Orrick today announced the addition of oil and gas regulatory lawyer Joel Zipp as senior counsel in the firm’s Energy & Infrastructure Group, resident in Washington, D.C. Formerly with Holland & Knight, Joel is the most recent addition to Orrick’s energy practice so far this year, following the firm’s opening of its Houston office and the growth of its London team.
“We’re delighted to add a lawyer of Joel’s caliber to our energy practice. Joel is a highly-respected, senior member of the energy regulatory bar in Washington, D.C., who will further enhance our ability to provide a full service offering to our clients,” said Blake H. Winburne, who serves as global co-head of the firm’s Energy & Infrastructure Group with Mark Weitzel.
“Joel’s extensive background and decades of experience in the energy sector will be a tremendous asset to our clients and will greatly complement the work we’re already doing,” added Kyle Drefke, leader of Orrick's Washington, D.C. office and a member of the firm’s Energy & Infrastructure Group.
Orrick has transformed its 145-lawyer energy and infrastructure practice since announcing the opening of its Houston office in January. The Orrick Houston team has rapidly grown to 38 lawyers drawing on top-tier talent in the Texas market.
Joel focuses his practice on federal and state regulation of oil and gas pipelines, LNG projects and fuel supply arrangements for gas-fired power projects. Throughout his career, including service in FERC’s Office of the General Counsel and in private practice, Joel has advised clients in the upstream, midstream and downstream sectors of the natural gas business and has worked with pipelines and shippers on energy transactions, energy project developments, and energy market regulations.
Joel’s practice also encompasses advising on federal and state energy regulatory matters pertaining to the acquisition and construction of natural gas pipeline assets. He has served as general counsel, secretary and project counsel for several joint venture interstate pipeline projects. Joel also has broad experience working with local gas distribution companies, interstate and intrastate oil and gas pipelines, natural gas midstream companies and end users on the full range of proceedings before FERC. In addition, he has worked on U.S.-based LNG projects and related pipeline facilities, and on matters concerning the gas and oil shale plays in the Marcellus, Utica and Bakken.
Joel earned his J.D. from Case Western Reserve University School of Law and his B.S. and M.S. in Geology from the University of Wisconsin. He is a past president of the Energy Bar Association and previously taught energy law as an Adjunct Professor at Case Western’s School of Law.