Jeff Norton has extensive experience involving energy, oil & gas, utilities, and alternative clean technologies, as well as in regulatory and compliance matters. He also advises clients involved with wind and solar system projects, various plant construction contracts, as well as natural gas exploration and pipeline matters in the Marcellus Shale and other Shales. Jeff also handles general corporate matters, commercial transactions, mergers and acquisitions, enterprise risk management, corporate governance, strategic planning and general litigation.
Prior to re-joining private practice, Jeff served as Vice President, General Counsel, Secretary and Chief Compliance Officer for P.H. Glatfelter Company and also as Assistant General Counsel for Exelon Corporation/PECO Energy. As general counsel at Glatfelter, he managed and led all legal and compliance work, including one domestic and two international asset purchases that doubled the size of the company. Jeff also managed environmental, real estate and energy issues with several manufacturing sites and a co-generation facility, and served as director and secretary of two business subsidiaries based in the United Kingdom. While at Exelon, he handled various energy matters including power generation and distribution, new energy technologies, storage of spent nuclear fuel, nuclear fuel cycle contracts, energy trading contracts and major asset purchases. Jeff also negotiated utility services, supply, purchasing, outsourcing and land use contracts.
Representative Matters
· Served as local counsel for two of the largest Marcellus Shale transactions involving major E&P companies and midstream companies totaling over $4 billion in assets;
· Negotiated agreements for major asset purchases totaling over $1 billion, with related transition services and integration matters for global manufacturing company;
· Responsible for purchase agreements, title work and closings for land asset sales over $106 million;
· Served as acting General Counsel and Secretary of a global advanced biofuels company;
· Resolved disputes and addressed resolutions with institutional shareholders while implementing improved corporate governance and policies and compliance program;
· Prepared and managed Proxy and other SEC filings;
· Drafted and negotiated multi-million dollar contracts for nuclear fuel cycle and other energy services;
· Advised, drafted and negotiated various information technology agreements, including software and hardware licensing agreements and website marketing projects.
Professional Affiliations
Philadelphia Bar Association, Member of the Environmental and Energy Section
Pennsylvania Bar Association, Member of the Environmental and Energy Law Section and the Public Utility Law Section
American Bar Association, former House of Delegates, District Representative for PA
Pennsylvania Energy Alliance, Advisory Council Member
Marcellus Shale Advisory Coalition
Lancaster County Center of Excellence in Renewable Energy, Member
Vice Chairman of the Advisory Committee for the Washington and Jefferson College Center for Energy Policy and Management
Community Involvement
Leadership Philadelphia
Philadelphia Volunteers for the Indigent Persons, former Board Member
Special Recognition
Appointed by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court to serve the Pennsylvania Futures Commission on Justice in the 21st Century (1993-2003)
Articles/Speeches/Presentations
· "Preparing for Litigation Arising Out of Unconventional Gas Drilling Operations in Shale Plays," presented at the American Conference Institute's National Forum on Chemical Products Liability and Environmental Litigation Conference in Chicago, April 26, 2012.
· "Benefits and Opportunities of Nuclear Power to the Commonwealth," presented at the Pennsylvania Energy Alliance's Energy Speaker Series, April 5, 2012.
· "Legal Developments Regarding Potential Health and Environmental Risks of Hydraulic Fracturing," presented to HB Litigation seminar, Philadelphia, PA, September 2011.
· "Pennsylvania is the Keystone of Energy Independence," Central Penn Business Journal, April 2011.
· "Opportunities, Risks and Challenges of the Marcellus Shale Development," presented to the Urban Land Institute of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, October 2010.
(Also at Philadelphia Office)