William Scherman > Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP > Washington DC, United States > Lawyer Profile

Vinson & Elkins LLP maintains a strong presence in energy regulation, with a practice spanning federal and state agencies, including FERC, DOE, NERC, PUCT, and the Texas Reliability Entity. The team advises on transmission matters, asset transactions, administrative litigation, and enforcement proceedings, representing sponsors of merchant transmission projects and parties in cost-of-service rate cases. It also assists clients in obtaining DOE grants and loan guarantees, ensuring compliance with NERC reliability standards, and securing regulatory approvals for utilities and transmission projects before PUCT. The energy regulatory practice is co-led by Houston-based James Seegers and Suzanne Clevenger, alongside Washington DC-based William Scherman. Key figures include Jeffrey Jakubiak in New York, who focuses on cost-of-service ratemaking, energy transactions, and power sales. John Decker  departed the team in March 2025.

Vinson & Elkins LLP focuses on representing companies in the natural gas, oil and liquids, and LNG industry sectors. The team is regularly at the forefront of major infrastructure projects, handling the full panoply of regulatory and related appellate work, and some of the largest pipeline rate cases filed with FERC. The team excels in handling rate cases, complex certificates, tariff, abandonment, and presidential permit applications as well as gas quality and proceedings, audits, compliance issues, and petitions for declaratory orders. Co-head of the team and Houston-based Jay Seegers, has extensive experience advising natural gas and liquids pipeline and storage clients on various complex regulatory issues, compliance matters, and federal energy policy trends. Co-head Washington D.C.-based William Scherman, advises on litigation, commercial, and regulatory matters relating to the US and international energy markets. Co-head Houston-based Suzanne Clevenger counsels clients with respect to regulated and unregulated midstream assets, specifically, she focuses on FERC regulatory requirements and compliance. Washington D.C.-based Monique Watson brings deep knowledge of energy law to advise clients in achieving business objectives while navigating applicable legal and regulatory requirements.