Lawyer

Jacob Dweck, a lawyer and principal with the LNG Solutions Group, would rather not describe gas quality/interchangeability issues as a “hurdle” for liquefied natural gas (LNG) developers, utilities and end-users, but rather as an opportunity.

As news broke over the weekend that a former Enron lawyer has been hired at FERC as a trial attorney specializing in technical rate matters, a Commission spokesperson on Monday urged skeptics to “look at the facts,” and not to attach a “stigma affecting someone’s career just because of the simple fact they worked at Enron.”

With a recent history as a lawyer and energy consultant before California regulators, Dian Grueneich, the newest member of the California Public Utilities Commission, recused herself from all energy matters during her first business meeting Thursday. She is still in the process of determining on which specific cases she can cast votes. Steve Poizner, a second new member on the five-member panel, is still awaiting formal swearing into office by the governor.

A lawyer for a California-based power supplier said last Wednesday that Nevada Power and affiliate Sierra Pacific Power Co., which are seeking to reform electric contracts negotiated at the height of the western energy crisis, have only themselves to blame for the above-market contract arrangements with which they now are saddled.

John Geesman, 51, a lawyer who previously served on the California Independent System Operator’s governing board, was named Thursday to an open seat on the California Energy Commission, which sites power plants and oversees energy resource planning and conservation programs. Gov. Gray Davis made the announcement, noting that this fills out the five-member commission that is based in Sacramento. It is the same agency that Geesman once headed as executive director.

John Geesman, 51, a lawyer who previously served on the California Independent System Operator’s governing board, was named Thursday to an open seat on the California Energy Commission, which sites power plants and oversees energy resource planning and conservation programs. Gov. Gray Davis made the announcement, noting that this fills out the five-member commission that is based in Sacramento. It is the same agency that Geesman once headed as executive director.

The small Washington energy law firm Morley Caskin has joinedthe international ranks, merging with the 700-lawyer British firm,Cameron McKenna. Morley Caskin attorneys Joel Zipp and GeorgeWilliams Jr. are among the six lawyers being added to the largerfirm’s Washington office. The move was official Sept. 1, but willnot be physically accomplished until offices are ready next month.