Energy Law

FOCUS 2021:

A Special IEL Summit on Energy, Leadership & Diversity

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Live Online Conference

Past Event

Free event for IEL Advisory Board Members.

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IEL: +1.972.244.3422
Fax: +1.972.244.3401
E-Mail: iel@cailaw.org

Overview

Registration for FOCUS 2021 is now open on IEL’s Online Learning Catalogue. The event is free for all IEL Advisory Board Members. You must be an Advisory Board Member for calendar year 2021 to attend. IEL’s membership roll will be updated February 12th.  If you have not renewed your membership or if you would like to become a member, please click here.  Advisory Board Members may be individual members or representatives from Sustaining, Supporting and Sponsoring Members.  If you have questions regarding membership, please contact Vickie Adams at vadams@cailaw.org.


FOCUS 2021—part conference, part meeting—is a unique summit designed to give back to IEL’s members after a challenging year for many of IEL’s members, their employees, and their families. Although scheduled during the week IEL’s Annual Oil and Gas Law Conference usually occurs, the Summit is focused more on providing information on the energy industry, promoting professional development and leadership growth, and providing relationship-building opportunities. The Summit will include unique and in-demand speakers, bestselling authors, a professional poker player, a former law student turned football coach, a highly effective and entertaining diversity and equity speaker, and unique leaders in the energy industry.

FOCUS 2021 is a free event that only IEL Advisory Board Members may attend. You can become an Advisory Board Member by becoming an IEL Associate Member or by being named an Advisory Board Representative for an IEL Sustaining, Supporting, or Sponsoring Member. Individuals who are members at the Young Energy Professional or Law Student membership levels—reduced price membership levels—may only attend the YEP session on February 16th.

Please note that the new membership year begins January 1, 2021, and the membership list will be adjusted with membership and representative changes prior to the Summit, with only Advisory Board Members in good standing at the time of the Summit being able to attend. If you have any questions regarding membership, please review the membership section of our website or contact Vickie Adams at vadams@cailaw.org.

To IEL’s members, we thank you for your continued support of the Institute for Energy Law. We hope that you enjoy this new event and find the Summit to be personally and professionally meaningful. Be sure to also save the date for the 72nd Annual Oil and Gas Law Conference, which has been moved to April 22-23, 2021. The Annual Conference, which is also free to IEL Advisory Board Members, will feature many outstanding sessions that provide MCLE credit.

Schedule and Faculty

Tuesday, February 16

9:00–10:00 a.m. (Central)


Service and the Industry: A Discussion on Leadership, Life, and the Energy Services Industry with Ann G. Fox, CEO of Nine Energy Service

Ann G. Fox
President, Chief Executive Officer
Nine Energy Service
Houston, Texas

Ann Fox has served as the President, Chief Executive Officer, Secretary and Director of Nine Energy Service since July 2015. Prior to that, Ms. Fox served the company as Chief Financial Officer and Vice President, Strategic Development.

From December 2008 to February 2013, Ms. Fox served in various positions with SCF Partners, a private equity firm specializing in investments in the energy services industry. Ms. Fox became a Managing Director of SCF Partners in December 2012.

Prior to joining SCF Partners, Ms. Fox served in the United States Marine Corps. During her service, Ms. Fox worked with a small team embedded in the South of Iraq in order to ensure Iraqi Security Force combat operations were consistent with the application of US counterinsurgency tactics.

She holds a Bachelor of Science in Diplomacy and Security in World Affairs
from Georgetown University’s Walsh School of Foreign Service and an M.B.A. from the Harvard Business School. She is currently a member of the Harvard Business School Alumni Board, Devon Energy Board and Groton School Board.

Presentation hosted by IEL’s Oilfield Services Practice Committee

10:00 – 10:30 a.m. (Central)


Meeting of the IEL Oilfield Services Practice Committee (all IEL Members Welcome)

All IEL Advisory Board Members are welcome to attend this committee meeting, which will include a report of the committee’s activities and planning for the upcoming year. The meeting will begin upon the conclusion of the preceding program.

10:30-11:00 a.m. (Central)


Break

11:00 a.m. - Noon (Central)


Stay In the Deep End: A Conversation About Taking Risks, Embracing Discomfort and Taking Advantage of Opportunities Outside Your Comfort Zone

Daron K. Roberts
Founding Director
Center for Sports Leadership and Innovation
Austin, Texas

Daron K. Roberts is a former NFL and college football coach and author of, Call an Audible: Let My Pivot from Harvard Law to NFL Coach Inspire Your Transition. The book was named a #1 New Release by Amazon. LinkedIn named Daron as the #1 Top Voice in Sports in 2020.

Before beginning his third year of law school, Roberts made the decision that he wanted to pursue a football coaching job. He wrote 164 letters seeking an internship and received an offer to serve as training camp intern with the Kansas City Chiefs. From that experience, Coach Herman Edwards allowed Roberts to serve as a volunteer for the Chiefs during the 2007 season and then made him a defensive quality control assistant for the Chiefs in 2008. In 2011, Roberts realized his dream when he became a special teams and inside receivers coach at West Virginia University. In 2012, Roberts became the Mountaineers’ cornerbacks coach.

Roberts serves as founding director of the Center for Sports Leadership and Innovation (CSLi) at the University of Texas. The CSLi is the first university-based institute dedicated to developing leadership and character curricula for high school, collegiate and professional athletes. Roberts is also a lecturer in the Liberal Arts Honors Program and he focuses on issues of leadership and innovation in the sports arena. Each year, Roberts teaches nearly 300 students, including a course he developed for freshmen athletes titled “A Gameplan for Winning at Life.”

Roberts received a Bachelor of Arts at the University of Texas in 2001, where he also served as Student Body President. He then obtained a Master in Public Policy from the Harvard Kennedy School of Government in 2004 and a Juris Doctorate from Harvard Law School in 2007.

Roberts has been featured in ESPN the Magazine, Bloomberg Businessweek, and Sports Illustrated. He is a contributor to Forbes.com. His articles have appeared in The Dallas Morning News, Fortune, Houston Chronicle, and Time.

Presentation hosted by IEL’s Young Energy Professionals Committee

Program Sponsored by Kean Miller LLP

Noon – 1:00 p.m. (Central)


Meeting and Social Event of the Young Energy Professionals Committee

All IEL members are welcome to attend this committee meeting, which will include a report of the committee’s activities and planning for the upcoming year, as well as allow members interact with each other upon the conclusion of the committee meeting. The meeting will begin upon the conclusion of the preceding program.

Wednesday, February 17

9:00 – 10:00 a.m. (Central)


Impact of ESG Stakeholder Requirements on Energy Companies – Focus on Upstream and Midstream

The panelists will discuss ESG trends that affect E&P companies (upstream and midstream activities). They will analyze stakeholder requirements, compare European E&P companies’ approach to ESG and how the US is quickly catching up, not necessarily through regulation but due to investors, lenders and shareholder pressure. The presentation will highlight basic ESG concepts and their implementation, including ESG plans, due diligence and assessing risks associated with the transition to a lower-carbon economy.

  • Eric Dietert, SE Texas Area Manager, Environmental Resources Management, Houston, Texas
  • Brad Nemeth, Program Director – Corporate Sustainability and Responsibility, Environmental Resources Management, Dallas, Texas

Presentation hosted by IEL’s International Practice Committee

10:00 – 10:30 a.m. (Central)


Meeting of the International Practice Committee

All IEL Advisory Board Members are welcome to attend this committee meeting, which will include a report of the committee’s activities and planning for the upcoming year. The meeting will begin upon the conclusion of the preceding program.

10:30 – 11:00 a.m. (Central)


Break

11:00 a.m. – Noon (Central)


A Discussion with Maria Konnikova on Better Decision Making, Self-Control, Risk Taking, and Storytelling: What You Can Learn from Poker

Maria Konnikova is the author of The Biggest Bluff, a New York Times bestseller and Notable Book of 2020. While researching the book, Maria, who has a Ph.D. in Psychology, became a professional poker player, winning an international championship and over $300,000 in tournament earnings.

In The Biggest Bluff, Maria writes that “[t]he craft of poker cannot be mastered without self-knowledge, self-care, and self-reflection.” The same is true in life and as a legal professional. She writes about her experiences learning to play poker from scratch, the knowledge she obtained and its application to everyday life, including the importance of observing well, deciphering a person’s story to explain their actions, and understanding why you are making a decision. Maria also discusses what she learned about risk taking, overcoming emotional and societal baggage, not falling prey to a bluff or con, and embodying the feelings you want to express.

Join us for an engaging discussion on these topics and more. And, there is no risk you will lose money listening to Maria, which is not true if you join her at a poker table.

Presentation hosted by IEL’s Litigation & Dispute Resolution Committee

Program Sponsored by Liskow & Lewis

Noon – 12:30 p.m. (Central)


Meeting of the Litigation & Dispute Resolution Committee

All IEL Advisory Board Members are welcome to attend this committee meeting, which will include a report of the committee’s activities and planning for the upcoming year. The meeting will begin upon the conclusion of the preceding program.

12:30 – 1:30 p.m. (Central)


Break

1:30 – 2:30 p.m. (Central)


Annual Meeting of the Advisory Board of the Institute for Energy Law

All IEL Advisory Board Members are invited to join us for the Annual Meeting of the Advisory Board to hear a report from Advisory Board Chair Laura M. Robertson and other IEL leaders regarding the state of IEL and upcoming events, participate in the business of IEL, and engage in discussions with IEL leadership and other Advisory Board Members.

2:30 – 3:30 p.m. (Central) Social Event

Join us for a virtual social event whereby you will have the opportunity to reconnect and socialize with other IEL Advisory Board Members.

Thursday, February 18

9:00 – 9:05 a.m. (Central)


Welcome from the Chair

  • Laura M. Robertson, Deputy General Counsel, Litigation, Arbitration and IP, ConocoPhillips Company, Houston, Texas

9:05 – 10:15 a.m. (Central)


2021 and Beyond: Different Paths to the Future of Energy

Our history makes it clear that change is inevitable. In business, especially the business of energy, change is vital and leads to both inconvenience and opportunity.

The past two decades has seen unimaginable changes to the energy landscape, including geopolitical transformation and the growth of the US oil and gas industry caused by the Shale Revolution, as well as the growing demand for cleaner energy sources, extraction methods, and power generation. The energy industry will continue to change over the next three decades, with evolution likely speeding up and being transformational.

Affordable and reliable energy will continue to be a necessity, but the form and makeup of that energy in the near and long-term future is not certain. There is no one clear path to the future of energy. Companies, including major oil and gas companies, investors, and society are beginning to make significant diverging choices regarding their paths to the future of energy.

This program features thought leaders who are looking at the future of energy for the world. They will discuss their expectations for the future of the energy industry and the different predictions and decisions being made by industry leaders and society.

Moderator: Alan Crain, Chairman, Arbitrator Intelligence, Inc. (formerly Chairman, EP Energy Corp.; Chief Legal & Governance Officer, Baker Hughes, Inc.), Houston, Texas

Panelists:

  • Ben Cahill, Senior Fellow, Energy Security and Climate Change Program, Center for Strategic & International Studies, Washington, D.C.
  • Kenneth B. Medlock III, James A. Baker, III, and Susan G. Baker Fellow in Energy and Resource Economics, and Senior Director, Center for Energy Studies, Rice University, Houston, Texas
  • Ore Owodunni, Low Carbon Energy, ConocoPhillips Company, Houston, Texas

10:15 – 10:30 a.m. (Central)


Break

10:30 – 11:30 a.m. (Central)


The Urge to Merge?

In the second half of 2020, consolidation in the oil and gas industry finally began in earnest. The mergers were driven, in part, by a precipitous decline in crude oil prices--as the COVID-19 pandemic suppressed demand--and the uncertainty around OPEC supply. The slew of transactions included Chevron’s $12 billion acquisition of Noble Energy, the $5.7 billion “merger of equals” between Devon and WPX Energy, ConocoPhillips’ announced $9.7 billion acquisition of Concho Resources, Pioneer’s announced $4.5 billion acquisition of Parsley Energy, and Diamondback's $2.2 billion acquisition of QEP Resources. These transactions should create larger companies better equipped to reduce costs and withstand crude oil demand cycles. Our esteemed panel will discuss what economic and geo-political developments led to these transactions, whether they will likely continue in 2021, and their effect on the industry and the broader economy.

Moderator: David D. Sterling, Baker Botts L.L.P., Houston, Texas

Panelists:

  • Frank E. Bayouth, Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, Houston, Texas
  • Shannon Kinney, Deputy General Counsel, Chief Compliance Officer and Corporate Secretary, ConocoPhillips Company, Houston, Texas
  • Tom Terrarosa, Senior Editor, The Deal, New York, New York

11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. (Central)


Break

12:30 – 2:00 p.m. (Central)


Stand Up and Lead: Solidifying Your Role as an Inclusive Leader

At whatever level you are in your organization, you can be an inclusive leader who can implement systems, transform culture, and ensure your team members know that they belong and can succeed.

Inclusive leaders center their work on teams where diversity is welcomed, not assimilated. A leader who centers their work on equity examines the barriers to success for diverse professionals and works to eliminate them. And a leader who centers their work on inclusion ensures that authentic diversity - the utilization of differences for success - serves as the centerpiece of their leadership.

This program will explain what it means to be a leader who centers their work on people, diving into the differences between diversity, equity, and inclusion, and the leadership skills required to promote intersectionality in the workplace. We will look at some of the barriers to equity - unconscious bias, race, and privilege - and the work individual leaders need to do to address them. Finally, we will discuss ten new strategies for inclusive leaders and the practical actions leaders can take today, including how to center your work on authenticity and belonging.

Join us for this outstanding presentation by Michelle Silverthorn, who has been featured on NPR, PBS and in various publications, such as the Chicago Tribune and Fortune Magazine. She is also a TEDx speaker and the author of the bestselling book, Authentic Diversity, How to Change the Workplace for Good.

Michelle Silverthorn
Speaker, Bestselling Author, and CEO of Inclusion Nation
Chicago, Illinois

Friday, February 19

10:00 – 11:00 a.m. (Central)


Not Starting Over: Utilizing Experience in Oil and Gas to Succeed in the Renewables Sector

A panel will provide perspectives on making the transition from traditional energy practice to renewables and new energy practices. The panel will discuss examples of career transitions and highlight the skill sets, market knowledge, and client experience from working in oil and gas that translate best into the renewable/new energy practice and new skills, knowledge, and experience that are most helpful for transitioning attorneys.

ModeratorArchie Fallon, Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP, Houston, Texas

Panelists:

  • Stephen Harrington, Principal Development Manager, SunPower Inc., Austin, Texas
  • Cynthia R. Martinez, Assistant General Counsel - Corporate Services, TOTAL, Houston, Texas
  • Jennifer Phan, General Counsel, Honeywell Smart Energy, Houston, Texas
  • Carita Walker, Head of Legal & General Counsel, Greenlots, Los Angeles, California

Presentation Hosted by the Transactions and Compliance Practice Committee

11:00 – 11:30 a.m. (Central)


Meeting of the Transactions and Compliance Practice Committee

All IEL members are welcome to attend this committee meeting, which will include a report of the committee’s activities and planning for the upcoming year. The meeting will begin upon the conclusion of the preceding program.

11:30 a.m. – Noon (Central)


Break

Noon – 1:00 p.m. (Central)


Hydrogen: A Renewable Energy Partner in the Energy Transition

This session will provide an overview of the emerging hydrogen market, the different types of hydrogen (green, blue, gray, etc.) and their various applications, and will discuss the ways that hydrogen - sometimes considered a competitor to renewables - can also be a supportive partner for renewable energy.

  • Jason Bennett, Baker Botts L.L.P., Houston, Texas
  • Kassia Yanosek, McKinsey & Company, Houston, Texas

Presentation Hosted by the Renewables Practice Committee

1:00 – 1:30 p.m. (Central)


Meeting of the Renewables Practice Committee

All IEL members are welcome to attend this committee meeting, which will include a report of the committee’s activities and planning for the upcoming year. The meeting will begin upon the conclusion of the preceding program.

1:30 p.m.


Adjourn

Other Information

We will be using a third party platform to host the conference. By registering for this event, your email address and personal information will be used by the webinar organizer to communicate with you about this event and other services.

Registration

Regitration for FOCUS 2021 will open February 1.  The event is free for all IEL Advisory Board Members and IEL is currently updating its membership rolls for the 2021 membership year that began January 1, 2021.  If you have not renewed your membership or if you would like to become a member, please click here.  Advisory Board Members may be individual members or representatives from Sustaining, Supporting and Sponsoring Members.  If you have questions regarding membership, please contact Julia Dural at jdural@cailaw.org.

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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.

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

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