Energy Law

IEL Conference on Renewable Project Development

Hybrid Conference

Past Event

MCLE Credit will be available

In-Person Attendance held at
Norris Conference Centers - Houston/CityCentre
816 Town & Country Blvd., Suite 210
Houston, Texas 77024

View Map

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

Overview

This conference will explore the legal and business trends and issues facing the growing renewables sector of the energy industry. The conference will focus on renewable project development and is designed primarily for attorneys and legal consultants representing the energy industry. This conference will be presented in a hybrid format.  Although primarily designed for those attending the conference in-person, the conference is also available to view live online.

Conference Co-Chairs

J.T. Nesser
Managing Counsel, Projects – Americas
Shell USA, Inc.
New Orleans, Louisiana
Ram C. Sunkara
Eversheds Sutherland (US) LLP
Houston, Texas

Tuition

  • $325 - Regular Registration Fee
  • $260 - IEL Advisory Board Member
  • $260 - IEL Supporting or Sustaining Member Employee
  • $260 - IEL Young Energy Professional Member
  • $260 - Government Employee
  • $260 - In-House Counsel
  • $50 - Law Student
  • $50 - Full-time Professor

Schedule and Faculty

7:45 a.m. Registration


8:20 – 8:30 a.m. Welcome, Overview and Introductions


8:30 – 9:15 a.m. The Majors: Positioning in New Energy (Non-MCLE)

This session will provide an overview of the new energy strategies and opportunities being pursued by the major oil companies. The presentation will highlight the different business models, capital spending commitments and cash flow targets for the Majors as they position themselves for the energy transition.

David Clark, Vice President, Corporate Research, Wood MacKenzie, New York, New York


9:15 – 10:15 a.m. Current Barriers and Challenges in Developing Renewable Energy Projects

ModeratorMarty Hopkins, Eversheds Sutherland (US) LLP, Austin, Texas

Panelists:

  • Aaron Bloom, Senior Director Regulatory and Political Affairs, NextEra Energy Resources, LLC, St Paul, Minnesota
  • Katie Coleman, O'Melveny & Myers LLP, Austin, Texas
  • Jennifer Ferri, Jackson Walker LLP, Austin, Texas

10:15 – 10:45 a.m. BREAK


10:45 – 11:30 a.m. Financing Strategies and Offtake Contracts for Renewable Projects

ModeratorGiji John, Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP, Houston, Texas

Panelists:

  • Averill Conn, Senior Counsel, Vitol, Houston, Texas
  • Jared Johnson, Senior Counsel, Downstream, Chemicals & Midstream Law, Chevron, Houston, Texas
  • Theodore Matula, Chief Legal Officer, Leeward Renewable Energy, LLC, Dallas, Texas

11:30 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. A “Crystal Ball” Look Into Tax Incentives for Renewable Energy and Carbon Capture and Sequestration Projects and the State of Tax Equity in 2022

This session will begin with an overview of the current federal tax incentives for investments in renewable energy projects and carbon capture and storage projects. The session will then delve into practical considerations for the credits, monetization of the tax benefits and potential changes being considered on Capitol Hill.

Amish M. Shah, Eversheds Sutherland (US) LLP, Washington, D.C.


12:15 – 1:15 p.m. Networking Luncheon


1:15 – 2:15 p.m. EPC Contracting for Renewable & Energy Transition Projects – Lessons Learned and Differences from Conventional Oil and Gas EPCs.

EPC contracting is the established project delivery structure favored by owners and project sponsors in the construction of conventional oil and gas projects. This panel will discuss whether aspects of renewable and energy transition projects challenge the prevailing orthodoxy regarding the use of EPC contracting and the specific challenges renewable and energy transition projects face in the context of construction contracting.

Moderator: Jonathan N. Katz, King & Spalding LLP, Houston, Texas

Panelists:

  • Simon Hayes, Senior Legal Counsel, TotalEnergies, Dallas, Texas
  • Dan Mah, Senior Legal Counsel, Shell Canada Limited, Calgary, Alberta
  • Michael Rigo, Managing Counsel, BP Legal – US Zero Carbon Energy, Houston, Texas

2:15 – 3:00 p.m. Building an Offshore Wind Farm: What You Need to Know

Offshore wind is coming to America in a big way, with capacity set to increase from 50MW in 2021 to 30GW by 2030. This immense opportunity will bring immense challenges as Stateside and international owners, financiers, contractors, suppliers, and vessel operators leap into this new arena all at once. At the inception of what will be a long growth period for offshore wind, this program examines some of the unique macro and micro challenges that will be faced by those involved in the construction, supply, installation and commissioning of these Projects.

  • Roshan Koneru, Legal Counsel, Shell USA, Inc., Houston, Texas
  • Antoine K.F. Smiley, Reed Smith LLP, Austin, Texas

3:00 – 3:15 p.m. BREAK


3:15 – 4:15 p.m. Carbon Capture and Sequestration Developments

Carbon capture, improved energy efficiency and increasing use of noncarbon energy sources are the three primary means of reducing greenhouse gas emissions, all of which will be necessary to meet established emission reduction targets. Oil and gas companies are leveraging their experience with conventional energy operations to lead the development of carbon capture and storage solutions and infrastructure. The panel will discuss current trends in carbon capture and sequestration project development, including critical considerations for developers and sponsors.

Moderator: Ming Lei, McDermott Will & Emery, Houston, Texas

Panelists:

  • A.J. Davitt, Legal Counsel, Chevron New Energies, Houston, Texas
  • Carl Fleming, McDermott Will & Emery, Washington, DC
  • Ash Shepherd, Director of Business Development – Carbon Capture Utilization & Storage, Talos Energy, Houston, Texas

4:15 – 5:00 p.m. Solar and Storage Law: What Energy Attorneys Need to Know

An overview of legal considerations involved in the acquisition, development and operation of large-scale solar and associated storage projects.

  • Janny Gandhi, Legal Counsel – Renewable Energy, TotalEnergies, Houston, Texas
  • Cynthia Martinez, Assistant General Counsel, TotalEnergies, Houston, Texas

5:00 p.m. ADJOURN

Overnight Accommodations

IEL has not arranged a hotel block for this conference, but there are numerous hotel options near the Norris Conference Center. A partial list of potential hotels or motels is included by clicking on the button below. (Note that descriptions and services may have changed for the hotels). 

Download Surrounding Hotel Information

MCLE Credit

This program is approved by the State Bar of Texas for a total of 6.0 hours with no hours of ethics credit. Course ID Number: 174152583. Credit hours may vary by jurisdiction, including for in-person and online viewing.

IEL will directly apply (if requested) for course accreditation in the following states: California, Colorado, Louisiana, New Mexico, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia and West Virginia. IEL has not requested credit from these jurisdictions at this time and approval may not be granted for all or a portion of the program. Attorneys may be eligible to receive CLE credit through reciprocity or attorney self-submission in other states, which may require you to pay an additional fee. IEL conferences are typically accredited by all mandatory CLE states, but more stringent requirements and restrictions may apply in certain jurisdictions. Please review your jurisdiction’s MCLE regulations for more information on the ability to obtain credit for this program.

Sponsorship Opportunities

Breakfast Sponsor (Exclusive) - $4,000 - SOLD

  • Recognition in all marketing, which will be sent to several thousand interested counsel and business leaders
  • Company/firm logo prominently displayed in the Conference brochure, final program and conference break slides
  • Recognition at the event
  • 4 complimentary registrants at the Conference
  • A table for display of company/firm materials at the conference

Networking Luncheon Sponsor (Limited to 3) - $4,000 

  • Recognition in all marketing, which will be sent to several thousand interested counsel and business leaders
  • Company/firm logo prominently displayed in the Conference brochure, final program and conference break slides
  • Recognition at the event
  • 4 complimentary registrants at the Conference
  • A table for display of company/firm materials at the conference

Conference Patron - $2,000 each

  • Recognition in all marketing, which will be sent to several thousand interested counsel and business leaders
  • Company/firm logo prominently displayed in the Conference brochure, final program and conference break slides
  • Recognition at the event
  • 2 complimentary registrants at the Conference

Exhibitor (Non-law Firms only) (Limited to 2) - $2,000 each

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

For more information about sponsorship opportunities, please contact Lilly Hogarth, Sponsorship Coordinator at lhogarth@cailaw.org or +1.972.244.3424.

COVID Warning and Protocols

An inherent risk of exposure to COVID-19 exists in any public place where people are present. COVID-19 is an extremely contagious disease that can lead to severe illness and death. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, senior citizens and individuals with underlying medical conditions are especially vulnerable. By attending the conference, you voluntarily assume all risks related to exposure to COVID-19 while at the Conference.

All attendees are encouraged to be fully vaccinated prior to attending the conference. At this time, masks will not be required while attending the conference. If infection rates worsen close to the conference date, our policies may change.

If you feel ill the day of the conference or believe you have been directly exposed to COVID, do not attend the conference.

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.

Photo/Audio/Video Release

Registration for or attendance at this event acknowledges consent to be recorded or photographed. We reserve the right to use any photograph/video taken at our events, without the expressed written permission of those included within the photograph/video. We may use the photograph/video in publications or other media material produced, used or contracted including but not limited to: brochures, invitations, books, newspapers, magazines, television, websites, annual reports, newsletters, etc. To ensure the privacy of individuals, images will not be identified using full names or personal identifying information without written approval from the photographed subject

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, sexual orientation, gender identity, 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.

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Annual Online Learning Sponsor

Conference Breakfast Sponsor

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