Pillsbury Issues Video Highlighting the Risks and Rewards in the U.S. Energy Sector

"Energy risks have seldom emerged so often and so boldly as they have in the past two years. Japan's nuclear crisis, BP's Gulf oil disaster and upsets in the shale gas patches in the U.S. have leaped onto the front page and affected U.S. energy policy and practice in profound ways," said natural resources attorney Mike Barr, co-head of Pillsbury Global Energy Industry team. "Indeed, a comprehensive national energy policy seems as remote as ever. State support of renewables has clashed with nationwide opposition to onshore and offshore wind power. And major solar projects attract major litigation."

Despite these challenges, innovative companies still are gambling that new technologies and as of yet, undiscovered or untapped, natural resources will ultimately pay off for both investors and consumers of energy and power.  The market seems to bear this out. According to Thomson Reuters, energy and power deals accounted for 28 percent of all global M&A transactions in 2010—up from 12.5 percent in 2009. And the trend shows no signs of abating any time soon.

From ways to make the Smart Grid more effective and improved storage systems that allows utilities to harness wind and solar when power it is needed most to tapping into new natural gas sources, Between Risk & Reward: Navigating the U.S. Energy Landscape share insights from Pillsbury attorneys and clients in the energy and power sector about the potential of new technologies and identifies real opportunities to help meet the country's energy demand.

"The entire history of energy development in the US is predicated on identifying opportunities and taking the risk to invest in/fund those ventures after carefully assessing the operational, financial, regulatory and legal issues and combined with a carefully calculated leap of faith," said Barr, who served as Executive Producer of the video. "When it comes to as highly regulated an industry like energy, which also literally fuels the U.S. and global economy, both the risks and potential rewards have never been higher."

Pillsbury's Energy & Natural Resources capabilities date back more than 100 years when the firm helped incorporate Standard Oil, now Chevron, which remains a key client today. The Firm launched the nation's first nuclear energy practice in 1960 and has been advising in the renewables and clean technology space for more than 30 years. Pillsbury is also noted for its vast Energy & Infrastructure Projects capabilities, and boasts strong LNG capabilities. Current projects include advising the United Arab Emirates' on its $20 billion dollar nuclear power program, the Golden Pass LNG terminal and pipeline project in Texas, and the innovative Atlantic Wind Connection $5 billion underwater transmission line along the Eastern seaboard of the United States.

US News & World Report's Best Law Firms ranked Pillsbury's Energy and Energy, Infrastructure & Project Finance practices Tier 1, the highest recognition possible, and The Lawyer's 2011 Transatlantic Elite cited Pillsbury as among the world's finest international energy firms. The firm's energy capital markets, energy regulatory, environment and natural resources, LNG, nuclear, renewables and project finance attorneys are also top-ranked in Chambers USA.

To watch the video, please click here. For more information about Pillsbury's Global Energy Industry practice, visit https://www.pillsburylaw.com/en/services/sectors/energy/.

About Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP
Pillsbury is a full-service U.S. law firm with international reach. Our lawyers represent many of the world's most successful companies and organizations in energy & natural resources, financial services, real estate & construction, and technology, among other sectors. In addition to Pillsbury's industry focus, we help clients stay abreast of new opportunities or potential risks through issue-specific multidisciplinary teams centered around emerging legal and business trends.