Contact: Gordon Erspamer, Peter Hanschen, or Robert Loeffler
Morrison & Foerster represents a broad range of interests in the energy sector, providing clients with a comprehensive, full-service
practice led by veteran energy industry attorneys. In 2005, Morrison & Foerster’s Energy and Natural Resources Practice is
ranked #2 in California by Chambers U.S.A.: America's Leading Lawyers for Business.
The firm represents generators, gas and energy traders and marketers, energy service providers, investor-owned and municipal
utilities, pipeline companies, industrial and commercial customers, investors, lenders, public entities and others in connection
with the structuring, financing, regulatory approval and operation of power, natural gas, energy and infrastructure projects,
regulatory matters, and litigation.
Among the firm’s energy clients are AES Corporation, Constellation NewEnergy, the State of Alaska, Idaho Power Company, Entergy,
Avista Corporation, Mid-American Energy, Independent Energy Producers, Calpine Corporation, Sierra Pacific Industries, Salt
River Project Agricultural, NCPA, SMUD and Puget Sound Energy.
Morrison & Foerster has handled major regulatory, litigation and transactional matters for both U.S. and international energy
clients. The depth of the firm’s energy sector expertise makes it possible to assemble experienced multi-disciplinary teams
to address all manner of legal issues for energy industry clients. The firm’s energy specialists routinely work in coordination
with colleagues in litigation, environmental, land use, bankruptcy, tax, securities, antitrust and dispute resolution.
In addition, Morrison & Foerster provides assistance to non-U.S. governmental agencies and other non-U.S. clients on numerous
regulatory and transactional matters, including the relationships between independent power producers and marketers, the functioning
of a competitive market to generate electric power, and the deregulation of and new regulatory framework for natural gas markets.
The firm assists clients in transactions with non-regulated entities as well, including petroleum and natural gas suppliers
and marketers and energy equipment manufacturers.
Given the firm’s in-depth knowledge of the international regulatory environment, Morrison & Foerster also assists clients
as transactional counsel in the financial structuring of U.S. and international alternative energy projects. This includes
the negotiation of underlying power purchase agreements, construction contracts, operation and maintenance agreements, thermal
host agreements and natural gas and other fuel supply agreements. The firm has participated in project development and finance
transactions in Latin America, Asia, Australia, Canada, Europe and the former Soviet Republics. At the same time, the firm
has also gained expertise in the arbitration of international disputes respecting power and oil and gas projects.
