HOUSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Recent developments in the exploitation of shale gas reserves have changed the outlook for energy investments in the United States and globally. Shale gas, including the investment in what is required to exploit and market it, seems to hold great promise for fueling economic growth. Global Infrastructure Report, Volume VI explores the impacts for infrastructure participants of recent developments in the natural gas industry through articles by lawyers from Fulbright & Jaworski L.L.P. and other industry leaders.
“The opportunities in the shale industry create excitement at a time when economic conditions have constrained global investment in other areas of infrastructure,” said Gregg Harris, Co-Head of Fulbright’s Infrastructure Practice. “This edition of Fulbright’s Global Infrastructure Report tackles some critical infrastructure issues following recent developments in natural gas. The firm wishes to thank Andrea Lachenmayr, a partner in our Washington, D.C. office, for serving as editor of this important publication.”
Fulbright has long been active in natural gas transactions. The firm has represented clients in many recent high-profile investments in shale gas ventures, including most recently multi-billion dollar investments by China’s Sinopec Group in development of the Tuscaloosa Marine Shale in Mississippi, the Niobrara in Colorado and Wyoming, the Mississippian in Oklahoma, and the Utica Shale in Ohio and the Michigan Basin, and by Total E&P USA, Inc. in development of the Utica Shale in Eastern Ohio.
A number of Fulbright attorneys practicing across a variety of disciplines relative to energy transactions have contributed to the publication’s special report on natural gas, including Mark Wasem, an energy partner in Fulbright’s Dallas office with more than 25 years experience in natural gas development and transactions.
Highlighting some of the infrastructure challenges for new entrants to the Pennsylvania market is Jeremy Mercer, an environmental partner from Fulbright’s Pittsburgh-Southpointe office. Also, Lisa Tonery and Tania Perez of Fulbright’s New York office and Rabeha Kamaluddin of the firm’s Washington, D.C. office discuss the considerable infrastructure needs to facilitate access of U.S. natural gas producers to higher-profit markets in the United States and internationally. The three lawyers recently obtained on behalf of their client the first long-term authorization to export U.S. natural gas supplies as LNG.
From Fulbright’s New York office, Rick Farmer and Patrick Selinger consider the impact of U.S. shale gas development on the choices to be made by developers of new U.S. generation capacity over the next 20 years. Farmer has been a longtime advisor to power plant developers in the United States and internationally.
Furthermore, looking beyond the U.S. borders, Ben Smith of Fulbright’s Hong Kong office has contributed an analysis of the impact of the changing natural gas industry on Asia. Around the globe, David Moroney, an energy and project finance attorney based in Fulbright’s London office, explores how the shale gas industry is taking shape in the United Kingdom, as compared to some of its European neighbors and the United States.
”Despite uncertainty about the timeline for true economic recovery in the United States and globally, investment in energy, a traditional engine for economic growth, continues to command the attention of investors and policy makers,” said Jim Tussing, Co-Head of Fulbright’s Infrastructure Practice, commenting on the growing global interest in the development of a strong renewable energy power portfolio. In this spirit, other contributors to Global Infrastructure Report explore themes relevant to the development of a renewable portfolio, considering developments in Turkey, South Africa and the United States.
Following Turkey’s recent economic growth and subsequent demand for new power capacity, Turkish infrastructure attorneys Ebru Ünal and Utku Ünver of Hergüner Bilgen Özeke look at how renewable, nuclear energy and other sources may be developed to meet their county’s electricity needs and government incentives in this area.
With South Africa’s ambitions for a greener energy mix, Charles-Henry Kurzen of Saltbox Partners reviews the path leading to South Africa’s recently launched tender for the private construction of the first chunk of such new renewable capacity and the initial results of such process.
In a U.S.-focused article, energy regulatory expert Jeff Sherman examines two recent FERC rules relating to transmission pricing incentives for transmission developers and enhanced transmission planning requirements, and how such regulation may lead to construction of the transmission infrastructure needed to bring renewable power to the markets that demand it.
The sixth edition of Global Infrastructure Report also considers some innovations in structuring public private partnerships to develop infrastructure. In Latin America, Peru’s infrastructure has attracted considerable interest of international investors. Maria Elena Reaño and Manuel Ugarte of the Lima-based law firm of Delmar-Ugarte Abogados contribute an analysis of Peru’s new “private initiative” infrastructure program, which encourages privately-proposed public-private infrastructure projects. In the United States, an article by Guy Wilkinson of KPMG considers how President Barack Obama’s plan to construct a high-speed and intercity passenger network in the United States could be realized, analyzing how special challenges for infrastructure development in the United States will influence variations on models for development of high-speed rail previously used in other countries.
To access Global Infrastructure, Volume IV, please visit www.fulbright.com/globalinfrastructure25.
Fulbright’s Infrastructure Practice
Fulbright’s global infrastructure practice includes all facets of infrastructure, including energy infrastructure, project finance, power, PPP transactions, renewable energy, equipment finance, transportation, airports and ports.
Fulbright & Jaworski L.L.P.
Founded in 1919, Fulbright & Jaworski L.L.P. is a leading full-service international law firm, with nearly 900 lawyers in 17 locations in Austin, Beijing, Dallas, Denver, Dubai, Hong Kong, Houston, London, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, Munich, New York, Pittsburgh-Southpointe, Riyadh, San Antonio, St. Louis and Washington, D.C. Fulbright provides a full range of legal services to clients worldwide.
The 2012 BTI survey of FORTUNE 1000 general counsel chose Fulbright to its “The BTI Client Service 30,” and Corporate Board Member magazine named Fulbright among the top 20 corporate law firms in the U.S. in its survey of board members of public companies. For more information, please visit: www.fulbright.com.