Washington, DC (November 17, 2011) – Venable LLP has added three partners and two associates to its Energy Practice Group. David DeSalle, Daniel Malabonga and Brian Zimmet joined the firm’s Washington office as partners on November 9, 2011. Associates Michael Splete and Jason Wool have also joined the firm. Mr. DeSalle, Mr. Malabonga and Mr. Splete join from Duane Morris and Mr. Zimmet and Mr. Wool join from Hunton & Williams.
“Our regulatory practices are at the heart of Venable’s expansion,” said Brock Landry, co-Chair of the firm’s Government Division. “Energy issues occupy such a critical role in our economy today, and that makes the addition of these three partners both timely and fortuitous. We welcome them to Venable.”
Mr. DeSalle advises clients on a variety of transactional and regulatory issues and represents them before state and federal courts and regulatory agencies. He assists clients with complex commercial transactions, regulatory compliance, informal and formal investigations, and other relevant matters. Mr. DeSalle has extensive experience with transmission planning and generation interconnection issues, especially with regard to the development of renewable energy resources in less robust areas of the electric grid. He also represents a number of business interests in the emerging regulatory and litigation matters involving unconventional shale formations, especially the Marcellus Shale. He received his JD from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law and is a member of the District of Columbia and Pennsylvania bars.
Mr. Zimmet’s practice encompasses almost all aspects of federal regulation and restructuring of the electric utility industry, with a particular focus on electric reliability matters. He received his JD from the University of Virginia Law School and is admitted to both the District of Columbia and Maryland bars.
Mr. Malabonga’s practice focuses on electricity and ancillary service markets, and includes matters under the jurisdiction of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and state regulatory agencies. He is admitted to practice in the District of Columbia, New York and the Philippines. He received his law degree from the University of the Philippines College of Law.
Michael Splete, joins Venable as an associate from Duane Morris. His practice focuses on energy law and matters related to generator interconnection, energy markets and regulation. Prior to private practice, he served as law clerk to administrative law Judges Herbert Grossman and Karen Johnson of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. He was also law clerk to the Honorable James E. Baker of the US Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces. Michael earned his JD from George Washington University Law School and his BA from Cornell. He is also certified as an Accredited Professional under the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Green Building Rating System.
Jason Wool is an associate who joins us from Hunton & Williams, where he worked closely with Mr. Zimmet. Jason focuses on energy and utility regulation, including reliability, renewable energy issues, nuclear energy issues and licensing of generation and transmission facilities. Jason graduated from William & Mary Law School and earned his BA from Haverford College.
Venable’s Energy group has a broad range of experience in the regulation of electricity, petroleum and natural gas markets, and in transactions involving electric, petroleum and natural gas assets and products. The firm has a global perspective on the requirements needed to effectively address clients’ energy issues today.
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