Howard Useem

Howard Useem is Vice President and manages the firm’s energy practice. Mr. Useem has special expertise in international oil and gas issues and electricity markets and regulation. Previously Mr. Useem served for 24 years as the senior professional staff member of the United States Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. In that capacity, he participated in every major Congressional energy legislative initiative from 1979 through 2003. Mr. Useem was responsible for the Senate Energy Committee’s legislation and oversight activities on petroleum, natural gas, hydroelectric power and other domestic energy production/regulation issues. He was responsible for the Committee’s international issues such as world energy production and supply. And Mr. Useem was responsible for the Committee’s international security and defense issues. In addition to his vast policy expertise on energy-related issues, Mr. Useem is very knowledgeable about the Congressional legislative process. Before beginning his work on Capitol Hill, Mr. Useem served as the chief economist of the Independent Petroleum Association of America. He was also an economist with the Congressional Research Service of The Library of Congress. Mr. Useem also served as an officer in the U.S. Army. Mr. Useem holds a master's degree in economics from the University of Washington and a bachelor’s degree from Michigan State University in social science. He and his wife, Shelley, have two children.