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The global energy sector continues to be shaped by geopolitical shifts, regulatory changes, and the ongoing energy transition. As industries and governments navigate decarbonisation, energy security, and evolving investment landscapes, disputes are becoming more frequent and complex.

For more than twenty years, the North American Free Trade Agreement (“NAFTA”), and later, the United States‑Mexico-Canada Agreement (“USMCA”), have facilitated cross-border trade and investment among the United States, Mexico, and Canada through the elimination of virtually all financial barriers to trade.

After little more than a week in office, there is still plenty of speculation, but priorities of the Trump 2.0 Administration are becoming more concrete.

On December 17, 2024, the Office of Fossil and Carbon Management of the Department of Energy (“DOE”) released the long-awaited Liquefied Natural Gas (“LNG”) Export Study (“Study”). The Study was released 11 months after the Biden administration paused pending decisions to export LNG to non-Free Trade Agreement (“FTA”) countries on January 26, 2024.

In this article, Chris Strong, Steven Wilson and Joe Brown* provide a market analysis of the LNG industry in the Middle East and North Africa region.

Kilian de Cintré, Chris Taufatofua, Chris Strong and Ruairi McGill explore the challenges and opportunities in the LNG sector across Latin America and the Caribbean.

Chris Strong, Chris Taufatofua, Jonathan Roberts, and Steven Wilson examine the development of the African LNG industry, as well as its future challenges and opportunities in an article for LNG Industry.

Vinson & Elkins recently expanded its corporate practice in London with the addition of Kilian de Cintré, who joined as an energy and infrastructure partner.

Chris Taufatofua joined Vinson & Elkins’ corporate and finance practice in London as an energy, infrastructure and finance transactions partner, enhancing the firm’s capabilities to advise on complex project financings and other transactions.

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s (“FERC” or “Commission”) October 18, 2023 Open Meeting (the “October Open Meeting”) and October 27, 2023 issuance of rehearing of remand orders for the Texas LNG Brownsville LLC and joint Rio Grande, LLC and Rio Bravo Pipeline Company, LLC projects provide further evidence of the re-solidification of the Driftwood Compromise we discussed in our earlier update following the September 21, 2023 Open Meeting (the “September Open Meeting”).

At the Open Meeting held on September 21, 2023, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (“FERC” or “Commission”) approved four of the six Natural Gas Act (“NGA”) certificate orders for interstate natural gas pipelines and liquefied natural gas (“LNG”) terminals that were abruptly struck from the agenda at the July Open Meeting.