United States • Energy
2

Energy regulation: electric power

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Vinson & Elkins LLP

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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.
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Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • ‘Vinson & Elkins has several lawyers with significant experience working on U.S. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission proceedings and U.S. energy policy analyses. They are all deeply knowledgeable in North American electricity and natural law and policy. What really matters is knowing the law and when to push forward positions that may at first seem hard to get across the finish line, but sometimes do. Vinson & Elkins is good at identifying these opportunities.’

  • ‘We often work with Bill Scherman and Jeff Jakubiak. Our experience working with them is excellent. They are steeped with experience and thoughtful and confident thinkers. Their strengths are a function of their experience and expertise.'

Key clients

  • Versant Power
  • Talen Energy Corporation
  • Invenergy
  • Archaea Energy, Inc.
  • Edison Electric Institute
  • Wells Fargo Central Pacific Holdings, Inc.
  • JPMorgan Capital Corporation
  • Vitol
  • Oncor Electric Delivery Company LLC
  • SoftBank (and affiliate SB Energy)

Lawyers

Practice head

James Seegers; William Scherman; Suzanne Clevenger

Other key lawyers

Jeffrey Jakubiak