May 212018
Energy Enforcement Update
This week’s enforcement update covers:
- FERC Enforcement Staff presents the 2018 Summer Energy Market and Reliability Assessment;
- CFTC Staff issues report assessing market impacts of LNG;
- CFTC Commissioner Behnam discusses CFTC enforcement program and trends;
- FERC files opposition to TOTAL petition for writ of certiorari in the Supreme Court;
- Second Circuit affirms dismissal of class action against TOTAL for alleged natural gas manipulation; and
- FERC Enforcement settles investigation with PSEG.
Apr 52018
Energy Enforcement Update
This week’s enforcement update covers:
- FERC files opposition to Powhatan and Chen motion to dismiss amended complaint;
- Judge denies CFTC motion to compel based on agreement of parties;
- FERC extends deadline for comments in grid resilience proceeding to May 9;
- Supreme Court extends time for government to respond to TOTAL;
- Sidley and The Brattle Group to host webinar on FERC energy storage order; and
- Sidley’s Ken Irvin moderates PLI program on FERC enforcement.
Feb 72018
Energy Enforcement Update
This week’s enforcement update covers:
- CFTC orders Deutsche Bank Securities Inc. to pay $70 million penalty for attempted manipulation of ISDAFIX benchmark;
- CFTC and DOJ announce spoofing charges against banks and individuals;
- FERC files amended complaint in case against Powhatan and Chen;
- Judge grants joint motion on summary judgment procedure in FERC case against Silkman/CES;
- FERC OE files answer to BP motion seeking dismissal based on statute of limitations;
- FERC Chairman testifies on grid performance during recent weather events; and
- FERC Commissioner Rich Glick stresses importance of FERC enforcement regime.
Dec 212017
Energy Enforcement Update
This week’s enforcement update covers:
- BP files motion seeking dismissal of FERC case based on statute of limitations;
- Eversource sends cease & desist letter regarding alleged gas pipeline capacity withholding report;
- Secretary Perry grants extension for FERC action on DOE grid resiliency proposal;
- Kevin McIntyre sworn in as Chairman and Richard Glick sworn in as Commissioner at FERC;
- House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee holds hearing on financial trading in electricity markets; and
- CFTC releases annual enforcement results for Fiscal Year 2017.
Nov 212017
Energy Enforcement Update
Our latest enforcement update covers:
- FERC releases 2017 Report on Enforcement showing continued focus on fraud and market manipulation;
- CFTC settles with Statoil ASA for attempted manipulation of Argus Far East Index propane benchmark – “damning” messages again cause trouble;
- Judge issues case management order and sets trial date in CFTC case against Kraft;
- FERC approves settlement in Barclays case;
- CFTC orders Cargill, Inc. to pay a $10 million civil penalty for providing inaccurate mid-market marks on swaps;
- Senate confirms McIntyre and Glick to FERC, but still not sworn in at FERC; and
- CFTC orders Morgan Stanley and Co. Incorporated to pay $350,000 penalty for Part 17 Large Trader reporting violations.
Oct 302017
Energy Enforcement Update
This week’s enforcement update covers:
- Barclays and FERC Enforcement reach agreement in principle to settle manipulation lawsuit for a total of $105 million;
- HSBC executive convicted of foreign currency exchange fraud;
- FERC Chairman Chatterjee calls for FERC to reexamine proper scope of de novo review;
- Senator Blumenthal calls on FERC to investigate price manipulation allegations;
- CFTC finds that Arab Global Commodities DMCC engaged in spoofing of copper futures contracts; and
- FERC files response to Silkman and CES objection to magistrate’s discovery rulings in district court.
Oct 22017
Energy Enforcement Update
This week’s enforcement update covers:
- Judge grants Smith motion for judgment on pleadings and dismisses Smith in Barclays case;
- DOE urges FERC to take action to address electric grid resiliency;
- CFTC Director of Enforcement emphasizes self-reporting and cooperation in speech;
- CFTC Division of Enforcement issues Updated Advisory on Self Reporting and Cooperation;
- CFTC orders Logista Advisors LLC to pay $250,000 for supervision failures related to spoofing;
- CFTC orders Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC to pay $500,000 for supervision failures;
- CFTC issues no-action relief regarding CPO and CTA registration;
- CFTC orders Citibank, N.A. and Citigroup Global Markets Limited to pay a $550,000 penalty for swap data reporting violations;
- CFTC orders Merrill Lynch to pay $2.5 million to settle charges of supervision failures and recordkeeping violations;
- Silkman and CES file partial objection to magistrate’s discovery rulings in district court; and
- FERC Staff presents on enforcement activities during the no-quorum period.
Sep 182017
Energy Enforcement Update
This week’s enforcement update covers:
- CFTC orders W Resources, LLC to pay a $150,000 civil penalty for registration violations;
- Senate Energy & Natural Resources Committee considers FERC nominees; new GC withdraws from FERC v. Powhatan case.
- Rostin Behnam sworn in as a Commissioner of the CFTC;
- Appeals court denies petition for rehearing related to spoofing conviction against Michael Coscia;
- FERC approves settlement agreement with American Transmission Company;
- FERC Enforcement settles with Westar Energy; and
- FERC approves settlement agreement with City Power and Tsingas.
Aug 212017
Energy Enforcement Update
This week’s enforcement update covers:
- FERC and Smith file pleadings on Smith motion for judgment on the pleadings in Barclays case;
- CFTC finds that the Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ, Ltd. engaged in spoofing of Treasury futures and Eurodollar futures – applauds cooperation of the bank;
- Appeals court upholds spoofing conviction against Michael Coscia;
- FERC quorum restored with two new Commissioners;
- Senate unanimously confirms CFTC nominees;
- CFTC orders trader to pay $650,000 civil penalty for spoofing;
- Judge grants motions to dismiss New York ZEC lawsuit; and
- Fifth Circuit denies TOTAL petition for rehearing en banc of declaratory judgment action against FERC.
Jul 242017
Energy Enforcement Update
This week’s enforcement update covers:
- Second Circuit reverses Rabobank LIBOR convictions over forced testimony;
- Judge issues pretrial scheduling order in FERC case against Barclays;
- Judge grants motions to dismiss Illinois ZEC lawsuit;
- Ryan Smith files motion for judgment on the pleadings in Barclays case;
- President Trump nominates Rostin Behnam to serve as CFTC Commissioner;
- President Trump announces intent to nominate Kevin McIntyre as FERC Chairman;
- FERC issues Notice of Alleged Violations against Rover Pipeline and Energy Transfer Partners;
- CFTC files response to Kraft motion to compel; and
- FERC issues Notice of Alleged Violations against American Transmission Company.