Media Mentions
2008
John P. Cogan was quoted in the July 11 issue of Investor's Business Daily in an article regarding the difficulty Alaska has had in opening its reserves to energy development. Congressional restrictions on opening up the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to development prevent the region from turning out an estimated 876,000 barrels of oil a day, with reserves at 10.4 billion barrels. Mr. Cogan noted that current estimates rely on old data and reserves may actually be as high as 16 billion barrels. "The geological data are pretty old and most of the information we have is derived from older technology," he said.
John P. Cogan Jr., Energy and Derivatives Markets
Joseph B. Williams was mentioned in the June 23 issue of Congressional Quarterly Today and the June 30 issue of The Washington Post in articles referencing his move to McDermott Will & Emery's Energy and Derivatives Markets Practice Group. Mr. Williams re-joins McDermott after serving as senior in-house counsel with the New York Independent System Operator.
Joseph B. Williams, Energy and Derivatives Markets
Peter Y. Malyshev was quoted in the June 13 issue of Securities Law360 in an article regarding claims that growing speculation in commodities markets is the cause of rising oil and food prices in the United States. Mr. Malyshev noted, however, that speculators play an important role in the functioning of commodities markets and that restricting their activities may not be advisable. "If you drastically restrict speculation, speculators will exit the markets, there will be little liquidity, and the markets will likely dry up or move offshore. With no speculators, there is limited liquidity and less effective hedging and such commodity markets will serve limited price discovery functions as well," he said.
Peter Y Malyshev, Energy and Derivatives Markets
Paul J. Pantano was mentioned in the June 10 issue of Megawatt Daily in an article regarding the first meeting of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission's Energy Markets Advisory Committee. Mr. Pantano, a representative of the Futures Industry Association, serves on the committee which met to examine transparency in the energy markets.
Paul J. Pantano Jr., Energy and Derivatives Markets, Energy Trading and Structured Transactions
Gregory K. Lawrence was quoted in the May 26 issue of Electric Utility Week in an article regarding electric utilities’ energy efficiency capital spending programs. Mr. Lawrence noted that these programs rarely rise to the level of altering Wall Street investment patterns. "The level of expenditure when compared to overall rate base of revenues is just not significant enough for investors to take notice yet," he said. Mr. Lawrence added that investors that do take notice are generally skeptical about energy efficiency and the effectiveness of efficiency technologies. "I’ve consistently been asked, ‘Is demand response real? Does the technology work?'" he said.
Gregory K. Lawrence, Energy and Derivatives Markets
Paul J. Pantano was mentioned on May 2 by States News Service and US Fed News in articles regarding the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission's (CFTC) selection of members for the Energy Markets Advisory Committee. The committee is designed to provide a public forum to examine emerging issues related to the energy markets and the CFTC's role in these markets under the Commodity Exchange Act. Mr. Pantano will serve on the committee as a representative of the Futures Industry Association.
Paul J. Pantano Jr., Energy and Derivatives Markets, Energy Trading and Structured Transactions
John P. Cogan was quoted on April 30 by the Associated Press in an article regarding President Felipe Calderon's decision to talk with guerrillas linked to gas pipeline explosions in Mexico. The attacks have been a turnoff for investors watching an energy reform bill before the Senate that would remove bureaucratic obstacles to Mexico's state-owned oil company, Pemex, working with private investors. "If I were an investor, I would say we ought to talk to the rebels," said Mr. Cogan. No matter how much security is provided for the pipelines, "there are always going to be opportunities for guerrillas and various types to step in when nobody is watching," he added.
John P. Cogan Jr., Energy and Derivatives Markets
John P. Cogan was quoted in an April 14 article published by Energy Law360 regarding his recent move to McDermott's Houston office. As a new partner in McDermott's global Projects and Infrastructure Practice Group, Mr. Cogan discussed his reasons for joining the Firm. "I'm a builder, I love to build things. McDermott presented me with an irresistible opportunity to start something locally and apply my life's work to their first-rate global platform. I look forward to helping lead McDermott to the forefront in the Houston market," he said. Mr. Cogan, who has worked for the last 40 years in the oil sector, also noted his taste for continuing changes and developments in the hydrocarbon field. “I once had a teacher who said change is good for people. Change is good for the industry, it leads to unforeseen opportunities, and for me personally, it keeps my batteries charged," he said.
John P. Cogan Jr., Corporate, Energy and Derivatives Markets
Gregory K. Lawrence was quoted in the January 28 issue of Energy Law360 in an article regarding the challenges faced by the U.S. wind energy market. As a partner in the Energy and Derivatives Markets Group, Mr. Lawrence discussed the roadblocks faced by the wind energy market including expiration of the federal production tax credit, significant demand for turbines, and competition from other renewable energy markets. "Wind development in the U.S. faces some important challenges that could result in a boom or bust cycle where wind projects may change hands several times, face construction delays and regulatory risk, look for off-takers, and possibly be part of an investment bubble by financial players that may not have fully vetted the technical and regulatory aspects of wind development," he said.
Gregory K. Lawrence, Energy and Derivatives Markets, Government Strategies
2007
Kenneth W. Irvin was quoted in an October 16 article published by Energy Law360 regarding the ethanol boom which may be coming to an end as support is fading, leaving many companies bankrupt. Mr. Irvin commented that one of the issues this industry is facing is simply overproduction. "It seems like the typical bust and boom...there was a lot of exuberance about building ethanol plants, which lead to excessive amounts of ethanol and the market wasn't strong enough to be profitable," he said.
Kenneth W. Irvin, Energy and Derivatives Markets
Alastair Wilson was quoted in the March 22 issue of the Financial Times regarding carbon emission credits to be treated as exempt from tax on profits. "The Treasury is really acknowledging that these credits have become more important and the volume of the market has grown dramatically," commented Mr. Wilson.
Alastair Wilson, Employee Benefits & Pensions, Energy - London, Energy and Derivatives Markets, London
Greg Lawrence was quoted in the January 18 issue of UPI Energy Watch on a story about the solar industry's first PAC. He noted "the solar PAC will contend with more novel regulatory, technical and financial issues than other energy industry PACs. For example, the solar PAC will grapple with issues regarding who owns the renewable attributes and carbon offsets represented by consumer-installed solar power but sponsored by utilities, further expansion of renewable portfolios standards on a state-by-state basis, and growing markets for solar power that will attract capital—capital that is being pulled in many directions in the energy industry right now."
Gregory K. Lawrence, Energy and Derivatives Markets
2006
Ken Irvin was mentioned as counsel to El Paso Marketing, L.P. in California Public Utility Commission v. FERC, featured in the Big Suits column in the November issue of American Lawyer.
Kenneth W. Irvin, Energy and Derivatives Markets
Greg Lawrence was quoted in the October 3 issue of the Hartford Courant regarding state utility regulators missing an October 1 deadline for announcing big electric rate hikes. Mr. Lawrence commented that the risk of missing the deadline is suppliers' not bidding for electric contacts in Connecticut or adding a premium to their prices. "Both of those factors tend to increase the likelihood of higher prices for wholesale supply," commented Mr. Lawrence.
Gregory K. Lawrence, Energy and Derivatives Markets
2005
Greg Lawrence was quoted in the November 21 issue of The Deal regarding the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission's oversight on hedge funds investing in power plants.
Gregory K. Lawrence, Corporate, Energy and Derivatives Markets, Hedge Funds
Greg Lawrence was quoted in the November 21 issue of The Deal regarding the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission's oversight on hedge funds investing in power plants.
Gregory K. Lawrence, Corporate, Energy and Derivatives Markets, Hedge Funds
McDermott Will & Emery was mentioned in the April issue of Lexpert magazine as counsel to Merrill Lynch in its acquisition of Entergy Koch and Entergy-Koch Trading. This transaction was listed among the top 15 Canada/U.S. deals of 2004.
Corporate, Energy and Derivatives Markets, Mergers & Acquisitions
