WASHINGTON–(BUSINESS WIRE)–

Van
Ness Feldman proudly announces the addition of Lawrence
Acker and Brian
O’Neill, each as Of Counsel, to the firm’s Washington, DC office.

Mr. Acker and Mr. O’Neill were previously Of Counsel to Dewey & LeBoeuf.
They bring over 60 years combined experience representing natural gas
and electric power industry participants before the Federal Energy
Regulatory Commission (FERC), Department of Energy (DOE), and federal
courts. Their expertise further enhances Van Ness Feldman’s substantial
FERC regulatory and litigation bench strength, providing additional
capabilities to the firm’s loyal client base.

Mr. Acker has substantial experience with FERC authorizations for major
gas and electric projects; FERC enforcement investigations; appellate
litigation; compliance planning; contract formation and disputes; and
rate, tariff, and refund matters. He works regularly and closely with
clients’ senior corporate executives and counsel on complex matters.
Among his clients are natural gas and LNG project developers, interstate
pipelines, pipeline shippers, local distribution companies, natural gas
and electric power trading companies, and electric utilities. Mr. Acker
is recognized as a leading lawyer in Energy Law by Best Lawyers
and is ranked in Band 1 by Chambers USA for both Oil & Gas
and Electricity (Regulatory & Litigation).

Mr. O’Neill has practiced energy law for over 35 years, representing
oil, gas, and LNG companies; intrastate pipelines; and electric
utilities on regulatory, corporate, and commercial matters. His
litigation expertise includes matters involving regulatory proceedings,
project development, and contracts. Mr. O’Neill is ranked as a Senior
Statesman for Oil & Gas (Regulatory & Litigation) by Chambers
Global and Chambers USA and as a leading lawyer in Energy Law
by Best Lawyers. In addition, The Legal Times recognized
Mr. O’Neill as a top energy lawyer in Washington, DC.

Richard Agnew, Chairman of Van Ness Feldman, commented, “We
enthusiastically welcome Larry and Brian to the firm. Their expertise
and stellar reputations as experts in their fields parallel that of the
firm and affirm our commitment to excellence in all aspects of client
service.”

Curt Moffatt, a senior Member of Van Ness Feldman’s Natural Gas & Oil
practice, stated, “As the firm continues to grow and expand its Natural
Gas & Oil practice we remain committed to providing our clients with
superior expertise. Brian and Larry’s leadership on FERC regulatory
matters as well as their appellate experience will be of great benefit
to the firm’s natural gas, oil and LNG clients in the pipeline
transmission and midstream businesses. Many of us at Van Ness Feldman
have known and practiced alongside and opposite Brian and Larry for
decades. We are very pleased to now have our friends with us.”

David Yaffe, Van Ness Feldman’s Electricity Practice Chair, added,
“Larry and Brian’s collective experience before the FERC with rates,
litigation, project development, and compliance and enforcement matters
will benefit our electric clients on a number of fronts.”

Larry Acker said about the move, “It’s a privilege for Brian and me to
be welcomed into what we’ve always considered to be among the very
finest and most respected energy regulatory practices in the country.”

With over 110 professionals in Washington, DC and Seattle, WA, Van
Ness Feldman is a recognized national leader focused on law and policy
relating to energy, the environment, natural resources, land use, and
real estate. Clients benefit from the firm’s strategic and substantive
approach to problem-solving, as well as from our professionals’ deep
understanding of our clients’ industries and business imperatives. The
firm excels at large-scale project development from concept to
ribbon-cutting, as well as in representing clients on their day-to-day
commercial, regulatory, litigation, and policy needs. Learn more
at www.vnf.com.

WASHINGTON, DC–(Marketwire -05/14/12)-
Cooley LLP announced today that it was named to the National Law Journal‘s Intellectual Property Hot List 2012. The list highlights the leading IP law firms in the United States, based on recent work across the spectrum of advisory, counseling, transactional and litigation matters.

“Excellence in IP is at the heart of what Cooley does best for its client base, focused on creating and protecting great ideas, innovation and success,” said Frank Pietrantonio, chair of Cooley’s Intellectual Property practice group. “It’s been a banner year for us, in terms of growth and in terms of the quality of complex work we now execute. So it’s highly appreciated to get the recognition for our national and international IP team, and to have Cooley as part of the inaugural NLJ Hot List of the most significant US firms in the Intellectual Property space.”

Among the notable work Cooley has handled, the National Law Journal cited Cooley’s trial victory for Facebook defeating a $100 million patent suit brought by Leader Technologies Inc. in the District of Delaware, which was held up on appeal before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. The NLJ also noted the volume of U.S. and international patent applications filed last year, litigation work for Nvidia Corp and a rare defense jury verdict in the plaintiff-friendly Eastern District of Texas, that Cooley secured for Vistaprint Ltd.

Cooley’s Intellectual Property group works with clients ranging from start-ups to some of the world’s largest Fortune 500 companies and excels at delivering sophisticated legal strategies in IP-related engagements, including patent, copyright, trademark, false advertising, licensing, ITC Section 337 and trade secret matters.

About Cooley LLP

Cooley’s 650 attorneys have an entrepreneurial spirit and deep, substantive experience, and are committed to solving clients’ most challenging legal matters. From small companies with big ideas to international enterprises with diverse legal needs, Cooley has the breadth of legal resources to enable companies of all sizes to seize opportunities in today’s global marketplace. The firm represents clients across a broad array of dynamic industry sectors, including technology, life sciences, venture capital, clean energy, real estate and retail.

The firm has full-service offices in major business and technology centers nationwide: Palo Alto, CA, New York, NY, San Diego, CA, San Francisco, CA, Reston, VA, Broomfield, CO, Washington, DC, Boston, MA and Seattle, WA. The firm also has an office in Shanghai, China.

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