As new pipelines pump increasing amounts of natural gas to market, Ohio is now the nation’s sixth-largest producer of the abundant resource, according to a 2017 report by the U.S. Energy Information Administration. In fact, Ohio and Pennsylvania had the largest increase in gas production among the top-producing states in 2016.
But getting this valuable substance out of the ground, processed, cleaned, transported and connected to our homes and businesses is complicated, to say the least. Two Cleveland attorneys who know the gas industry well are helping fuel this growth. Michael L. Snyder and Jerome W. Cook head up the growing energy practice at the Benesch law firm. The two, who have worked together in the energy industry for nearly 20 years, joined Benesch last year.
Snyder, chair of the energy practice at Benesch and a member of the firm’s executive committee, has a national reputation in the utilities and natural gas industries. He represents some of the most prominent gas and energy companies throughout the country.
Cook’s 30 years of litigation experience have included commercial real estate, public works construction, suretyship, and the representation of interstate and intrastate natural gas pipeline companies. He also helps utilities navigate the matrix of state and local governmental regulations regarding energy-related issues.
Snyder and Cook head up an energy practice group of 14 lawyers. They, along with other attorneys in the firm, serve energy clients in the Midwest and nationwide, including coal, nuclear and oil companies. They also work with providers of alternative energy, such as wind, solar and ethanol.
“Mike and I worked together from day one and built our practice,” says Cook, who adds that the team was able to bring their significant client portfolio over to Benesch.
“The firm provided a great service to our existing clients,” he says. “It was a perfect fit — what Benesch had and what we brought really complemented one another.”
Snyder says his clients benefit from what he calls the “one-stop shopping” that he can provide since coming to Benesch.
“If a question comes up that I can’t answer, I have said to clients, ‘Give me five minutes, and I’ll get three people on the phone who can help. That has happened repeatedly since I came here.
“Whether it’s contract, construction, corporate or real estate, we have the ability to call upon the resources in those different groups. My clients really enjoy having that. We try to use all the skills that we have here.”
Snyder and Cook’s group represents companies that work directly in the energy industry, like public utilities, as well as in such related fields as drilling, construction, pipeline and transportation.
They also represent manufacturers that need to acquire natural gas to operate.
“Ohio is blessed with abundant oil and gas resources, and this really helps industry in Ohio,” says Snyder. “Our clients can offer low prices for fuels here so manufacturing can be done more economically.
“Ohio manufacturers see significant savings on their prices for gas because they don’t need to pay to transport it very far,” he adds.
A recent study by the American Petroleum Institute underscores the significance of the gas and oil industry in Ohio. It found that the annual economic impact of gas and oil on the state’s economy is nearly $38 billion, and that the industry supports an estimated 16,000 manufacturing jobs. In total, more than 262,800 jobs are created in such related areas as transportation and construction. Together, this brings more than $14.7 billion in wages into Ohio’s local communities.
Even with Ohio’s abundant energy sources, manufacturers still sometimes experience shortfalls that can cause big problems.
“Our manufacturing clients want to know, ‘Am I going to get gas when I need it,’” Snyder explains.
“There are peak usage times at refineries, for example…They don’t want a job to go off-line. We help ensure they get the volumes they need at the times they need them by working with the suppliers who provide the gas or electric power.”
Snyder and Cook also spend a lot of time these days helping public utility clients build new pipelines and update old ones.
“The old infrastructure is insufficient,” says Cook. “Companies are spending billions on building infrastructure. Some lines are from the early 1900s — replacement is ongoing. They can be in use for many years if they are properly maintained.”
Gas companies are installing miles of pipelines that span rural land and cross into incorporated areas — both private and public property. This brings a lot of legal challenges, including eminent domain and right-of-way issues.
“We work hard to know what is happening in the development of current laws to avoid pitfalls,” adds Snyder. “We try to recognize issues before they happen.”
Snyder and Cook’s team is just one of many growing practice areas at Benesch. The firm will celebrate its 80th anniversary in 2018 and recently opened a Chicago office. It also has offices in Columbus, Hackensack, Indianapolis, Shanghai and Wilmington. Since 2015, the firm has added 80 new attorneys, increasing its total legal team to more than 200 lawyers.
“Jerry and I have appreciated the platform Benesch has given us to grow and serve our clients at a higher level,” says Snyder.
“The future is bright for clients in the energy area,” he adds. “There are lots of great opportunities.”