Storage, for whom he won CPUC authorisation for the first independent gas storage utility in California. Also included from the firm is James Squeri, who focuses on regulatory matters arising from the supply, delivery and consumption of natural gas, electricity and oil.
Davis Wright Tremaine LLP also fields two professionals in this section: Steven Greenwald and Edward O'Neill. Greenwald's recent experience includes acting for geothermal, biomass, wind, solar and natural gas power projects, he has also represented numerous large electrical generators in contractual negotiation and dispute resolution. O'Neill combines his energy focus with work for the firm's environmental and land-use practice groups, and in recent years he has succeeded in securing exemptions from utility charges for renewable energy clients.
Michael Hindus from Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP assists clients in energy project development and commercial operations, and was highly recommended by his peers. His recent activity has involved the development of a hybrid power plant combining the utility of solar and biomass energy, ethanol to biofuel conversion projects and wind power generation plants. Robert James practises in the firm's San Francisco and Houston offices and has an international project list including work with the Caspian Pipeline Consortium in Russia and Kazakhstan and LNG developments in Asia, as well as numerous geothermal projects in US.
Jerry Bloom is chair of Winston & Strawn LLP's energy practice group and respondents to our survey highlighted his contribution to renewable project development. Bloom recently accompanied Governor Schwarzenegger on a trade mission to China to promote alternative energy integration, and has also provided counsel to AES Pacific in its acquisition of power plants totalling more than 4GW from Southern California Edison and Mirant in its transfer of Contra Costa 8 to Pacific Gas & Electric. Joining Bloom is regulatory, transactional and project development expert Joseph Karp, who has represented the California Wind Energy Association in regulatory proceedings before the CPUC, as well as acting on behalf of clients in electricity generation asset sale and project finance transactions.
Morrison & Foerster LLP fields two attorneys in this chapter. Sources have a "very, very high regard" for Peter Hanschen, who focuses on regulatory and transactional work for wind and nuclear power plant developments and has also represented developers in interstate oil and gas pipeline and terminals projects. Another "pre-eminent" name at the firm is Gordon Erspamer, whose practice focuses on energy litigation, representing independent power producers and ESPs.
The other firm with multiple representatives in this chapter is Hanna and Morton LLP: Norman Pederson and Edward Renwick both figure prominently in our research. Pedersen represents government entities and numerous private companies before federal and state courts, and has recently undertaken regulatory work in gas, electric, hydroelectric, cogeneration and independent power project issues. Renwick specialises in dispute resolution and boasts half a century of experience in oil and gas work, including upstream, midstream and downstream work, as well as geothermal resources and alternative energy development.
One source praised Christopher Ellison of Ellison Schneider & Harris LLP as "one of the principal spokesmen for the energy industry" in the state and as such he emerged as one of the highest-nominated practitioners in our research. A specialist in transactional, regulatory and arbitration work for suppliers and trade associations, Ellison has argued cases before the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), the California Energy Commission and the CPUC.
Ed Feo of Milbank Tweed Hadley & McCloy LLP is "a superstar" and a "leader" for energy and environmental project finance work and represents companies in corporate and financial transactions in the energy and infrastructure industries. Also well regarded, John Leslie of Luce Forward Hamilton & Scripps LLP specialises in energy regulatory litigation in which he represents producers, consumers and marketers.
At O'Melveny & Myers LLP, Charles Read was highly nominated. He has defended crude oil and products pipelines, nuclear and fossil generating plants, and electric transmission and distribution systems, and has experience of accident investigation and litigation involving oil tankers, pipelines and power plants. Joseph Malkin is head of the litigation group at Orrick Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP and is "one of the top litigators in the state". Malkin has settled matters in state and federal court in California, Alaska, Hawaii and Oregon as well as before the FERC, and he boasts a portfolio of clients including General Motors, Occidental Petroleum and Pacific Gas & Electric. Founding partner at Bright and Brown James Bright completes the listings in this area, specialising in representing major and independent oil and gas companies and utilities and earning a "great reputation" in the state.