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Jonathan W. Gottlieb

Counsel
Senior Counsel

Jonathan has more than 35 years of experience in federal government, private practice and as corporate counsel for a large international power developer. 

He advises energy and utility clients in the development, construction, financing, acquisition, divestiture and operation of energy generation, transmission, and processing facilities across the United States and in more than 17 countries.

Jonathan represents a wide array of energy companies, including electric and natural gas utilities, independent power producers and developers, utility subsidiaries, midstream oil and gas companies, independent transmission companies, engineering and construction companies, equipment vendors and industrial energy consumers in connection with complex transactional, construction and regulatory matters involving natural gas, renewable natural gas, biomass, biofuels, low carbon fuels, including hydrogen, electric power generation, natural gas and oil product pipelines, and high-voltage transmission lines.

He also has substantial experience counseling clients in connection with multimillion-dollar engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contracts, and the use of diverse fuel types, including biomass, natural gas, coal, wind, solar, hydroelectric, and emerging energy storage technologies. Throughout his career, Jonathan has advised on projects involving more than two billion gallons of ethanol and biodiesel plant capacity.

Jonathan’s in-depth knowledge of these topics — particularly new regulatory developments and the financing and development of energy projects — allows him to effectively advocate on behalf of his clients and has made him an internationally recognized author and public speaker. He is frequently quoted as an industry thought leader in The New York Times, Commerce and Finance, USA Today, Business Week, The Examiner and the Chicago Tribune.

Jonathan has served as corporate counsel for three prominent organizations. Prior to entering private practice, Jonathan was an attorney adviser in the oil and gas litigation branch of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

  • Represented a publicly traded construction company in the successful negotiation of an EPC agreement for the construction of a $4 billion-plus interstate natural gas pipeline in the Mid-Atlantic.
  • Negotiated the purchase of 1,800,000 tons of coal over four years for use at a 680 MW generation station in Arkansas.
  • Advised a large renewable energy developer, owner and operator in connection with the acquisition of an approximately 69MWac development stage solar project in Virginia.
  • Represented a large propane company in the Mid-Atlantic Region in the acquisition of all the assets of a regional propane distribution business.
  • Advised a power generation and infrastructure company's subsidiary in negotiations regarding a Scheduling Coordinator and Energy Management Agreement along with accompanying ISDA documentation.
  • Eversheds Sutherland (US) LLP represented Atlantic Power, an independent power producer that owns power generation assets in eleven states in the United States and two provinces in Canada. Our experienced projects team advised Atlantic Power in connection with its acquisition of two biomass generating facilities with a combined capacity of 85MW from AltaGas Power Holdings. We assisted Atlantic Power with the negotiation of transaction documents as well as the requisite regulatory filings. We have become a trusted adviser to a wide range of companies active in the renewable and alternative energy sector, and our work on this matter further confirms the sheer breadth of our service offering in this field.
  • Eversheds Sutherland (US) LLP represented Starwood Energy, an investment firm specialising in energy infrastructure and utilities investments. Our nationwide team acted for Starwood in its leveraged acquisition of a portfolio of coal-fired power plants located in various states in the US. Our partner, Madeleine M.L. Tan led the team in advising this client on the back-leverage for this transaction, including negotiating all of the debt documents and security documents. Our debt team worked closely with our team that conducted the due diligence on the acquisition and negotiated share/membership interest acquisition agreements. This matter offers clear proof of how our team combines sector-specialist experience in a range of industries (including energy and natural resources) with deep legal expertise, to support our clients in their headline acquisitions nationwide. This is a highly-valued skill set for our clients and the source of significant work flows for our firm. Additionally, we are currently advising the same client on prospective developments to convert existing fuel source to a cleaner, renewable energy resource.
  • Represented Chesapeake Utilities Corp. in its subsidiary's acquisition of the assets and goodwill of a propane distribution business in Pennsylvania.
  • Served as lead counsel in multiple FERC transmission line and reactive power rate cases.
  • Represented a large construction company in the negotiation of an EPC agreement for the construction of a $1 billion-plus transmission line in the Midwest.
  • Represented a private equity fund in the acquisition of a portfolio of operating power plants in the Mid-Atlantic.
  • Represented private equity fund as deal counsel in its successful bid and acquisition of four coal-fired power plants totaling 1200 MW of generation capacity in New Jersey, West Virginia and Arkansas including back leverage financing to support the acquisition.
  • Recognized by The Legal 500 United States in the area of energy regulatory: conventional power (2018) and energy regulatory: electric power (2023)
  • Named to The Best Lawyers in America in the area of energy law (2023-2024)
  • Selected for inclusion in Washington, D.C., Super Lawyers® (2013-2015)
  • Recipient, Burton Award for Legal Achievement (2003)
  • Selected for inclusion in Who’s Who in America, Who's Who in American Law, Who's Who in the World and Who's Who of Project Finance Lawyers
  • Selected for inclusion in The International Who’s Who of Business Law
  • Named among one of the world’s leading energy and natural resources lawyers by Euromoney (1997, 1999, 2001)
  • Recipient, First Place Blue Ribbon at the International Home Wine and Beer Making Competition in Dallas, Texas (1992)
  • District of Columbia
  • Pennsylvania
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia
  • B.A., with honors, DePaul University
  • J.D., New York Law School
Jonathan Gottlieb

Counsel

Senior Counsel

Jonathan Gottlieb

Counsel

Senior Counsel

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