Energy

June 18, 2025
Judge Says A Ruling Unfreezing Wind Projects May Be Pyrrhic

A Massachusetts federal judge said on Wednesday he will allow key claims to move forward in a suit challenging the Trump administration's halt of wind farm project reviews, yet he suggested even if the plaintiffs ultimately prevail, the administration could still simply deny requests for permits and leases.
June 18, 2025
Nippon, US Steel Officially Close Deal, Backed By 5 Law Firms

Nippon Steel has officially closed its purchase of U.S. Steel, the companies announced Wednesday, forming a global steelmaking partnership backed by $11 billion in planned U.S. investments and a national security agreement with the federal government.
June 18, 2025
Supreme Court Says Biofuel Waiver Fights Belong In DC Circ.

The U.S. Supreme Court on Wednesday ruled that the D.C. Circuit is the proper venue for challenges to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's denial of biofuel waivers to small refiners, while state-level disputes over national ozone air quality standards must be heard in regional circuit courts.
June 18, 2025
High Court Says Texas Can't Challenge Nuclear Waste Site

The U.S. Supreme Court on Wednesday said Texas and a mineral owner could not challenge the Nuclear Regulatory Commission's approval of a temporary nuclear waste storage facility in the state, while sidestepping the issue of whether the agency is authorized to license such facilities.
June 17, 2025
Sunoco Pipeline Leak Class Claims Return To Philly Court

A Pennsylvania federal judge has sent environmental class claims over a Sunoco pipeline leak back to state court in Philadelphia, ruling that a carveout to federal class action law where the majority of plaintiffs reside in the same place makes it a state court matter.
June 17, 2025
States Say Trump Admin Can't Freeze EV Charging Funds

An attorney for the Washington Attorney General's Office on Tuesday urged a federal judge in Seattle to issue a preliminary injunction requiring the Trump administration to release funding for electric vehicle charging infrastructure projects in 16 states, saying the administration cannot "go back in time" and eliminate congressionally approved funding.
June 17, 2025
Tatneft Wants $172M Award Suit Put Back On Track

One of Russia's largest oil companies pressed a D.C. federal court to restart its long-delayed lawsuit aimed at enforcing an almost 11-year-old $173 million arbitral award against Ukraine, saying discovery must proceed despite the ongoing war.
June 17, 2025
La. Law Will Make Tesla Sales Less Onerous, Justices Told

Louisiana regulators are hoping the U.S. Supreme Court will hold off on considering their request to take up a Tesla-brought case targeting the state's ban on direct sales by automakers, saying a new law is about to change things and the justices should wait until it takes effect.
June 17, 2025
Decarb Investors Reach $8.8M Deal In Hyzon Motors SPAC Suit

An investor who challenged a $2.1 billion take-public merger for Hyzon Motors Inc. in 2021 that he says deprived them of the opportunity to make an informed choice between sticking with the deal or cashing out told a Delaware vice chancellor Monday they've settled the case for $8.8 million.
June 17, 2025
Barrick Pursues Arbitration Amid Mali Gov't Seizing Gold Mine

A commercial court in the African country of Mali has placed a gold mining project operated by Barrick Mining Corp. under government administration, a move the Canadian company has claimed has rendered ongoing arbitration between the parties more critical than ever.
June 17, 2025
Norton Rose Helps Steer $3.8B Keyera-Plains Natural Gas Deal

Canadian oil and gas giant Keyera, advised by Norton Rose Fulbright Canada LLP and McCarthy Tetrault LLP, will acquire substantially all of Plains All American Pipeline LP's Canadian natural gas liquids business for roughly $3.77 billion (around CA$5.16 billion), the companies announced Tuesday.
June 17, 2025
Venezuela Oil Co. PDVSA Must Face $258M Default Ruling

Spanish company Elecnor SA has achieved a green light from a New York state judge to pursue enforcement of a nearly $258 million default judgment against Venezuela's state-owned oil and natural gas company over unpaid debt.
June 17, 2025
Energy Co. Brass Faces Investor Suit Over LNG Project Delays

Executives and directors of New Fortress Energy Inc. have been hit with a shareholder's derivative suit accusing them of misleading investors about the company's timeline for completing a liquefied natural gas facility off the coast of Mexico.
June 17, 2025
Del. Justices Undo $200M Award In TransCanada Case

Pointing in part to an earlier appellate ruling, Delaware's highest court on Tuesday reversed a Court of Chancery decision that ordered the former TransCanada Corp. to pay $199 million to former Columbia Pipeline Group Inc. shareholders allegedly shorted in a 2016 merger.
June 17, 2025
Energy Co. Says Lease Differences Undermine Class Cert. Bid

A proposed class of XTO Energy Inc. lease holders have claimed they were uniformly overcharged for gathering and processing gas from their properties, but experts for the energy company testified Tuesday that their leases were too different to be certified as a class, and there was no better bargain available for the services.
June 17, 2025
Investors Say Exxon Trial Should Remain On Schedule

A class of investors has told a Texas federal judge that Exxon Mobil has no basis to ask the court to stall a November trial for a suit accusing the oil giant of misleading investors, saying Exxon didn't point out any factors that would merit a delay.
June 17, 2025
Ohio High Court Allows Challenge To Duke Gas Rate Increase

Ohio's utility consumer advocate filed a timely appeal to challenge a regulator's approval of a Duke Energy Ohio Inc. rate increase for natural gas customers, the Ohio Supreme Court ruled Tuesday, denying Duke's bid to have the case dismissed.
June 17, 2025
Commodities Scheme Operator Gets 65 Years, Owes $75M

The operator of a commodities scheme who evaded taxes and stole precious metals from his clients was sentenced to 65 years in prison and ordered to pay more than $75 million in restitution Tuesday by a Delaware federal court that also denied his request for a new trial.
June 17, 2025
Safety Co. Demands Sanctions Over No-Show Witnesses

Safety inspection company UL LLC has sought $13,500 in sanctions and a court order to compel two Chinese solar companies to produce key witnesses in a dispute over counterfeit UL marks, accusing them of last-minute cancellations and monthslong delays.
June 17, 2025
Delta Nearing Settlement In Jet Fuel Dumping Class Action

Delta has reached a deal with a group of Los Angeles homeowners to end a lawsuit against the airline after it dumped jet fuel onto their properties, according to a joint notice.
June 17, 2025
BLM Says Enviro Groups' Lease Suit Lacks Real Controversy

The U.S. Bureau of Land Management is urging a Colorado federal judge to throw out a suit environmental groups filed over nearly two dozen suspended oil and gas leases, arguing that the groups are trying to create a controversy where none exists.
June 17, 2025
Fuel Co. Says Fired CEO's 'Incompetence' Dooms Bias Suit

A Michigan-based petroleum distributor urged a federal judge to toss its ex-CEO's suit claiming she was fired from the family-run business out of gender and disability bias, arguing that her claims fall flat against evidence that she was sacked for years of lackluster profits under her leadership.
June 17, 2025
Willkie-Led Post Oak Clinches $764M Energy-Focused Fund

Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP-advised Post Oak Energy Capital LP on Tuesday revealed that it closed its fifth energy fund and a related co-investment vehicle with $764 million in tow.
June 16, 2025
Colo. Quarry Co. Botched Blasting Job, NC Supplier Says

A blasting services and distribution company used unqualified personnel, made design errors and failed to supervise an explosives operation at a Colorado quarry, a construction company alleged in North Carolina federal court.
June 16, 2025
DOJ Won't Charge PE Firm That Acquired Sanctions Violator

The U.S. Department of Justice has decided not to go after private equity firm White Deer Management LLC after it discovered and voluntarily disclosed that Unicat's former leadership had violated economic sanctions and export laws, according to an announcement made Monday.

Expert Analysis

Takeaways From DOJ Fraud Section's 2024 Year In Review

Attorneys at Paul Weiss highlight notable developments in the U.S. Department of Justice Fraud Section’s recently released annual report, and discuss what the second Trump administration could mean for enforcement in the year to come.
Private-Bidding Compliance Lessons From Siemens Plea Deal

Siemens Energy’s recent wire fraud conspiracy guilty plea shows that U.S. prosecutors are willing and able to police the private, domestic bidding market to protect the integrity of the competitive marketplace, and companies will need a robust compliance program to mitigate these risks, say attorneys at Foley Hoag.
Mentorship Resolutions For The New Year

Attorneys tend to focus on personal achievements or career milestones when they set yearly goals, but one important area often gets overlooked in this process — mentoring relationships, which are some of the most effective tools for professional growth, say Kelly Galligan at Rutan & Tucker and Andra Greene at Phillips ADR.
Trump's Energy Plans For Generation, Transmission And More

The executive orders and presidential memoranda issued by President Donald Trump on the day of his inauguration, unwinding the Biden administration's energy policies and encouraging development of fossil fuels, may have significant impacts on the generation mix, electric transmission construction and the state regulatory environment, say attorneys at Polsinelli.
What Nearshoring Growth In Americas Means For Patents

With the new U.S. administration potentially focused on implementing draconian trade restrictions, nearshoring in the Americas is expected to grow, and patent prosecution attorneys will be kept on their toes as the patent landscape from country to country continues to evolve, says Ernest Huang at Procopio.
Series

Coaching Little League Makes Me A Better Lawyer

While coaching poorly played Little League Baseball early in the morning doesn't sound like a good time, I love it — and the experience has taught me valuable lessons about imperfection, compassion and acceptance that have helped me grow as a person and as a lawyer, says Alex Barnett at DiCello Levitt.
5 Litigation Funding Trends To Note In 2025

Lawyers and their clients must be prepared to navigate an evolving litigation funding market in 2025, made more complicated by a new administration and the increasing overall cost of litigation, says Jeffery Lula at GLS Capital.
How FTC Sent A $5.6M Warning Against Jumping The Gun

The Federal Trade Commission's recent record $5.6 million "gun jumping" action against Verdun Oil, for allegedly exerting control over EP Energy before the mandatory waiting period under U.S. antitrust law expired, warns companies that they must continue to operate independently during review, say attorneys at Ballard Spahr.
The Blueprint For A National Bitcoin Reserve

The new administration has the opportunity to pave the way for a U.S.-backed crypto reserve, which could conceptually function as a strategic asset akin to traditional reserves like gold markets, hedge against economic instability, and influence global crypto adoption, say attorneys at Duane Morris.
Rethinking Litigation Risk And What It Really Means To Win

Attorneys have a tendency to overestimate litigation risk before summary judgment and underestimate risk after it, but an eight-stage litigation framework can clarify risk at different points and help litigators reassess what true success looks like in any particular case, says Joshua Libling at Arcadia Finance.
Nixing NRC Oversight Of Small Reactors Could Cut Both Ways

A lawsuit in a Texas federal court aims to abolish the Nuclear Regulatory Commission's authority over small modular reactors, which the plaintiffs contend will unleash new and innovative technology — but the resulting patchwork of state regulations could increase costs for the nuclear industry, say attorneys at King & Spalding.
How DOGE's Bite Can Live Up To Its Bark

All signs suggest that the Department of Government Efficiency will be an important part of the new Trump administration, with ample tools at its disposal to effectuate change, particularly with an attentive Republican-controlled Congress, say attorneys at K&L Gates.
Proactively Managing Tariff Impacts On Megaprojects

President-elect Donald Trump's proposed tariffs may compound the complexity, duration and risks associated with financing and building large-scale infrastructure projects — so owners and contractors should plan to take possible tariff-related cost and schedule overruns into account when drafting contracts, say attorneys at Crowell & Moring.
New York Climate Superfund Law May Face Preemption Fight

New York state's new climate superfund law highlights a growing trend of states supplementing their climate litigation efforts with legislative initiatives — but it will likely encounter the same federal preemption questions raised about state and local lawsuits seeking redress for climate harms, say attorneys at ArentFox Schiff.
US-China Deal Considerations Amid Cross-Border Uncertainty

With China seemingly set to respond to the incoming U.S. administration's call for strategic decoupling and tariffs, companies on both sides of the Pacific should explore deals and internal changes to mitigate risks and overcome hurdles to their strategic plans, say attorneys at Covington.