Sidley has a diversified and global Energy practice. We represent clients in virtually every aspect of the energy industry, including upstream, midstream and downstream oil and gas companies, oilfield service companies, oil and natural gas, refined product and CO2 pipelines, electric utilities, merchant electric transmission companies, independent power producers, alternative energy developers, suppliers and contractors, energy trading companies, and the financial institutions that serve companies in all of these industry segments. Our energy practice encompasses all types of transactional, litigation and regulatory matters.

Sidley’s energy transactional practice includes representing clients in a broad range of M&A, capital markets, project development, project finance and syndicated, structured and master limited partnership (MLP) financing transactions. Our energy litigation practice includes representation of energy industry clients in all types of federal and state litigation and arbitration proceedings. Sidley’s energy regulatory practice includes matters before the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) and state regulatory commissions, as well as the U.S. Departments of Energy, Transportation and State.

Our group’s experience also extends to handling enforcement cases and anti-manipulation issues under FERC and other applicable regulations, and representing clients acquiring or releasing natural gas transportation and storage services; precedent agreements; structuring asset management agreements under FERC Order 712; securing FERC approval for corporate reorganizations or acquisitions under the Federal Power Act section 203; PUHCA; handling complaint proceedings under FPA 206; and representing shippers in rate cases under the Natural Gas Act.

Sidley’s Environmental practice helps our clients meet today’s complex environmental challenges.

Our experience cuts across environmental media, including air, water, waste, chemicals, and pesticides. Drawing on the firm’s broad platform and network of resources, our global team:

  • Assists with permitting and environmental review of new projects
  • Advises boards, CEOs, and general counsels on internal investigations
  • Counsels on how to comply with highly technical rules
  • Provides legislative and regulatory advocacy on new laws and regulations
  • Assists with environmental issues in transactions
  • Represents clients in cleanups at contaminated sites and on related claims for cost recovery and natural resource damages
  • Harnesses a premier Clean Air Act Title II/Mobile Source defense group
  • Vigorously represents our clients in federal, state, and NGO enforcement litigation — from trial court through appellate review

Our clients are active in multiple sectors, including transportation, energy, electric utilities, renewables, oil and natural gas, manufacturing, mining, chemicals, electronics, telecommunication, consumer products, pharmaceuticals, agribusiness, and banking and finance. We regularly work with numerous national trade associations in advocacy before agencies, the White House, and on Capitol Hill.

Our team features a deep bench of talent and experience in environmental law. We have more former government officials than our peer firms. Members of our group have held senior governmental positions in the U.S. and Europe, including as chiefs of the Environmental Enforcement and Appellate sections of the Environment and Natural Resources Division of the U.S. Department of Justice. Lawyers on our team have also served at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the European Commission. A number of prestigious industry publications, such as Chambers USA, U.S. News – Best Lawyers® “Best Law Firms,” and The National Law Journal, among others, have recognized our practice, as well as our lawyers individually.