Patrick Pope focuses his practice on litigation matters pertaining to the global energy and infrastructure group. He has been involved in the natural gas pipeline and liquefied natural gas (LNG) business for portions of four decades.
Prior to joining the firm, Patrick served as the Chief Regulatory Counsel for Southern Natural Gas Company for twenty years. Having served during this period as commercial and regulatory counsel for one of the six operational LNG terminals in the United States, he is a frequent speaker at worldwide LNG conferences, with more than 30 appearances in the last decade on topics ranging from terminal development to gas interchangeability and contract risk management.
Professional & Community Involvement
· Member, American Bar Association
· Member, Energy Bar Association
· Director, Birmingham Business Alliance (2009-2010)
· Director, Birmingham Metropolitan Development Board (2000-2009)
· Director, International Group of Liquefied Natural Gas Importers (1999-2010)
· President, Alabama Corporate Counsel Association (1988-1990)
Previous Employment
· Vice President & General Counsel, Southern Natural Gas Company, 1999-2010
· Handled all legal and regulatory matters affecting interstate natural has pipeline company and its subsidiaries Southern LNG Inc., Southern Storage Company and Elba Express Company, LLC.
· Assistant General Counsel, Southern Natural Gas Company, 1988-1999
· Handled producer litigation and contract negotiations by interstate pipeline during take-or-pay era, including implementation of GSR cost sharing mechanism that allowed regulated business to remain financially solvent.
· Vice President & General Counsel, Sonat Marketing Company, 1985-1987
· Acted as general counsel of start-up marketing company affiliated with Southern Natural, with responsibility for establishment of business practices, creation of contract forms, negotiation of complex transactions and compliance with regulatory guidelines.
Articles, Publications, & Lectures
Publications
· Author, "LNG in the Atlantic Basin," Institute of Gas Technology, March 2000
· Author, "Opportunities for LNG under Order No. 636: Sonat's Plans for Elba Island," Gas Daily, December 1992
Lectures
· Presenter, "Pipeline Renaissance: Development & Finance Forum," Infocast, June 2008
· Presenter, "Mastering Contract Risk Management," MarcusEvans, November 2007
· Presenter, "Contract Risk Management in the LNG Supply Chain," IQPC, London, January 2006
· Presenter, "Gas Interchangeability and Quality Symposium," Platts, November 2005
· Presenter, "Energy and Environmental Policy Summit," Infocast, November 2005
· Presenter, "LNG Security Summit," EBA, September 2005
· Presenter, "LNG Terminals China," IQPC, July 2005
· Presenter, "Atlantic Coast LNG," Infocast, October 2004
· Presenter, "Developing & Financing a US LNG Terminal," GTI/SAIC, October 2004
· Presenter, "Fundamentals of Baseload LNG," GTI, September 2004
· Presenter, "North American LNG," Infocast, August 2004
· Presenter, "Energy Expo Conference," NESA, April 2004
· Presenter, "4th Annual LNG Economics & Technical Conference," SRI, January 2004
· Presenter, "LNG Ministerial Summit," API, December 2003
· Presenter, "Fundamentals of Baseload LNG," GTI, September 2003
· Presenter, "North American LNG 2003," Infocast, July 2003
· Presenter, "East Coast LNG Conference and Workshop," Zeus, July 2003
· Presenter, "2nd Annual LNG North America Strategic Conference," CWC, March 2003
· Presenter, "LNG World Summit 2002," CWC, December 2002
· Presenter, "North American LNG 2002," Infocast, November 2002
· Presenter, "LNG North American Strategic Workshop," HEG, October 2002
· Presenter, "Fundamentals of Baseload LNG," GTI, September 2002
· Presenter, "LNG North American Summit," CWC, March 2002
· Presenter, "LNGIV Conference," SMI, February 2002
· Presenter, "Atlantic Basin LNG," AGA, July 2001
· Presenter, "LNG's Role in North American Gas Supply," Zeus Development, June 2001
· Presenter, "LNG III Conference," SMI, February 2001
· Presenter, "LNG II Conference," SMI, February 2000