Chambers and Partners USA

Energy: Electricity (Regulatory & Litigation) (Band 4)

Energy: Oil & Gas (Regulatory & Litigation) (Band 3)

Energy: Oil & Gas (Transactional) (Band 2)

According to Chambers and Partners 2011:

THE FIRM Bracewell & Giuliani's acclaimed energy group has vast experience in oil and gas and power work. On the oil and gas side, it has developed excellent transactional expertise, working with upstream, midstream and downstream clients on mergers, acquisitions and divestitures, corporate and tax structuring, and capital markets and securities matters. In Washington, DC, the regulatory team undertakes FERC litigation and transactional support for pipeline, shipping and gas storage developer clients. On the power side, the regulatory team counsels utilities and merchant generators on FERC and North American Electricity Reliability Corporation (NERC) compliance and enforcement, market design and power trading regulatory issues.

Commercial Awareness "Bracewell & Giuliani is practical – it understands and values business solutions to problems."

KEY INDIVIDUALS Alan Rafte heads the firm's energy and finance group and advises on all manner of deals, from upstream M&A to private equity investments and capital market transactions. He possesses an "excellent knowledge of the industry and industry participants." Recent work includes representing Apache Corporation in its $7 billion acquisition of BP's oil and gas operations, acreage and infrastructure in West Texas, New Mexico and Egypt's Western Desert, and of BP's upstream natural gas business in western Alberta and British Columbia. Charles Shoneman cochairs the firm's energy regulatory department. He has a reputable natural gas pipeline practice, advising on the regulatory aspects of commercial contracting, M&A, financing, and natural gas and LNG projects. He recently represented Conectiv Energy in connection with the waiver of the FERC's capacity release rules to facilitate the sale of electric generation assets to Calpine. Sources highlight his "strategic thinking."

Mark Lewis moves up the rankings this year following excellent market commentary: "His commercial acumen is second to none and he manages to make you feel like his only client.” He has a broad-based energy practice covering both regulatory and transactional work, and has recently represented Upper Midwest Distributor Group in the Northern Natural Gas Company FERC-initiated Section 5 rate case; he also worked on the regulatory aspects of the Apache acquisition. James McAnelly also travels up the rankings this year on the back of positive market feedback. He is lauded for "coming up with viable solutions to complex problems," and has particular capabilities in the upstream and midstream oil and gas arenas. In the past year, he has facilitated in the formation of a joint venture in connection with the ownership, development, gathering and marketing of $1.5–2 billion of West Virginia oil and gas and midstream assets located in the Marcellus Shale.

Michael Telle is an M&A and securities attorney who operates within the energy space. He has acted for major clients within the industry, such as Chesapeake, which he recently represented in a series of private placements of preferred stock valued at $2.7 billion. Sandra Rizzo is extremely well versed in electricity regulatory matters, especially market design and enforcement. She is currently representing PPL in litigation between Midwest ISO and PJM Interconnection regarding disputes over the management of congestion at the border between the two regional transmission organizations. According to clients, she "understands the technical side of the business very well, and is creative and innovative with her legal skills."

Paul Fox and Deanna King are new additions to the electricity regulatory and litigation rankings. The pair have developed a close relationship with Powerex and its Canadian parent BC Hydro, and acted for Powerex in the complex set of proceedings and investigations before the FERC and in related California state and federal court proceedings regarding the California energy crisis. Fox cochairs the firm's energy regulatory department and was also recently made managing partner of the firm's new Seattle office, a move that will further bolster the Powerex relationship. According to clients, he is "sharp and shrewd, a great strategist.” King is based in Texas and also receives praise from the market: "She is articulate, a good writer and a very effective FERC litigator." Kirk Morgan enters the up-and-coming band having recently been made a partner. He works closely with Mark Lewis, partnering on both the Upper Midwest Distributor Group rate case and the regulatory issues surrounding the Apache acquisition. "He continues to surprise with his vast knowledge of not only the law but also the industry and its arcane rules," said one source. Associate David Sweeney works closely with McAnelly and Rafte on many of the firm's major representations, including the Apache acquisition. He is currently focusing on developing an international side to his practice. Bill Wolf, another associate, works alongside Shoneman and has impressed peers, who view him as a future star of Bracewell's energy team.

Kirstin Gibbs recently joined the group from Sutherland Asbill. She "does a great job of explaining complex issues to the layperson." She represents natural gas pipelines, marketers, traders and end-users in compliance and enforcement matters before the FERC, and is also well versed in all aspects of rate, policy and legislative issues involving natural gas and LNG. "She is friendly, respectful and a pleasure to work with.”