Steven A. Adducci

Partner
Adducci Steven

Steve Adducci focuses on energy and administrative law, with an emphasis on crude oil, petroleum products, electricity, and natural gas regulatory matters. Steve has distinguished himself as a lead regulatory and litigation shipper attorney in crude oil, petroleum products, and natural gas liquid (NGL) pipeline-related cases before the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). He has played key roles in nearly every major disputed crude oil, petroleum product, or NGL pipeline rate or tariff proceeding in the United States. He also supports Venable’s representation of trade associations active in the energy industry.

Steve has advised on and handled energy regulatory, compliance, trial, and appellate proceedings associated with the FERC, Securities and Exchange Commission, federal courts, and state utility commissions. He also has represented clients in structuring, developing, and drafting documents associated with regulating energy properties, natural gas, electricity, oil and petroleum product transportation, marketing, and natural gas storage and distribution facilities.

Experience

Representative Matters

  • Represented entities in rulemakings, notices of inquiry, compliance, certificate, and undue discrimination and preference cases on behalf of shippers/ratepayers
  • Led a team in a complex pipeline discrimination litigation involving a client’s strategic pipeline – obtaining a FERC administrative law judge (ALJ) initial decision that directed a multi-million-dollar damage award, along with the reinstatement of the client’s lost shipper history, resulting from the pipeline’s unduly preferential and discriminatory actions over multiple years
  • Led a team in complex Federal Power Act litigation, obtaining a FERC ALJ initial decision associated with the favorable allocation of more than $500 million in electric transmission upgrade costs
  • Was instrumental, on behalf of airline, propane, and refinery-related entities, in effecting a change in the way FERC derives its oil pipeline tariff rate index, as part of its five-year oil pipeline index review. The changes are estimated to result in savings of approximately $2.2 to $2.4 billion over the five-year period 2015 to 2020, for oil, petroleum product, and NGL shippers

Insights

Credentials
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Education

  • J.D. with honors University of North Dakota School of Law 1990
    • North Dakota Law Review
    • Phi Alpha Delta
  • B.A. summa cum laude University of North Dakota 1987

Bar Admissions

  • District of Columbia

Court Admissions

  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit

Professional Memberships and Activities

  • Vice chair, American Bar Association, Oil Pipeline Committee of the Infrastructure and Regulated Industries Section
  • Member, District of Columbia Bar Association
  • Member, Federal Bar Association
  • Member, Energy Bar Association

Recognition
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  • The Best Lawyers in America, Energy Law, 2020 – 2024
  • Chambers Global, Energy: Oil and Gas, Regulatory and Litigation, 2022
  • Chambers USA, Energy: Oil and Gas (Regulatory and Litigation), National, 2013 – 2017, 2019 – 2023
  • Legal 500
    • Industry Focus - Energy Regulation: Oil and Gas, 2020 – 2022
    • Industry Focus - Energy Litigation: Oil and Gas, 2023

Community
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Volunteerism

  • Regularly volunteers with various civic events and youth sports activities
  • Former member, Alexandria, Virginia chapter of the American Red Cross board of directors and general counsel for the chapter’s Waterfront Festival from 1996 to 1999 and from 2002 to 2009