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Archive for November, 2013

Houston Sutherland partners Rachel Clingman and Steven Roberts selected to ‘Who’s Who in Energy’ list

Posted on: November 22nd, 2013

HOUSTON – Sutherland Asbill & Brennan LLP partners Rachel Giesber Clingman and Steven L. Roberts  are being recognized among the Top 100 leaders in the Houston energy market in the 2013 edition of “Who’s Who in Energy.”

This is the second time both were named among the top influencers in the energy industry based on his selection by the editors of the Houston Business Journal. The “Who’s Who in Energy” list accompanies similar rankings compiled by editors at American City Business Journal publications in Austin, Dallas, Denver, Pittsburgh, San Antonio, St. Louis, and Columbus, Ohio. The full list was published Nov. 15.

Ms. Clingman, partner in charge of the Houston office, is nationally recognized as a litigator who delivers success as defined by the client. She regularly represents energy, chemical, and transportation companies in government, regulatory, and internal investigations. She was selected for Benchmark Litigation’s inaugural list of “Top 250 U.S. Women Litigators;” The American Lawyer’s “45 Under 45” list; and honored with BTI Consulting Group’s Client Service Award for delivering unsurpassed client service.

Mr. Roberts has more than 35 years of courtroom experience, litigating energy, commercial, international insurance, maritime and professional services matters. Recognized nationally for his litigation, insurance and maritime knowledge, he was named to Chambers USA: Guide to Leading Business Lawyers in the area of insurance law; selected as a Texas Local Litigation Star by Benchmark Litigation; and repeatedly named to The Best Lawyers in America in the areas of admiralty & maritime law and personal injury litigation.

Sutherland’s attorneys in Austin and Houston represent clients in Texas and around the world in litigation, energy, transactional, regulatory, environmental and intellectual property matters.

 

 

Altered landscape: Pipeline safety agency expands rules to midstream operators

Posted on: November 13th, 2013

The regulatory landscape for midstream gas processing and storage could change significantly, Sutherland’s pipeline attorneys say, thanks to plans by the federal pipeline safety agency, PHMSA, to expand its oversight.

Recently, the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) indicated it would require midstream natural gas processors and storage operators to abide by the same rules applied to pipelines that transport natural gas liquids. These midstream facilities traditionally have been regulated by OSHA, not PHMSA.

This expansion would obligate companies to reassess their operations and create new compliance programs, says Rachel Giesber Clingman, partner in the Houston office. It also may cause confusion over which specific regulatory rules or standards will be applied to midstream facilities.

The prospect of simultaneous regulation by PHMSA and OSHA is sure to increase operational uncertainty and compliance costs. In at least one case, PHMSA has fined one operator $800,000 and ordered extensive remedial action after finding its midstream process safety management program didn’t comply with the pipeline agency’s regulations.

The full analysis by Sutherland attorneys can be read here. In addition to Ms. Clingman, other Sutherland attorneys familiar with this issue are Jacob Dweck, Paul F. Forshay, Sean D. Jordan, Susan G. Lafferty, Jack Massey and Mark Thibodeaux.