REPRESENTATIVE EXPERIENCE
David L. Wochner
ONSHORE
Serve as lead regulatory and policy counsel on behalf of Commonwealth LNG in the development of
the 9.5 million tonnes per year (mtpa) LNG export facility on the Calcasieu Ship Channel in
southwestern Louisiana, including representing the client before FERC and DOE and on Capitol
Hill.
Serve as lead regulatory and policy counsel on behalf of Glenfarne Group in efforts to develop
the 4 mtpa Texas LNG export facility in Brownsville, Texas, including representing the client
before FERC, DOE, Capitol Hill, and the US Courts of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit and the Fifth
Circuit in appeals of project authorizations.
Advise and represent very large southern US utility on drafting and negotiation of more than a
dozen natural gas pipeline precedent agreements for major pipeline and storage expansion
projects throughout multiple states, including detailed assessment of interstate, Section 311
and intrastate jurisdictional issues.
Act as lead regulatory and policy counsel on behalf of NextDecade Corp. in the development of
the proposed 27 mtpa Rio Grande LNG export facility and carbon capture and sequestration (CCS)
project and the Rio Bravo Pipeline project in Brownsville, Texas, including engagement with and
provision of strategic advice regarding FERC, DOE, PHMSA, the US Army Corps, and the US Fish and
Wildlife Service, in the company’s pursuit of all project authorizations and federal appeals of
such authorizations before the US Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit and the Fifth Circuit.
Serve as lead regulatory and policy counsel on behalf of Glenfarne Group (and its predecessor
Australian-based Liquefied Natural Gas Ltd) in efforts to develop the 8.8 mtpa Magnolia LNG
export facility in Lake Charles, Louisiana, including representing the client before FERC, DOE,
PHMSA and the US Coast Guard, and providing strategic policy advice on US LNG exports to Europe.
Advise and represent Magnolia LNG in efforts to secure approval of previously approved LNG
export facility production capacity increase, including engagement with FERC, PHMSA, EPA and
OSHA related to federal regulations governing non-hydrocarbon hazardous substances onsite,
including PHMSA Part 193, EPA RMP, and OSHA PSM programs.
Advise and represent client before the US Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
in effort to secure equivalency determination for LNG technology pursuant to NFPA 59A (2001)
Section 1.2 and 49 CFR 193.
Advise and represent multiple US LNG export project developers on CFIUS matters, including
engagement with Treasury Department and the US Department of Energy related to foreign
investment in LNG infrastructure by Chinese infrastructure funds and a Middle East-based
sovereign wealth fund.
Advise LNG export project developer on all regulatory matters related to negotiation of a
20-year interstate pipeline capacity precedent agreement with a large interstate natural gas
pipeline company, including open season obligations, asset management arrangements, capacity
release provisions, negotiated rate agreements, and analysis of FERC policy on buy-sell
transactions for LNG export projects and related feed gas pipelines.
Advise and represent US LNG export project developer in negotiations with US Export-Import Bank
related to various financing and funding mechanisms for LNG offtake from US Gulf Coast facility.
Advise clients on regulatory issues related to hydrogen sector opportunities, including
jurisdictional and regulatory issues regarding scope of existing authorities at FERC, DOE and
PHMSA, as well as related DOE programs for “blue” hydrogen-associated carbon capture.
Advise US-based energy development company on helium production issues on federal lands under
the US Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Federal Helium System.
Draft comments on behalf of and counsel large oil and gas trade association in major regulatory
rulemaking before the US Department of Energy in 2012 related to analysis and consideration of
greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs) and climate change in the agency’s NEPA regulatory review
process for multiple large-scale liquefied natural gas export facilities.
Advise large oil and gas trade association on White House Council on Environmental Quality
efforts during the Obama Administration to modify regulations related to implementation of NEPA.
Represent the American Petroleum Institute in appeal before the US Court of Appeals for the D.C.
Circuit related to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s and the Department of Energy’s
consideration of GHGs, climate change, and upstream and downstream indirect effects from LNG and
natural gas pipeline infrastructure development.
Represent and advise the Government of the Province of New Brunswick, Canada, on LNG and natural
gas matters, including participation in proceedings at FERC, PHMSA, and US Coast Guard related
to LNG import and export terminal, maritime transit, and pipeline safety issues.
Advise large energy infrastructure hedge fund with over US$6 billion under management on US LNG
export issues, including development of strategies to address political and policy issues at DOE
and FERC.
Serve as lead regulatory counsel on behalf of a major international LNG importer in natural gas
interchangeability proceedings on multiple interstate pipelines and in defense against
allegations of infrastructure harm.
Serve as lead counsel for large Marcellus shale natural gas producer regarding the development
and acquisition of capacity on multiple interstate pipelines, including acting as lead
negotiator for multiple 20-year precedent agreements with pipeline companies.
Advise and represent large global oil and gas trading company on FERC regulatory matters,
including the transfer of natural gas supply and transportation contracts, verification of
compliance with FERC regulations and policies, and representation before FERC in applications
for waivers of FERC’s tying prohibition to effectuate the sale and purchase.
Represent start-up company involved in natural gas vehicles industry in lobbying efforts on
Capitol Hill related to passage of the NATGAS Act, encouraging use of natural gas as a
transportation fuel.
Represent independent natural gas producer in the Marcellus Shale in FERC proceedings seeking
the abandonment of interstate natural gas pipelines and conversion to gathering lines.
Advise and represent large southeast electric cooperative in negotiation and drafting of
precedent agreements with two long-haul interstate natural gas pipelines.
Advise large southeast electric cooperative on PHMSA compliance matters related to oil pipeline
crossing property.
Advise large southeast electric cooperative on negotiation of NAESB gas supply agreements.
Advise and negotiate on behalf of a major IOC in all regulatory and commercial matters
associated with acquisition of LNG export and pipeline transportation capacity at the Elba
Island LNG terminal.
Advise and negotiate on behalf of a major Asian NOC on regulatory and commercial matters
associated with acquisition of LNG export capacity at the Cove Point LNG export terminal.
OFFSHORE
Advise start-up marine hydrokinetic energy company with regard to US regulatory and policy
issues related to the deployment of prototype technology in the US gulfstream.
Advise major European oil and gas company on regulatory requirements related to the abandonment
of a pipeline on the US outer continental shelf (OCS) under the Deepwater Port Act and the Outer
Continental Shelf Lands Act (OCSLA).
Advise and represent developer of offshore CNG export facility in the Gulf of Mexico OCS in
regulatory proceedings before the Maritime Administration (MARAD) and US Coast Guard.
Serve as lead Washington counsel for a major international drilling company in multiple
Congressional investigations and hearings related to the 2010 Gulf of Mexico Deepwater
Horizon oil spill.
Draft written testimony and prepare senior executive of major international drilling company for
oral testimony before the United Kingdom House of Commons Select Committee on Energy and Climate
Change related to offshore drilling issues after the 2010 Gulf of Mexico Deepwater
Horizon oil spill.
Advise offshore Gulf of Mexico LNG import project developer on regulatory and policy issues
associated with the Deepwater Port Act, including Governors’ veto authority, interagency dispute
resolution, and obtaining offshore leases from MMS for associated pipelines and cables.
Advise large offshore energy company with regard to US Department of the Interior Bureau of
Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) leasing and Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE)
enforcement matters related to offshore drilling activities, including issuance of notice of
incidents of non-compliance (INCs).
Advise and represent a European offshore wind project developer bidding in a US BOEM lease sale
off the coast of Maryland, including advice on the regulatory process and competition rules
applicable to bidding.
