Dan Watkiss
Partner
Karen Bishop
202.828.5800 x5856
Dan Watkiss is a partner in the energy practice in Bracewell & Giuliani's Washington, D.C. office. He represents clients in energy and related industries, including power companies; exploration, production and mid-market companies; natural gas pipelines; power and liquefied natural gas project developers; lenders; governments; and regulators. Significant areas of his practice focus on antitrust and competition issues, and counseling power and natural gas companies on designing and implementing best-in-class legal and regulatory compliance programs.
Mr. Watkiss represents clients in transactions, investigations, complex litigation and appeals in state and federal courts, and before administrative agencies, arbitral panels, the U.S. Congress and the executive branch. He worked extensively on Title XII of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 and Title VII of the Energy Policy Act of 1992, both of which substantially reformed the regulation and structure of the U.S. energy industries.
From 1982 through 1986, Mr. Watkiss advised and represented the general counsel of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) on the regulation of natural gas pipelines, electric utility companies and hydroelectric licensees. During this period, he served as the government's lead counsel on first impression cases involving decommissioning offshore natural gas systems and on electric utility investments in, and ownership of, fuel production and delivery companies.
Mr. Watkiss is a contributor to Electric Light & Power magazine. He originated Bracewell & Giuliani LLP's Energy Legal Blog and continues to be a frequent contributor to that web site.
Representative Matters
Several national power and natural gas marketing companies in developing best-in-class regulatory compliance programs.
Major West Coast electric power supplier in a dispute with the State of California over an 11-year, $400 million (net present value) power sales contract, 2003 to 2004.
Electric and natural gas marketers and power suppliers in numerous FERC and Commodity Futures Trading Commission formal and informal investigations into trading activities.
Publications and Speeches
"Success of Carbon Cap-and-Trade Requires Ratepayer Fairness in Distribution of Emission Allowances," Electric Light & Power, October 2009.
"Misguided Market Design or Market Manipulation?" Electric Light & Power, September-October 2009.
"Smarts Deliver More Than Backbone," Electric Light & Power, March/April 2009.
"Using REITs Structure To Enable Private Equity Investment In Energy," Oil & Gas Financial Journal, March 1, 2009.
"Master Limited Partnerships As Managers Of Private Equity," Oil & Gas Financial Journal, February 1, 2009.
"Electric Transmission Real Estate Investment Trusts," SPARK eNewsletter, December 2008.
"Efficiency Must Be A Central Pillar Of Energy And Climate Policy," Electric Light & Power,
September/October 2008.
"The Middle Ages Of Our Energy Policy," Electric Light & Power, May/June 2008.
"Interconnection Overhaul Overdue," Electric Light & Power, April 11, 2008.
"The 'Full Monty' of Power Projects," Electric Light & Power, December 17, 2007.
"Energy Policy In Harmony With The Laws Of Thermodynamics," Electric Light & Power,
September/October 2007.
"REITS Are Poised To Finance An Independent And Modern Grid," Electric Light & Power, July/August 2007,
"Taking It Into Account: A Prematurely Reported Death," Electric Light & Power, June 1, 2007.
"Bad Law: The Legacy Of California's Botched Power Market," Electric Light & Power, March/April 2007.
"Taking It Into Account: Open Grid Still Elusive," Electric Light & Power, December 5, 2006.
"Taking It Into Account: Pursue Real-Time Pricing," Electric Light & Power, September 10, 2006.
"Taking It Into Account: Consolidation Should Advance Local and Regional Interests, Electric Light & Power, August 7, 2006.
"Taking into Account: Sarbox Lessons for Cost-Effective Compliance Programs, Electric Light & Power, June 1, 2006.
"Focus on Demand Response to Ensure Adequate Capacity," April 4, 2006.
"Partners' Expertise," Featured at Energy Roundtable, February 28, 2006.
Education
J.D., University of Utah School of Law, 1980
A.B., Stanford University, 1975
Bar Admissions
New York
District of Columbia
Court Admissions
U.S. Court of Federal Claims
U.S. Courts of Appeals for the 1st, 2nd, 5th, 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th, District of Columbia, and Federal Circuits
U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia
U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland
U.S. Supreme Court
Affiliations
Energy Bar Association
American Civil Liberties Union
Noteworthy
Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyers for Business, Energy, 2008-2009
Washington, D.C. Super Lawyers, 2007 and 2008