Join industry executives, in-house counsel, and our Reed Smith team as we explore legal risks and opportunities facing domestic U.S. and global energy and commodities players, with particular focuses on energy transition, ESG, and regulatory/litigation risk.
We look forward to welcoming back our energy and commodities community and sharing briefings that will enlighten and prepare market participants for the future. Please use the 'Read More' link below for a full agenda of events.
In case you missed it, you can visit our ENR Outlook site to view the key takeaways from our virtual mini-series last October.
We look forward to seeing you again soon!
COVID-19 regulations and your safety
The safety and well-being of our clients and guests remains our priority. We are closely monitoring developments and are committed to taking appropriate health measures to maintain a safe environment for our attendees. We will provide timely updates before the conference.
This program is presumptively approved for 4.0 CLE credit in California, Connecticut, Illinois, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Texas and West Virginia. Applications for CLE credit will be filed in Delaware, Florida, Ohio, and Virginia. Attendees who are licensed in other jurisdictions will receive a uniform certificate of attendance but Reed Smith only provides credit for the states listed. Please allow 4-6 weeks after the program to receive a certificate of attendance.
If you have any questions, please contact Alma Rosas.
Agenda
The Ukraine crisis: What it means for energy markets globally and regionally
9.10 – 9.55 a.m.
Raad Alkadiri, managing director of Energy, Climate and Resources for Eurasia Group, will discuss the current events in Ukraine and Russia, the global response, and how both are affecting energy markets and prices. Raad will cover:
- The current political situation and the international reaction
- Short-term impacts on global oil prices and the response from other producers
- The impact on natural gas supplies and prices by region, and the effect on the related economies
- How we expect this crisis to affect long-term energy trajectories in the EU, China and the U.S.
Speaker:
- Raad Alkadiri, Managing Director, Energy, Climate & Resources, Eurasia Group
Important ESG issues for corporate EHS departments
10.05 – 11.05 a.m.
This panel will address recent developments and important considerations for environmental, health, and safety (EHS) compliance professionals in responding to emerging environmental, social, and governance (ESG) issues.
Speakers:
- Benjamin H. Patton, Partner, Reed Smith
- Jennifer A. Smokelin, Partner, Reed Smith
- AJ Wissinger, Associate, Reed Smith
FERC and CFTC regulatory developments
11.20 a.m. – 12.20 p.m.
In this session, a panel of in-house counsel and Reed Smith regulatory lawyers will analyze the impact of FERC and CFTC developments on the energy and commodities sector. This will be followed by an interactive discussion on what lies ahead. Topics that will be covered include:
- FERC and CFTC leadership updates
- Recent policy pronouncements (including the interstate natural gas policy and GHG emissions analysis)
- Agency action to combat climate change
- Potential legislation to address regulatory gaps in the crypto markets
- FERC and CFTC enforcement updates
Speakers:
- Dave Hammel, Director, U.S. Commercial and Regulatory Law, TC Energy
- Colette D. Honorable, Partner, Reed Smith (and former FERC commissioner)
- Jonathan Marcus, Partner, Reed Smith
The future of energy, commodities, and energy transition from a private equity perspective
1.20 – 2.20 p.m.
This panel will explore the investment outlook for energy, commodities, and energy transition from the private equity perspective. Topics will include fundraising, traditional energy and upstream investments, energy transition, renewables, financing, and other private equity viewpoints on energy and commodities.
Speakers:
- Efren A. Acosta, Partner, Reed Smith
- David Finan, Partner, EIV Capital
- Kirsten S. Polyansky, Partner, Reed Smith
- Ron J. Scharnberg, Partner, Reed Smith
- James Wang, Managing Director, Ara Partners
Energy transition: Moving to a carbon-neutral economy
2.30 – 3.30 p.m.
In this session, a panel of in-house counsel and Reed Smith attorneys will discuss energy transition opportunities and challenges. Their discussion will cover:
- Evolution of energy policies for the energy transition
- LNG’s role as a transitional fuel: GHG-neutral LNG and net-zero cargoes
- Growth of green and blue hydrogen in the energy mix
- Legal issues related to battery storage, offshore wind in the U.S., and EV charging and electrification of transport
Speakers:
- James E. Atkin, Partner, Reed Smith
- Brendan M. McNallen, Partner, Reed Smith
- J.T. Nesser, Managing Counsel, Projects - Americas, Shell USA, Inc.
Litigation risk management in cross-border disputes
3.45 – 4.45 p.m.
Cross-border disputes have been – and will continue to be – significantly impacted by the COVID-19 outbreak, with disputes involving Latin America being no exception. The broad range of legal concerns companies face as a result of the outbreak include labor, regulatory, supply chain and liquidity issues. Moreover, government orders issued in response to the pandemic and the economic fallout of the COVID-19 crisis have impacted some parties’ ability to perform their contractual obligations, raising issues of force majeure, among other things. These issues are particularly complex where cross-border contracts are at play, given the vastly different ways in which the virus is impacting, and being managed in, different countries in Latin America and globally. This panel will discuss practical litigation risk management considerations to minimize and manage the challenges raised by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Speakers:
- Chris Bellotti, VP and Chief Litigation Counsel, Halliburton
- M. Cristina Cárdenas, Partner, Reed Smith
- Francisco Rivero, Partner, Reed Smith
