Thomas Knight
2200 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Suite 500 West
Washington, D.C. 20037
Thomas represents several of the leading natural gas, crude oil and liquids pipeline and storage companies on complex administrative matters before the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) and the Department of Energy (DOE). He advises such clients on rate, certificate, compliance and tariff matters.
Thomas also counsels new natural gas pipeline and storage companies and crude oil and liquids pipeline companies on developing greenfield energy projects, including guiding them through the regulatory process from formation to obtaining regulatory approvals and preparing initial rates and tariffs to go into service.
Experience Highlights
Represented a midcontinent interstate natural gas pipeline in defending against a FERC-initiated NGA Section 5 investigation and subsequent fully litigated NGA Section 4 general rate case before FERC and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit
Represented a Florida interstate natural gas pipeline in developing tariff gas quality specifications for renewable natural gas that were contested at FERC
Represented a Louisiana LNG import and export terminal on all matters before FERC and DOE, including certificate and rate matters and Free Trade Agreement and Non-Free Trade Agreement authorizations
Represented a Texas intrastate natural gas pipeline in the development of a joint venture to construct and operate a pipeline to the U.S.-Mexico border, including the prosecution of an NGA Section 3 authorization and a Presidential Permit and an initial NGPA Section 311 rates and statement of operating conditions filing
Represented a Midwestern interstate natural gas storage system in defending against multiple NGA Section 5 rate investigations before FERC
Represented a new crude oil pipeline in Texas on all FERC-related matters, including advising on structuring, negotiating anchor shipper agreements, conducting open seasons, prosecting a petition for declaratory order and developing initial rates and tariff
Represented a Gulf Coast offshore natural gas pipeline in defending the creation of a hurricane cost surcharge at a fully litigated hearing at FERC
Represented a Texas intrastate natural gas pipeline in a FERC staff protested NGPA Section 311 rate increase proceeding
Represented a Florida interstate natural gas pipeline in its periodic NGA Section 4 general rate cases before FERC
Represented an East Coast interstate natural gas pipeline in its comprehensive NGA Section 4 general rate case before FERC
Represented a Midwestern interstate natural gas pipeline in defending its tariff fuel tracker at a fully litigated hearing at FERC
Represented a Southwestern interstate natural gas pipeline in its periodic NGA Section 4 general rate cases before FERC
Represented a midcontinent interstate natural gas pipeline in defending tariff changes set for hearing at FERC
Represented a Gulf Coast offshore natural gas pipeline in its periodic NGA Section 4 general rate cases before FERC
Represented a midcontinent interstate natural gas pipeline in defending against complaints filed at FERC regarding Winter Storm Uri
Represented an Arizona local distribution company and an electric power company in a fully litigated natural gas pipeline rate case at FERC
Represented interstate natural gas pipelines in audits, investigations and compliance matters before FERC
Represented a new interstate natural gas pipeline in its acquisition of an offshore natural gas system and the development of initial NGA Section 7(c) rates and FERC tariff
Represented various gathering and production companies in their acquisition of FERC certificated pipelines and obtaining determinations of non-jurisdictional status
Represented a Florida interstate natural gas pipeline in its right-of-way disputes with state agencies
Represented a midcontinent interstate natural gas pipeline in its abandonment of 770 miles of mainline transmission for conversion to oil transportation service
Represented an East Coast interstate natural gas pipeline before FERC with respect to expansion projects, including an LNG storage and vaporizer project
Represented a Gulf Coast natural gas company in its development of an intrastate feeder pipeline to an LNG export terminal
Represented an interstate natural gas pipeline in its 256 mile, $520 million expansion into the Phoenix metropolitan area, including before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
Represented a joint venture natural gas pipeline in its NGA Section 7(c) application for a new 500 mile, $1.3 billion pipeline from Texas to Alabama, including a lease of capacity from an intrastate pipeline
Represented a joint venture natural gas pipeline in its NGA Section 7(c) application for a new 185 mile, $1.2 billion pipeline from Arkansas to Mississippi
Represented a Florida interstate natural gas pipeline in its 567 mile, $2.4 billion expansion project and creation of a new rate schedule
Represented a Midwestern interstate natural gas storage system in its periodic NGA Section 4 general rate cases before FERC
Represented a Wyoming natural gas storage company in its preparation and prosecution of an NGA Section 7(c) certificate, tariff and market power study
Represented a Midwestern incumbent interstate natural gas storage system in obtaining market-based rate authority from FERC
Represented a Mississippi natural gas storage company in contract and tariff matters before FERC
Represented the parent and affiliated shipper of an interstate liquids pipeline in a consolidated rate proceeding before FERC, including handling comprehensive discovery disputes and depositions
Represented a Texas-New Mexico crude oil pipeline in the development of a new interstate pipeline, including anchor shipper negotiations, open season, initial rates and tariff
Represented a Texas-New Mexico crude oil pipeline in defending modifications of tariff quality specifications
Represented a North Dakota crude oil pipeline in the development of a new interstate pipeline, including anchor shipper negotiations, open season, initial rates and tariff
Represented a Texas liquids pipeline in exiting from FERC jurisdiction
Represented a top-10 multiple system operator in its spinoff from its parent into an independent, publicly traded entity
Represented an energy company in its acquisitions of several billion dollars worth of pipeline assets, including properties out of the Enron bankruptcy
Lead transaction counsel for a top-10 multiple system operator in its numerous transactions over the course of several years that added approximately 345,000 cable and internet subscribers at a value in excess of $925 million
Represented a diversified utility and telecommunications company in the sales of its water, wastewater, gas and electric divisions and subsequent purchases of approximately 300,000 local telephone access lines in multiple states at a value of over $1 billion from Verizon Communications and Qwest Communications
Credentials
- American University, Washington College of Law, J.D., cum laude, 1996
- Johns Hopkins University, B.A., Political Science, 1993
- Contract Attorney, U.S. Department of Justice, Asset Forfeiture and Money Laundering Section (1997–1998)
- The Best Lawyers in America© (BL Rankings, LLC), Energy Law (Washington), 2021–2025
- Midstream Transaction of the Year, Corporate Growth Houston, 2020
- Cross Border Transaction of the Year, Corporate Growth Houston, 2019
- Selected to the D.C. Super Lawyers list, Super Lawyers (Thomson Reuters), 2018 and 2019
- Member, Energy Bar Association
- District of Columbia
- New York
- Massachusetts
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims
- Press ReleaseNovember 7, 2024
- Thomas Knight Joins Vinson & Elkins, November 7, 2024