Orrick adds LNG experience to team

Energy regulatory practitioners Lisa Tonery and Erik Swenson have joined the global law firm, Orrick, from Norton Rose Fulbright US.

Tonery led the U.S. Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) Regulatory practice and co-chaired the LNG International Business Group.

Orrick said in its statement on Monday that Tonery will join the New York office, with Swenson joining the Washington D.C. office.

Tonery focuses her practice on helping LNG and natural gas infrastructure developers, including major natural gas pipelines, navigate complex permitting and regulatory compliance matters in proceedings before the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Fossil Energy (DOE), the U.S. Department of Transportation Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration and other agencies.

he advised in obtaining the first long-term authorization issued by the DOE to export domestic natural gas as LNG from the continental U.S., as well as on the first bi-directional LNG terminals proposed in the U.S. in proceedings before FERC.

Swenson  focuses on energy law, working closely with clients in transactional and regulatory matters, including guiding on electric, natural gas and LNG infrastructure development. He recently advised NextDecade LLC in its FERC application to approve construction,

He recently advised NextDecade in its FERC application to approve construction, ownership and operation of the multi-billion dollar Rio Grande LNG export facility and the Rio Bravo Pipeline Company natural gas pipeline, as well as Rio Grande LNG’s applications for LNG export authorizations. Erik also has decades of experience with energy regulatory matters for electric generation facilities and large commercial and energy consumers.