Energy Law

Energy Industry Environmental Law Conference

Houston, Texas, USA

Past Event

MCLE Credit will be available

Hyatt Regency Houston/Galleria
2626 Sage Road
Houston, Texas 77056

Online registration for the conference is now closed. If you would like to still register for this conference, please register onsite at the registration desk.

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Registrar: +1.972.244.3403
IEL: +1.972.244.3421
Fax: +1.972.244.3401
E-Mail: iel@cailaw.org

Overview

Held in the heart of the energy industry, this new and unique conference is designed for attorneys with a heavy environmental practice, in particular involving energy related matters, as well as attorneys working for or representing energy industry clients who want more information on environmental law matters affecting the energy industry.  The conference features outstanding educational sessions by leading environmental and energy attorneys, including in-house and private practice attorneys.

Conference Co-Chairs

Stephen G. Ellison
Managing Counsel, Global Health, Safety and Environmental Law
ConocoPhillips Company
Houston, Texas

Kirsten L. Nathanson
Crowell & Moring LLP
Washington, D.C.

Download the Brochure (pdf)

For more details, download the online brochure.

Tuition

  • $495 - Regular Registration Fee
  • $395 - IEL Advisory Board Member
  • $395 - IEL YEP Member
  • $395 - IEL Supporting or Sustaining Member Employee
  • $395 - CAIL Member or Member Employee
  • $395 - Government Employee
  • $100 - Law Professor
  • $100 - Full-time Student

Schedule and Faculty

Thursday, May 17

5:15-6:45 pm


Welcome Reception – Joint Reception with Mergers & Acquisitions in Energy Conference

Friday, May 18

8:20 am


Introductions

8:30 am


Cooperative Federalism and the Future of State Environmental Regulation and Enforcement

Moderator:

  • Timothy A. Wilkins, Bracewell LLP, Houston, Texas

Panelists:

  • Secretary Chuck Carr Brown, Ph.D., Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality, Baton Rouge, Louisiana
  • Martha E. Rudolph, Director of Environmental Programs, Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment, Denver, Colorado
  • Bryan W. Shaw, Ph.D., P.E., Chairman, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, Austin, Texas

9:30 am


View from Washington – Status of the Trump/Pruitt Regulatory Agenda

One year in, Scott Pruitt’s EPA has ramped up its efforts to roll back a host of environmental regulations, from the Clean Power Plan to the Waters of the United States Rule. At the same time, the courts have been keeping a watchful eye on the process through which this is happening. Robert Meyers takes a look back at what’s been done, what hasn’t, and why, and offers some perspective on what is likely to come next.

  • Robert Meyers, Crowell & Moring LLP, Washington, D.C.

10:15 am


Break

10:35 am


In-House Environmental, Health and Safety Perspective: “What Keeps Us Up at Night?”

Come hear leading EH&S in-house counsel offer their perspectives on the evolving regulatory landscape in an ever-changing business environment.

Moderator:

  • Kirsten L. Nathanson, Crowell & Moring LLP, Washington, D.C.

Panelists:

  • Christopher W. Armstrong, Assistant Chief Attorney, Environmental & Safety Law, Exxon Mobil Corporation, Spring, Texas
  • Paul I. Hamada, Deputy General Counsel, Legal Compliance, Environmental & Regulatory, Phillips 66, Houston, Texas
  • Rebecca Raftery, Managing Counsel, BP America, Naperville, Illinois

11:35 am


Priorities of the Environmental Protection Agency

The presenter will discuss the current regulatory and enforcement priorities of the United States Environmental Protection Agency.

  • Anne Idsal, Regional Administrator, Region 6, United States Environmental Protection Agency, Dallas, Texas

12:05 am


Lunch

1:15 pm


Environmental Litigation – Trends and Coming Threats

The trends and risks in environmental litigation continue to evolve, with the plaintiffs’ bar attempting new theories and seeking ever larger penalties. This presentation will review the most recent litigation activity and what it may portend for future waves of suits in 2018 and beyond.

  • Janet L. McQuaid, BakerHostetler, Denver, Colorado
  • Loulan J. Pitre, Jr., Kelly Hart Pitre, New Orleans, Louisiana
  • Elizabeth M. Weaver, Norton Rose Fulbright US LLP, Los Angeles, California

2:00 pm


Going Global: Expanding the Scope of Environmental Review for the Energy Sector

Government agencies tasked with reviewing energy projects may take a harder look at anticipated greenhouse gas emissions following recent federal court decisions that call for a broader scope of environmental review. For example, in a 2–1 ruling issued August 22, 2017, a panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit vacated a decision by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to approve a major interstate pipeline project, holding that FERC failed to adequately consider the greenhouse gas emissions that will result from burning the natural gas in downstream power plants. This presentation will review the evolving precedent and its implications for future energy project reviews.

  • Joseph K. Reinhart, Babst Calland, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
  • Meredith Odato Graham, Babst Calland, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

2:30 pm


Litigating Contribution Claims Under the Oil Pollution Act

This presentation will address recent case law interpreting Section 2709 of the Oil Pollution Act (OPA), which the courts have found provides an independent right of contribution under federal law against a third party whose actions cause or contribute to an oil spill. The OPA provides the comprehensive federal statutory structure for oil spill response, including paying the costs of cleanup, reimbursing economic damages incurred by private parties and public entities as a result of the spill, and liability for civil penalties. The statute places initial responsibility for response on the owner or operator of the source of the oil (e.g. the pipeline company, vessel owner, offshore facility, etc.) regardless of what caused the spill. This presentation will discuss recent litigation of claims brought by initial responsible parties against third parties whose actions contributed to the oil spills.

  • Ashley Peck, Holland & Hart LLP, Salt Lake City, Utah

3:00 pm


Break

3:15 pm


Update on Environmental and Human Rights Issues in International Arbitration

Environmental and human rights disputes between natural resource companies, states and NGO’s have been on the rise. This panel will discuss recent cases, defense strategy, and other developments in this rapidly evolving area.

  • Hal Fiske, Senior Counsel, International, ConocoPhillips Company, Houston, Texas
  • Alex James, Global Sustainability Manager, Halliburton Company, Houston, Texas
  • Carol M. Wood, King & Spalding LLP, Houston, Texas

4:00 pm


Some Like it Hot: Current Ethical Issues for Environmental Lawyers

Moderator:

  • Daniella D. Landers, Reed Smith LLP, Houston, Texas

Panelists:

  • Debra Tsuchiyama Baker, Baker • Wotring LLP, Houston, Texas
  • Robert W. Johnson, Assistant General Counsel – Legal Services, Exxon Mobil Corporation, Spring, Texas
  • Mary Clair Lyons, Assistant General Counsel, Environmental Law, Kinder Morgan, Inc., Houston, Texas

5:00 pm


Adjourn

CLE Credit

This program is approved by the State Bar of Texas for a total of 6.75 hours, including 1 hour of ethics. Course ID Number: 174012245. Credit hours for other states will vary and are subject to each state’s approval and credit rounding rules.

For this conference, IEL will directly apply (if requested) for course accreditation in the following states: California, Louisiana, Minnesota, New Mexico, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Texas and Virginia. Some of these states may not approve a program for credit hours before the program occurs. Attorneys may be eligible to receive CLE credit through reciprocity or attorney self-submission in other states. Attorneys filing by self-submission in certain states may be required to pay an additional fee. IEL conferences are typically accredited by all mandatory CLE states.

Hotel Information

The cost of housing is not included in tuition. However, rooms (in limited number) have been reserved at the Hyatt Regency Houston/Galleria, 2626 Sage Road, Houston, TX 77056. Registrants should call 1.800.233.1234 and advise them they are attending the "IEL – Spring Conferences" to receive a reduced room rate of $139 ++ per night. The last day to obtain this special rate is May 1, 2018. Limited rooms available the nights of 5/16/2018 to 5/18/2018

BOOK HOTEL ONLINE

Sponsorship Opportunities

M&A & Environmental Law Conferences Wi-Fi Sponsor - $5,000 (exclusive) - SOLD OUT
For M & A (May 17) and Energy Industry Environmental Law Conference (May 18)
(Only 1 Allowed)

  • Name/Logo reflected in wifi access code for the 5th Energy Industry Mergers & Acquisitions Conference and the National Energy Industry Environmental Law Conference
  • Prominent recognition on the background slide for both conferences
  • Recognition in the conference brochures, which will be mailed and/or emailed to several thousand interested counsel and business leaders and will reach many thousands more through web announcements
  • Company/firm logo prominently displayed in the conference brochures and final programs
  • 2 complimentary registrant at both conferences
  • An opportunity to display company/firm materials at the conferences

Joint M&A and Environmental Law Conferences Networking Reception - $3,500 each
Reception following conclusion of M&A Conference on the evening of May 17th
Welcome Reception for National Energy Industry Environmental Law Conference)

  • Recognition in the conference brochures, which will be mailed and/or emailed to several thousand interested counsel and business leaders and will reach many thousands more through email and web announcements.
  • Company/firm logo prominently displayed in the conference brochures and final programs
  • Recognition on the conference websites
  • Recognition at the reception
  • 2 complimentary registrants at each conference (a total of four may attend the Networking Reception as registrants)
  • 2 complimentary guests at the reception
  • An opportunity to display company/firm materials at the conference

Hosted Luncheon for National Energy Industry Environmental Law Conference - $2,500 each

  • Recognition in the conference brochure, which will be mailed and/or emailed to several thousand interested counsel and business leaders and will reach many thousands more through email and web announcements.
  • Company/firm logo prominently displayed in the conference brochure and final program.
  • Recognition on the conference websites
  • Recognition at the luncheon
  • 2 complimentary registrants at the conference
  • An opportunity to display company/firm materials at the conference

Breakfast Sponsor for National Energy Industry Environmental Law Conference - $3,000 (Exclusive) - SOLD OUT
 (Only 1 Allowed)

  • Recognition in the conference brochure, which will be mailed and/or emailed to several thousand interested counsel and business leaders and will reach many thousands more through email and web announcements
  • Company/firm logo prominently displayed in the conference brochure and final program
  • Recognition on the conference website
  • Recognition at the breakfast
  • 2 complimentary registrants at the conference
  • An opportunity to display company/firm materials at the event or at the conference.

Exhibitor (Non-law Firms only) - $1,500 each for M&A or $2,250 each for M&A and Environmental Law

  • Space to display company/firm materials at the conference.
  • Name/logo on Conference website with link to company page

Other Information

Press Policy

All IEL conferences are held under the Chatham House Rule. Participants, including journalists, are free to use any information received, but comments may not be attributed to any speaker identifi ed by name or affiliation.

Visa Information

If you require a letter of invitation to obtain a visa for this conference, payment of the registration fee must first be made.  If you apply and do not receive a visa, please send us a copy of the rejection letter from the consulate, and we will cancel your registration and issue a refund. Please email iel@cailaw.org for more details.

Nondiscriminatory Policy

The Center for American and International Law does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, religion, national origin, age, disability, veteran status or any other protected status in educational activities, scholarship programs or admissions.

Privacy Policy

We do not sell or rent information to any outside parties. By providing your information, you will receive postal and electronic communications from the Institute for Energy Law (IEL) of The Center for American and International Law (CAIL) in accordance with CAIL's Privacy Policy. If we co-sponsor a program with another organization, information may be shared between the parties. All such co-sponsors will be identified on the event details and registration page. At any point, you can opt-out or unsubscribe by selecting either link at the bottom of each email or call us at 972.244.3400.

Sponsor an Event

Wi-FI Sponsor

Networking Reception Sponsor

Breakfast Sponsor

Hosted Luncheon Sponsors

Exhibitors