Clifford Chance announced this week that Todd Lowther has joined the firm as a partner in the tax practice of its Houston office, thereby expanding their tax practice team. This addition increases the capability and depth of the firm’s energy sector taxation specialization, mirroring the requirement of its expansive and diverse clientele. Tax operations, especially…
Reed Smith, a leading international law firm, has recently welcomed a new partner into its Energy & Natural Resources Group in London. The new partner, Nina Howell, was announced by the firm on Monday, according to Bloomberg Law. Nina Howell is well-versed in representing clients across the Liquid Natural Gas (LNG) supply chain and brings…
Norfolk Southern Corporation (NSC) has announced a tentative settlement of $600 million in a class-action lawsuit resulting from the February 2023 freight train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio. The settlement was described as aimed at providing “finality and flexibility for the class members”, allowing them the freedom to utilise their compensation to deal with potential…
Following a week of testimony, a preliminary recommendation has been issued by an ethics committee from the DC Bar investigating former Department of Justice (DOJ) official, Jeffrey Clark. The ruling asserts violations of ethical conduct in his actions after the last election. Although non-binding, it underpins the DC Disciplinary Counsel’s ongoing campaign to disbar Clark….
Pioneer Natural Resources Co., a major player in the oil and gas industry, recently disputed pleas by gasoline buyers to disqualify a Nevada federal judge from presiding over an antitrust lawsuit. This lawsuit stems from the judge’s personal ownership of stock in ExxonMobil Corp., another prominent oil and gas company. Pioneer Natural Resources argues that…
Andrew Wheeler, former head of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) during the Trump administration, is joining law firm Holland & Hart in Washington, DC. He will serve as a partner and head of the firm’s federal affairs team. The Denver-based firm has a strong national presence in sectors such as energy, environment and natural resources,…
Continuing its run of strategic hires, K&L Gates has announced the reappointment of Christine Jochim as a partner in the firm’s Environment, Land, and Natural Resources Practice based out of Seattle. An experienced environmental lawyer, Jochim had been a part of the K&L Gates team earlier in her career. She is known for her impressive…
Internationally recognized law firm, Reed Smith, recently announced the appointment of Tallat Hussain to their energy and natural resources group. Hussain will become part of the team as a new partner based out of their London office. Reed Smith made this announcement on a recent Thursday. Hussain brings to the firm significant experience in environmental,…
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)’s controversial climate rule will face legal scrutiny at the Eighth Circuit, as a result of a lottery drawing by The Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation. This rule requires public companies to disclose their greenhouse gas emissions and other climate-related information to investors. The litigation consolidates nine challenges from different…
DLA Piper, one of the world’s leading global law firms, recently appointed Kalidou Gadio as the co-chair of the US-Africa practice in Washington, D.C., the firm said in a statement broadcated on Wednesday. Gadio brings to the table a noteworthy track record pertaining to strategic and economic development projects, with a focal point on energy,…
In one of the recent significant developments in Peru, the country’s parliamentary vote has allowed unregulated miners more leeway in their activities. This regulatory decision offers a clear insight into how the Peruvian authorities are trying to manage one of the country’s most critical sectors – the mining industry. As reported by the law students…
The city of Flint, Michigan has been found in contempt by a federal district judge due to its failure to finish replacing lead-contaminated pipes in the city’s water supply system. According to a timeline defined by a 2023 court order, the city’s neglect ultimately led to the adverse ruling. The order granted a motion from…
The US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is currently reviewing the proposed acquisition of Utah-based Altamont Energy by oil and gas company XCL Resources. This review takes place amidst a noticeable increase in consolidation within the oil and gas sector, which has already prompted related federal antitrust investigations. The FTC made an announcement on Thursday, stating…
Deal makers and reports in the oil and gas industry are grappling with a myriad of complexities and intricate regulations surrounding the accounting and reporting aspects of oil and gas deals. Post-transaction, operational efficiency, accounting accuracy, and even overall deal value may potentially be impacted if these challenges are inadequately addressed. While the number of…
In a recent report from Bloomberg Law, it was announced that Bruno Soares has joined DLA Piper. Soares becomes a partner in the firm’s cross-border project finance practice. His appointment is a strategic move designed to bolster DLA Piper’s international capabilities in this field. Soares brings extensive experience in advising on banking, projects, M&A, and…
In an intriguing new development, Gabon, a Central African country, has taken over the oil business, effectively overriding an existing $1.3 billion agreement with a French energy company. The international legal community has largely supported Gabon’s move, with legal experts involved stipulating that Gabon is within its rights to assume control of the oil company,…
At least 49 people have been killed in a remote Papua New Guinea Highlands region, making it likely one of the deadliest recent massacres in the region, according to reports from Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) and Papua New Guinea’s National Broadcasting Corporation. The massacre took place in Wapenamanda, a remote village in the Enga Province,…
Husch Blackwell, a leading law firm, has secured two significant additions to its energy and natural resources industry group with the recruitment of Brian Potts and David Zoppo. These two individuals will be joining the team as partners, enhancing the firm’s capabilities in its Madison, Wis., office. According to the announcement by Husch Blackwell, Brian…
Reed Smith has expanded its team with the addition of Luis Fortuño and Juliya Arbisman, both joining the firm as partners after stepping away from their previous roles at Steptoe, according to official statements made by the firm on Thursday. Partner Luis Fortuño becomes part of the regulatory and investigations practice based in Washington, D.C….
On January 17, 2024, the US Supreme Court heard arguments in two cases, Loper Bright Enterprises, Inc. v. Raimondo and Relentless, Inc. v. Department of Commerce, challenging the legal principle known as Chevron deference. This principle, established in Chevron U.S.A., Inc. v. Natural Resources Defense Council, holds that courts should defer to a federal agency’s…
On January 17, the US Supreme Court began hearing oral arguments for two notable cases: Relentless v. Department of Commerce and Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo. Legal professionals view these as opportunities for the current court to rethink the judicial doctrine of Chevron deference, which guides courts to defer to reasonable agency interpretations of ambiguous…
On 17th January, the United States Supreme Court engaged in a heated argument on whether to overturn one of the foundational cases that govern how government agencies interpret laws. The culmination of this debate could dramatically impact the functionality of the government going forward. Forty years ago, in Chevron v. Natural Resources Defense Council, the…
The Supreme Court appears on the precipice of overturning 40 years of legal precedence by dismantling the Chevron deference doctrine, a decision that might alter the course of administrative law in the United States. Named for the case of Chevron U.S.A., Inc. v. Natural Resources Defense Council, Inc, 467 U.S. 837 (1984), the rule of…
The fate of the 40-year-old doctrine that courts should defer to federal regulators, more commonly known as the Chevron doctrine, was put into question in the U.S. Supreme Court on Wednesday. A conservative-led campaign against the practice has apparently run into headwinds as predictions of a ‘litigation tsunami’ ensued and justices voiced concerns about a…
Crowell & Moring, a significant player in the legal sphere, has recently expanded its environment, energy, and natural resources practice group with a new partner, Ruta Kalvaitis Skučas as reported on Bloomberg Law. Before shifting to Crowell & Moring, Skučas was associated with K&L Gates. Beyond her stint at K&L Gates, she has been advising…