Diana Lauritson Joins Jennings Strouss As New Marketing Manager

Phoenix (November 28, 2012) – Jennings, Strouss & Salmon, P.L.C., a leading Phoenix-based law firm, is pleased to announce that Diana Lauritson has joined the firm as the Marketing Manager in its Phoenix office.

Prior to joining the firm, Ms. Lauritson served as the Director of Communications and Community Relations for the Arizona Myeloma Network, and previously served as the Government Relations and Public Affairs Liaison for the Border Trade Alliance. Her background in marketing and community relations encompasses a variety of industries including local, state and federal governments, international trade associations, non-profits, and higher education.

“Diana brings diverse experience and knowledge that fits nicely with the firm’s approach to marketing and client service. She is a great asset to the firm and we are happy to welcome her to our team,” states Dawn O. Anderson, the firm’s Director of Business Development.

Lauritson attended Creighton University and earned her Bachelor’s degree in Political Science with a specialization in Legal Studies and a double major in Spanish. She also holds a M.B.A from Florida Tech and a M.S. in Negotiation and Dispute Resolution, with an International concentration, from Creighton University School of Law. 

Lauritson is a member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc., the Greater Phoenix Urban League’s Young Professionals, and the African-American Strategic Leadership Group (AASLG). She also serves on the City of Phoenix's South Mountain Village Planning Committee.

About Jennings, Strouss & Salmon

Jennings Strouss & Salmon is one of the Southwest's leading law firms, providing legal counsel for nearly 70 years through its offices in Phoenix and Peoria, Arizona; and Washington, D.C. The firm's primary areas of practice include bankruptcy, reorganization and creditors’ rights; construction; corporate and securities; energy; family law and domestic relations; health care; intellectual property; labor and employment; litigation; real estate; sports and entertainment; surety and fidelity; tax; and trust and estates. For additional information please visit www.jsslaw.com and follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter.

~JSS~

Contact:  Dawn O. Anderson  |  danderson@jsslaw.com|  602.495.2806

Jennings Strouss Included in 2012-2013 Best Law Firms in America®

PHOENIX, Ariz. (November 26, 2012) – Jennings, Strouss & Salmon, PLC announced that it has been selected for inclusion in Best Law Firms in America® 2013, published by U.S. News and Woodward/White, Inc. of Aiken, South Carolina.

The listings are presented in tiers and ranked nationally and by metropolitan area.  The rankings showcase 10,324 different law firms ranked in one or more of 80 national and 118 metropolitan legal practice areas.  Achieving a high ranking is a special distinction that signals a unique combination of excellence and breadth of expertise.

The methodology for the U.S. News - Best Lawyers "Best Law Firms" rankings involved surveying thousands of law firm clients, leading lawyers and law firm managers, partners and associates, and marketing and recruiting officers. Criteria included expertise, responsiveness, understanding of a business and its needs, cost-effectiveness, civility, integrity, and whether they would refer another client or a matter to a firm.

Jennings, Strouss & Salmon received a Tier 1 national ranking for Medical Malpractice Law – Defendants. The firm also received national rankings for Energy Law (Tier 2), Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights/Insolvency and Reorganization Law, Commercial Litigation, and Tax Law (Tier 3).

In addition to the national rankings, Jennings, Strouss & Salmon was included in the metropolitan rankings for the following practice areas:

Phoenix - Tier 1:

Administrative/Regulatory Law
Arbitration
Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights/Insolvency and Reorganization Law
Commercial Litigation
International Trade and Finance Law
Litigation – Bankruptcy
Litigation – Eminent Domain & Condemnation
Mediation
Medical Malpractice Law - Defendants
Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants
Real Estate Law
Tax Law
Trust & Estates Law

Phoenix - Tier 2:

Eminent Domain and Condemnation Law
Employment Law – Management
Energy Law
International Arbitration - Commercial
Legal Malpractice Law - Defendants
Litigation – Banking & Finance
Litigation – Construction
Litigation – Real Estate

Phoenix - Tier 3:

Corporate Governance Law
Corporate Law
Ethics and Professional Responsibility Law
Labor Law – Management
Litigation – Labor & Employment
Mergers & Acquisitions Law
Public Finance Law

Washington DC - Tier 1:

Energy Law

About the U.S. News Media Group

The U.S. News Media Group is a multi-platform digital publisher of news and analysis, which includes the monthly U.S. News & World Report magazine, the digital-only U.S. News Weekly magazine, www.usnews.com, and www.rankingsandreviews.com. Focusing on Health, Money & Business, Education, and Public Service/Opinion, the U.S. News Media Group has earned a reputation as the leading provider of service news and information that improves the quality of life of its readers. The U.S. News Media Group’s signature franchises include its News You Can Use® brand of journalism and its series of consumer guides that include rankings of colleges, graduate schools, hospitals, health plans and more.

About Best Lawyers

Best Lawyers is the oldest and most respected peer-review publication in the legal profession. For over thirty years, the company has helped lawyers and clients find legal counsel in distant jurisdictions or unfamiliar specialties. The 2013 edition of The Best Lawyers in America includes 41,284 lawyers covering all 50 states and the District of Columbia and is based on more than 4.3 million detailed evaluations of lawyers by other lawyers. Best Lawyers also publishes peer-reviewed listings of lawyers in nearly 70 other countries, covering many of the world’s major legal markets. Best Lawyers lists are excerpted in a wide range of general interest, business and legal publications worldwide, reaching an audience of more than 17 million readers.

About Jennings, Strouss & Salmon

Jennings Strouss & Salmon is one of the Southwest's leading law firms, providing legal counsel for nearly 70 years through its offices in Phoenix and Peoria, Arizona; and Washington, D.C. The firm's primary areas of practice include bankruptcy, reorganization and creditors’ rights; construction; corporate and securities; energy; family law and domestic relations; health care; intellectual property; labor and employment; litigation; real estate; sports and entertainment; surety and fidelity; tax; and trust and estates. For additional information please visit www.jsslaw.com and follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter.

~JSS~

Contact:  Dawn O. Anderson  |  danderson@jsslaw.com  |  602.495.2806

FERC Orders Additional Technical Conferences on Coordination Between Natural Gas and Electricity Markets

 

By Elizabeth B. Teuwen

In August of this year, FERC convened five regional technical conferences to address a number of issues implicated by the growing need to coordinate the natural gas and electric industries.  On November 15, 2012 FERC issued an order further addressing the issues raised by these technical conferences and concluded that additional technical conferences are necessary.  See Coordination Between Natural Gas andElectricity Markets, 141 FERC ¶ 61,125 (2012).

Leading up to the August technical conferences, FERC solicited comments from all industry participants on a wide range of coordination issues including communications, reliability, and scheduling.  Parties were then invited to discuss these issues in a regional context at the technical conferences held in various parts of the country. 

In the November Order, FERC noted that individual industry participants have already begun to undertake certain coordination measures.  However, FERC identified information sharing and scheduling as two areas of concern common to all regions of the country that require additional discussion.  FERC has ordered two additional technical conferences to separately deal with these concerns.  With regard to information sharing, FERC directed Commission staff to consider whether additional guidance or new regulation might be needed to ensure adequate communications between the electric and natural gas industries, especially during emergencies.    FERC also questioned whether the scheduling practices of each industry need to be modified and harmonized to promote better efficiencies for both industries.

In addition, FERC recognized that regional transmission organizations (RTOs) and independent system operators (ISOs) have a unique perspective on coordination issues as they affect the day-to-day operations of energy markets and the reliability unit commitment process.   FERC has ordered each RTO/ISO to report to the commission on two separate dates next year (May 16^th and October 17^th) to relate results of their recent attempts to refine their practices.  FERC has also ordered its staff to report quarterly in 2013 and 2014 on the progression of natural gas and electric coordination within each region.  At the end of these two years FERC will determine whether further reporting is required and whether other actions may be necessary to continue improving coordination efforts.

FERC Institutes Two More Investigations into Possible Pipeline Over-Recoveries of Cost of Service

 

By Joel L. Greene

 

On November 15, 2012, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (“FERC”) initiated separate investigations, pursuant to its Section 5 authority under the Natural Gas Act, to determine whether the rates currently charged by Viking Gas Transmission Company and Wyoming Interstate Company, LLC (“WIC”) are just and reasonable. These orders follow eight previous Section 5 pipeline rate investigations FERC has instituted since 2009.  As in the prior cases, Viking and WIC were directed to file a full cost and revenue study within 75 days of the issuance of their respective order (due January 29, 2013), which will provide a baseline of actual annual costs and revenues and starting point for further analysis. Motions to intervene by affected parties are due by December 17.  Presiding Judges have already been assigned to conduct hearings on a Track II Hearing Timeline.

In Viking’s case, FERC stated that the company’s current rates were established as part of a FERC-approved settlement on November 8, 2002, and that the settlement did not require Viking to file a new rate case at any time in the future.  Viking has not filed a general NGA section 4 rate case in the 10 years since the 2002 settlement.  Having reviewed Viking’s cost and revenue information for the years 2010 and 2011, FERC estimates that the company’s return on equity for those calendar years is 21.39 percent and 21.75 percent, respectively. This concern precipitated the investigation and the need for a hearing to determine whether Viking’s level of earnings is substantially in excess of actual cost of service, including a reasonable return on equity.

Similarly, WIC’s current rates were established as part of a settlement approved on September 27, 2000, with no obligation on the part of WIC to file a new rate case at any time in the future, and with no general Section 4 filing made in the past twelve years.  FERC’s review of WIC’s cost and revenue information for the years 2010 and 2011 resulted in estimated returns on equity for those two calendar years to be 19.55 percent, and 18.51 percent, respectively.

Interestingly, none of the Section 5 rate investigations instituted by FERC since November, 2009 has proceeded to a full evidentiary hearing and decision.  Rather, all have resulted in case-specific uncontested settlements approved by FERC, with the exception of one case (MIGC LLC) that was terminated by the Presiding Judge based on changed circumstances raised on motion by FERC Trial Staff.  It is too early to tell how the Viking and WIC cases will evolve. 

APPA-NRECA Expert Confirms Skepticism of Western Energy Imbalance Market

By Alan I. Robbins

A study performed for APPA and NRECA confirms that those that have been skeptical of the benefits of a proposed energy imbalance market in the Southwest, as is being urged by DOE Secretary Chu and the Western Area Power Administration, have good reason to be skeptical. According to the study, production cost savings would be extremely modest, in an estimated range of 0.72-1.36%, if that. Among other observations, the study notes that the government’s preliminary study, performed by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, underestimates existing economic efficiencies by ignoring bilateral agreements for reserve sharing, economic interchange, power supply, ancillary services and other arrangements. Alan I. Robbins, a member of Jennings Strouss’ Energy Group, believes that these conclusions fall in line with public power experiences in other RTO regions.