Energy Legal Blog

Mark Lewis, an oil & gas attorney and Managing Partner of Bracewell & Giuliani’s Washington, D.C. office, discussed some of the latest issues affecting the oil and gas industry with Pipeline & Gas Journal editor Jeff Share.

On the menu: the effect of liquids-heavy shale production on pipeline development, state versus national regulation, and the importance of clear stakeholder communication for pipeline developers.

To read the full Q&A, click here.

Another class action lawsuit has been filed against KeySpan Corporation (KeySpan) and Morgan Stanley Capital Group Inc. (Morgan Stanley), claiming damages for antitrust violations resulting from an allegedly illegal swap agreement that allowed KeySpan to manipulate energy prices in the New York City electric generating capacity market (NYC Capacity Market), see Konefsky et al. v. KeySpan Corp., et al., Case No. 1:12-cv-00017.  The complaint was filed on January 6, 2012 in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of New York on behalf of electric customers of National Grid, which purchased electric energy and capacity in the NYC Capacity Market from 2006 through 2009.  The plaintiffs, two law professors, are seeking on behalf of the class millions in damages and disgorgement of unlawfully obtained profits for alleged violations of Sections 1 and 2 of the Sherman Act and Section 7 of the Clayton Act, as well as analogous New York state laws. (more…)

With the 2012 election year upon us, it promises to be an interesting year in energy politics and policy. Here are 12 (really 13 because of some creative headline writing) issues that will keep the sector hopping this year.

1. Keystone Cops – The biggest energy story of the first quarter without a doubt will be the Keystone pipeline. Not only has this issue blossomed into a larger-than-reality political issue, the President has seemingly been boxed into a corner on the issue that will force him to choose between two major constituencies – labor and environmentalists – just after he thought he got the political break he needed to delay the decision, thanks to Nebraska Republicans. Nonetheless, the battle will rage as the decision approaches. Regardless of the final result after 60 days (I’m predicting politics/jobs will win the day), the legal battle will likely begin then (promising a real fight) – of course likely delaying a final decision until after the election anyway. (more…)