International law firm McDermott Will & Emery today announced that it has named Jeffrey D. (Dan) Watkiss as a partner in its Energy Advisory Practice, based in the Firm’s Washington, D.C. office. Mr. Watkiss, a highly ranked attorney who has particular experience representing power and natural gas companies on regulatory and compliance matters, is the second partner to join McDermott’s global Energy Advisory Practice Group in the last two months.
Throughout his career, Mr. Watkiss has represented clients in energy and related industries, including electric power companies; exploration, production and mid-market companies; natural gas pipelines; power and liquefied natural gas project developers; lenders; governments; and regulators. He has provided regulatory advice on numerous transactions and led and defended investigations, complex litigation and appeals in state and federal courts and before administrative agencies, arbitral panels, the U.S. Congress and the executive branch.
“We’re delighted to welcome Dan to McDermott,” said Blake H. Winburne, partner and global head of McDermott’s Energy Advisory Practice Group. “Dan is a highly-respected, senior member of the energy regulatory bar in Washington, D.C., who will enhance our ability to provide a ‘one-stop shop’ for legal services to our energy clients around the world.”
Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business has noted that Mr. Watkiss is “a brilliantly capable regulatory attorney”, ranking him in the categories of Energy: Electricity (Regulatory & Litigation), 2010-2011 and Energy, 2008-2009. He was also identified as a Washington, D.C. Super Lawyer in 2007 through 2010. He joins McDermott from the Washington office Bracewell & Giuliani LLP.
“Dan is a much-welcomed addition to our growing office here in Washington,” said Bobby R. Burchfield, co-partner-in-charge of McDermott’s Washington, D.C. office. “His deep background, and experience across a wide-range of complex energy issues will be a tremendous asset to the Firm and a complement to work we’re already doing. As our clients continue to seek out the next big investments in the energy sector, McDermott will be well-positioned to serve as a strategic enabler of their future growth.”
McDermott Will & Emery represents some of the biggest names in the energy industry across a broad range of corporate, transactional, regulatory, enforcement, litigation, tax and other matters. Current clients include multinational energy companies, integrated oil companies, private equity investors, financial institutions, independent power and gas producers, developers, industrial and commercial customers, commodity traders and marketers, and trade associations. Chambers USA 2011 recognized McDermott’s Energy Advisory practice for its strength in oil and gas, and electric power and renewables, as well as project development, financing, acquisitions and sales.
