Jeffrey D Watkiss

Jeffrey D. Watkiss represents clients in energy and related industries, including power companies; exploration, production and mid-market companies; natural gas pipelines; power and liquefied natural gas project developers; lenders; governments; and regulators. Two significant areas of his practice focus on antitrust and competition issues, and counseling power and natural gas companies on designing and implementing best-in-class legal and regulatory compliance programs. Mr. Watkiss represents clients in transactions, investigations, complex litigation and appeals in state and federal courts, and before administrative agencies, arbitral panels, the U.S. Congress and the executive branch. He worked extensively on Title XII of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 and Title VII of the Energy Policy Act of 1992, both of which substantially reformed the regulation and structure of the U.S. electric services industry. From 1982 through 1986, Mr. Watkiss advised and represented the general counsel of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) on the regulation of natural gas pipelines, electric utility companies and hydroelectric licensees. During this period, he served as the government's lead counsel on first impression cases involving decommissioning offshore natural gas systems and on electric utility investments in, and ownership of, fuel production and delivery companies. Mr. Watkiss is a contributor to Electric Light & Power magazine. He originated Bracewell & Giuliani LLP's Energy Legal Blog and continues to be a frequent contributor to that web site.