Joseph R. Hicks
Partner
Joe represents clients in litigation before the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), state public utilities commissions, and federal courts, and in conducting due diligence related to regulatory approvals of public utility mergers and acquisitions. He has extensive experience with issues associated with modern complex litigation and due diligence, including ediscovery, database management, and artificial intelligence.
Joe is also actively working on behalf of a client regarding the developing field of hydrogen pipeline regulation, and he has written and spoken at bar and trade associations on the topics of hydrogen transportation and safety regulation.
Related Practices
Related Industries
Experience
Experience
Representative Matters
- Representing two major petroleum pipeline shippers in litigation against a major international pipeline in relation to contract rates under the Interstate Commerce Act (ICA)
- Representing a major hydrogen producer by providing advice on hydrogen pipeline transportation and safety regulation
- Representing a major petroleum pipeline shipper in antitrust litigation before the FERC relating to alleged violations of the anti-discrimination and undue preference provisions of the ICA
- Representing refiners, airlines, and trade associations in cost-based and market-base rate litigation before the FERC
- Representing a major petroleum refiner in actions at the FERC and Pennsylvania Public Utilities Commission opposing reversal and conversion of an intrastate petroleum products pipeline
- Representing trade associations in a rulemaking before the FERC regarding extending the affiliate Standards of Conduct regulations to the crude oil, natural gas liquids, and petroleum products pipeline industry
- Representing major airlines and an airline fuel consortium in seeking jurisdiction over Florida marine terminal facilities and associated pipeline rates and a related D.C. Circuit appeal
- Representing airline and petroleum trade associations in rulemaking before the FERC related to the revision of regulations for petroleum pipeline rate indexing and financial disclosures under the ICA
- Represented a major airline in a complaint against a pipeline company before the FERC, related to termination of a jet fuel delivery point in Mississippi
Insights
Insights
Credentials
Credentials
Education
- J.D. cum laude Emory University School of Law 2010
- Articles editor, Emory Law Journal
- M.A. The University of Chicago 2004
- B.A. Emory University 2002
Bar Admissions
- Georgia
- District of Columbia
Court Admissions
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia
Recognition
Recognition
- Legal 500
- Industry Focus - Energy Litigation: Oil and Gas, 2023
- Energy: Regulatory, 2014
- Super Lawyers, Rising Star, Washington, DC, 2014 – 2020
- The Best Lawyers in America, Ones to Watch, 2021 – 2025
Community
Community
Pro Bono
- Representing clients in filing an amicus curiae brief before the United States Supreme Court
- Representing inmates in civil rights proceedings under the First and Eighth Amendments, including arguments before the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals
- Representing clients before the D.C. Superior Court in family law and protective order proceedings