Baker Botts L.L.P., a leading international energy, technology and life sciences law firm, announced today that Michael Yuffee has joined the Energy Regulatory Section of the firm’s Global Projects Department as a partner, and Michael Loesch has joined as a partner in the Litigation Department. Both Mr. Yuffee and Loesch will be based in the firm’s Washington, D.C. office. Both Mr. Yuffee and Mr. Loesch join the firm from the Washington, D.C. office of Winston & Strawn, where they were partners.
“The addition of Michael Yuffee and Michael Loesch underscores our commitment to guiding our clients through the opportunities and challenges of the energy transition, particularly those presented by the new Administration,” said Baker Botts Managing Partner, John Martin. “Both lawyers are leaders in their respective areas of focus and are ideally suited to help our clients across the energy sector skillfully navigate the range of regulatory, litigation and enforcement issues we expect to see over the coming years.”
“Michael Yuffee is a fantastic lawyer, and he expands our ability to advise clients regarding the rapidly changing energy transition and development of renewable resources, which is a strategic focus for our energy and regulatory practices,” said Jason Bennett, Chair of Baker Botts’ Global Projects Department “His arrival also expands our CFTC practice as well as our capabilities in FERC enforcement actions. We are excited about Michael’s joining the firm.”
“Michael Loesch’s practice has a strong energy focus, including energy trading and derivatives matters, that fit well with our broader strategic growth plan,” said Bridget Moore, Co-Chair of Baker Botts’ Litigation Department. “With the change to a Biden administration, we expect regulatory issues and disputes to increase in the next four years.”
Mr. Yuffee has a robust, broad-based energy practice focusing on energy regulation, enforcement and transactions. He regularly represents clients before FERC and the CFTC in both public and non-public investigations. A former attorney-advisor in FERC’s Office of Administrative Law Judges, Mr. Yuffee has more than 25 years of experience advising clients on transactions and projects in the energy sector. His longstanding clients include energy and commodity traders and marketers, financial institutions and private equity funds, as well as power and renewable developers and integrated energy companies.
Mr. Loesch counsels clients in CFTC and SEC enforcement investigations and compliance matters. His extensive experience stems from both his private practice and more than 14 years of federal regulatory and legislative service. Mr. Loesch served as the Chief of Staff and Chief Operating Officer at the CFTC from 2007 to 2009, providing counsel on energy market oversight, enforcement investigations, futures market surveillance, derivatives clearing and litigation. Prior to the CFTC, he spent over six years at the SEC, serving as a Branch Chief in the Division of Enforcement as well as Counsel to the Chairman, where he provided legal advice regarding many of the highest-profile SEC enforcement proceedings at the time. Before joining the SEC, Mr. Loesch served in various roles as a staffer in the U.S. Senate.
“Baker Botts has a market-leading platform that provides best-in-class service to clients across the entire energy spectrum,” said Mr. Yuffee. “With a new administration in the White House, energy regulation will be front and center for the next few years. There is no better place to be at such a pivotal time for the industry than Baker Botts.”
“I am excited to join Baker Botts. The firm has long been a leader in advising clients across the energy space, and it provides an ideal strategic fit for my practice,” Mr. Loesch said. “With the increase in energy-related litigation and enforcement, I expect to hit the ground running.”
Mr. Yuffee and Mr. Loesch are the second and third lateral partners to join Baker Botts’ Washington, D.C. office this month. On February 8, Alexandra (Alex) Dapolito Dunn, the former Assistant Administrator for the EPA’s Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention, joined the firm in Washington.
Working from a deep understanding of the regulations that affect power, renewable energy, oil & gas, LNG, hydrogen, pipelines, and electric transmission, Baker Botts lawyers work with clients to identify important regulatory and policy considerations across all aspects of federal and state regulation and to develop strategies that allow clients to achieve their commercial objectives.
Baker Botts is playing a significant role in the evolution of the energy industry and all aspects of energy transitions. The firm’s Litigation Practice has grown and diversified with the industry and is one of the world’s leading law firms serving the needs of clients across the entire energy sector.
