Jacob (Jake) Dweck is a leading U.S. energy lawyer and thought leader. For more than four decades, Jake’s practice has spanned matters involving oil and gas, LNG, electric power, renewable resources, energy futures and derivatives, fuels regulation, international trade and sanctions, oil spill incident response and climate change. In each area, Jake has counseled the who’s who in the energy industry and is recognized for his creative solutions in commercial transactions, regulatory and policy proceedings, dispute resolution and bankruptcy.
Among other awards, Jake has been recognized in 2016 as an “Energy and Environmental Trailblazer” by the National Law Journal for his achievements over the past 20 years in different areas of energy law.
Jake’s recent successes include obtaining from the U.S. Department of Commerce the groundbreaking Enterprise classification-the first time the U.S. Government allowed the export of light crude oil-and the criteria for the re-export of Canadian crude oil. He also advocated for the elimination of all U.S. crude oil export restrictions, which were lifted on December 30, 2015.
Jake founded the firm’s LNG practice and the widely read LNG Law Blog . He also established and led the firm’s robust energy practices in creditors’ rights, including the Enron Bankruptcy and its progeny, international trade and customs, and oil spill risk management and incident response.
Jake led Eversheds Sutherland (US)'s Energy Government Enforcement Practice and, throughout his career, has represented clients before the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), and other agencies. His experience encompasses U.S. trade sanctions and Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) matters, anti-boycott regulations, anti-bribery laws (FCPA), and other laws and regulations affecting international transactions. He also has directed a significant number of internal investigations on behalf of boards, audit committees and management.
Jake also has worked on major energy projects and transactions, including the acquisition and capacity rights in, and the development of, the Cove Point MD LNG regasification terminal; the purchase and sale of derivatives and futures trading books; and transactions involving renewable energy companies.
Jake’s experience includes notable energy litigation in the federal courts. He represented the entire farmer cooperatives community in the multibillion-dollar Stripper Well Refund Proceedings and was lead counsel in NYMEX v. New Jersey DEP, the Exchange’s successful challenge to New Jersey’s decision in 1995 to abandon the oxygenated fuels program. Jake now represents clients in multi-district litigation proceedings involving alleged methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE) contamination in various states.
Jake advises energy companies on their implementation of Dodd-Frank Act requirements, including customizing trading compliance programs. A member of the firm’s Energy and Commodities Derivatives team, he has led compliance engagements by a number of U.S. energy companies, including integrated concerns, producers, midstream businesses and others.
Jake has contributed to studies by Brookings, the Columbia Center on Global Energy Policy and others; presented at numerous conferences, including CERAWeek, EIA events, UT Gas & Power Institute, Texas Bar, Platts and Argus conferences; and has been quoted frequently in the WSJ, Financial Times, Houston Chronicle, Bloomberg, Reuters and other publications.
Selected Experience
Investigated the circumstances surrounding natural gas-related trading losses by an energy services company.
Conducted an internal investigation into shale gas trading losses for an asset management company.
Represented corporate officer in FERC investigation.
Awards and Rankings
Honored with BTI Consulting Group’s Client Service Award for delivering unsurpassed client service (2019)
Recognized by The Legal 500 United States in the area of energy regulatory: oil & gas (2017, 2019)
Recognized by the National Law Journal as an “Energy and Environmental Trailblazer” (2016)
Recipient, Burton Award for Legal Achievement for “Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) Litigation After the Energy Policy Act of 2005,” Energy Law Journal (November 14, 2006) (2007)
Recognized as Groundbreaking Lawyer by Public Utilities Fortnightly for his work serving clients in the LNG industry (November 2009)
News
In the News
US Energy to be Targeted by Beijing for Retaliatory Action (June 19, 2018)
Financial Times
Eversheds Sutherland Partner Jacob Dweck is quoted in this Financial Times article discussing how tariffs from China on the US energy sector could impact the sale of oil, gas and coal. Jake said that ...
Administration Presses for Arctic Offshore Oil Opening (April 27, 2017)
Politico
Eversheds Sutherland (US) Partner Jacob Dweck is quoted in this Politico article discussing why oil companies would consider investing in Arctic drilling. Jake said, “That exploration would coincide ...
President Signals Timing of Border Tax (February 28, 2017)
Australian Financial Review
Eversheds Sutherland (US) Partner Jacob Dweck is quoted in this Australian Financial Review article regarding the President’s plan to overhaul the tax code, which includes a border adjustment tax. ...
US House Weighs Making Tax Changes Retroactive (February 10, 2017)
Argus
Eversheds Sutherland (US) Partner Jacob Dweck is quoted in this Argus article regarding the possible overhaul of corporate tax rules by the US House of Representatives and their goal to make those ...
New Administration’s Energy Revolution Poses Challenges for Investors (January 20, 2017)
Financial Times
Partner Jacob Dweck is quoted in this Financial Times article regarding fossil fuels under the new administration. “Folks in the fossil fuel industry are optimistic and jubilant, and climate change ...
Border Tax Plan Could Disrupt Oil Markets (December 19, 2016)
Argus
Partner Jacob Dweck is quoted in this Argus article regarding a plan by the U.S. House of Representatives to overhaul the tax code, which includes a border adjustment tax. The article notes the ...
People on the Move - Jacob Dweck (May 26, 2016)
Washington Business Journal
Sutherland Partner Jacob Dweck is mentioned in this Washington Business Journal article for his recognition by the National Law Journal as an Energy and Environmental Trailblazer.
Effect of Energy Policy Bills on Natural Gas Exports (April 26, 2016)
Breaking Energy
Sutherland’s legal alert, Effect of Energy Policy Bills on Natural Gas Exports, is featured in this Breaking Energy article.
The Future of Oil and Gas Development in Canada (March 16, 2016)
CBC News Radio
In an interview with CBC News Radio in Calgary, Partner Jacob Dweck discusses the controversial Keystone XL pipeline and how the company may have a point arguing discrimination under the North ...
Oil Companies Rush to Exploit end of U.S. Crude Export Ban (December 23, 2015)
Reuters
Partner Jacob Dweck is quoted in this Reuters article regarding the decades-old U.S. crude oil export ban. “Some producers and shippers are interested in flying the flag of exports ... They want to ...
Press Releases
19 Eversheds Sutherland Practice Areas, 87 Attorneys Named Among Nation’s Best in 2019 Legal 500 United States (June 10, 2019)
Eversheds Sutherland is pleased to announce that 19 practice areas and 87 attorneys have been recognized in the 2019 edition of The Legal 500 United States, a comprehensive survey of legal service ...
Three Eversheds Sutherland Partners Recognized as All-Stars for Client Service (March 28, 2019)
Eversheds Sutherland is pleased to announce that UK Partner Mark Davenport and US Partners Jacob Dweck and R. Michael Sweeney, Jr., were named 2019 BTI Client Service All-Stars. The annual list ...
19 Eversheds Sutherland (US) Practice Areas, 58 Attorneys Named Among Nation’s Best in 2017 Legal 500 United States (May 31, 2017)
Eversheds Sutherland (US) LLP is pleased to announce that 19 practice areas and 58 attorneys have been ranked in the 2017 edition of The Legal 500 United States. Legal 500 is a comprehensive survey ...
Two Sutherland Partners Recognized as 2016 Energy and Environmental Trailblazers by National Law Journal (May 25, 2016)
ATLANTA and WASHINGTON-Sutherland Asbill & Brennan LLP is pleased to announce that Partners Jacob Dweck and Ram C. Sunkara have been recognized as National Law Journal “Energy and Environmental ...
Presentations
“The impact of Dodd-Frank varies from one energy company to the next, depending on how they employ swaps in their business.”
Presentations
Trumponomics - The Impact of the Trump Administration on the Energy Sector in North America (May 1, 2017)
2017 Argus Canadian Crude Summit
Eversheds Sutherland (US) Partner Jacob Dweck presents “Trumponomics - The Impact of the Trump Administration on the Energy Sector in North America” at the Argus Crude Summit on May 1, 2017 in ...
Trumponomics: The Emerging/New Regulatory Environment and its impact on the Energy and Financial Sectors (February 6, 2017)
The Energy Forum
Eversheds Sutherland (US) LLP is pleased to participate in The Energy Forum on Monday, February 6, 2017 in New York, New York. Eversheds Sutherland (US) attorneys Jacob Dweck, David McCullough and ...
The Impact of Washington and the 2016 Elections on Energy Policies, Politics and Markets (May 10, 2016)
Executive Energy Policy Forum
Sutherland Partners Jacob Dweck, Susan Lafferty, David McCullough and Amish Shah present on various topics including “From Well to Wheel: US Domestic Policies Affecting US Oil and Gas,” “Wrapped in ...
5th Annual Platts North American Crude Oil Summit (March 3-4, 2016)
Sutherland is a proud sponsor of the 5th Annual Platts North American Crude Oil Summit, March 3-4, 2016, in Houston. The summit brings together senior-level decision makers to discuss pressing issues ...
2015 ACC Annual Meeting (October 18, 2015 - October 21, 2015)
Sutherland is proud to be a returning sponsor of the Association of Corporate Counsel’s Annual Meeting, taking place October 18-21, 2015, in Boston. The ACC Annual Meeting is the largest gathering of ...
U.S. Policy Horizon: What’s in Store for Canadian Crude beyond the Obama Administration? (June 9, 2015)
2015 Argus Canadian Crude Summit
Sutherland Partner Jacob Dweck presents “U.S. Policy Horizon: What’s in Store for Canadian Crude beyond the Obama Administration?” at the Argus Canadian Crude Summit on June 9, 2015, in Calgary, ...
Navigating the Current U.S. Regulatory Landscape and Impact on Canadian Crude (June 8, 2015)
2015 Argus Canadian Crude Summit
Sutherland attorneys Jacob Dweck, David McCullough, Alexander Holtan and Shelley Wong present a pre-conference workshop on “Navigating the Current U.S. Regulatory Landscape and Impact on Canadian ...
Out of North America: Government Policies Affecting Crude Production and Exports (May 19, 2015)
Platts 8th Annual Global Crude Oil Summit
Sutherland Partner Jacob Dweck presents “Out of North America: Government Policies Affecting Crude Production and Exports” as part of Platt’s 8th Annual Global Crude Oil Summit on May 19, in London, ...
U.S. Condensate Exports - Legal Scope & Market Impact (October 2, 2014)
Sutherland has been invited to join Bloomberg Intelligence (BI) for an informative webinar on the legal scope and market implications of the recent Department of Commerce rulings on condensate ...
Processed Condensate Exports: Regulatory Framework and Paths Forward (September 26, 2014)
EIA U.S. Department of Energy Condensate Workshop
Sutherland Partner Jacob Dweck and Sutherland Associate Shelley Wong present Processed Condensate Exports: Regulatory Framework and Paths Forward at the EIA U.S. Department of Energy Condensate ...
Publications
“Over the past 40 years, my practice has morphed numerous times-basically changing as the industry and regulatory bodies have changed-so I’ve done different things for different clients in different decades.”
Legal Alerts
US sanctions the entire trading arm of Rosneft (February 18, 2020)
Today, under its Venezuela sanctions authorities, the US Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) designated Rosneft Trading S.A. (RTSA), the trading arm of Russian energy ...
US expands sanctions against the government of Venezuela (August 8, 2019)
In response to recent events, on Monday, August 5, 2019, President Trump signed a new Executive Order (the “Order”) that expands sanctions against the Government of Venezuela. While widely reported ...
Legal Alert: US government targets tech giant Huawei in China trade war (May 31, 2019)
Consistent with the ongoing United States (US) strategy of limiting engagement with China in the high-tech sector (especially telecommunications) on national security grounds, the US Department of ...
Legal Alert: US issues sanctions against Petroleos de Venezuela, S.A. (PDVSA) (January 31, 2019)
Arising out of last week’s announcement by the United States to recognize the opposition government in Venezuela, on Monday the Treasury Department designated Petroleos de Venezuela, S.A. (PdVSA), on ...
House bill proposes tax credit extensions for renewable energy, biodiesel and alternative fuels and other energy tax provisions (November 30, 2018)
On November 26, the House of Representatives released a tax bill (Extenders Bill) that, if enacted, would extend certain tax credits for the renewable energy and alternative fuels industries and ...
FERC eliminates tax allowances for MLP pipelines, proposes tax-related rate reviews (March 20, 2018)
On March 15, 2018, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) issued important orders regarding two significant tax-related rate matters affecting interstate oil and natural gas pipelines. The ...
Energy tax extenders package passed (February 13, 2018)
The Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018 (2018 BBA) passed by Congress and signed into law on February 9, 2018, extends and changes tax credits for the renewable energy, alternative fuels and nuclear energy ...
Legal Alert: Tax Extender Act of 2017 Proposes Changes for Renewable and Nuclear Power, Alternative Fuels and Other Energy Tax Provisions (January 5, 2018)
The Tax Extender Act of 2017 (Extenders Bill) would, if enacted, extend and change tax credits for the renewable energy, alternative fuels and nuclear energy industries, and also would make other ...
U.S. Customs Aims to Increase Enforcement of the Jones Act (July 20, 2016)
In what could foretell a significant increase in the enforcement of the coastwise trade provisions of the Jones Act, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (Customs) announced on July 18 the creation of ...
Effect of Energy Policy Bills on Natural Gas Exports (April 22, 2016)
Legislative Update. On April 20, the U.S. Senate passed broad legislation that covers many different aspects of the energy and environmental sectors, including changes to streamline the approval ...
Articles
U.S. Oil Imports Remain Key to $1 Trillion Border Tax Plan (January 20, 2017)
Platts
Partner Jacob Dweck is quoted in this Platts article regarding a congressional plan to overhaul the tax code, which includes a border adjustment provision to encourage exports and tax imports at 20%. ...
Crude Oil Export and U.S. National Security (May 14, 2015)
Center for a New American Security (CNAS)
Sutherland Partner Jacob Dweck is acknowledged for his review of the Center for a New American Security (CNAS) policy brief, “Crude Oil Export & U.S. National Security,” which seeks to explore and ...
Pending Debate on U.S. Oil Export Ban, Industry Eyes Alternatives (January 28, 2014)
Reuters
Sutherland Partner Jacob Dweck is quoted in the Reuters article, “Pending Debate on U.S. Oil Export Ban, Industry Eyes Alternatives,” which discusses the ongoing debate about whether to lift a ...
How to Export American Oil Without a Presidential Decree (January 23, 2014)
The Wall Street Journal Corporate Intelligence Blog
Sutherland Partner Jacob Dweck is quoted in the article, “How to Export American Oil Without a Presidential Decree,” which discusses how companies may be able to avert the 40-year ban on exporting ...
The Trouble With New Rules For Natural Gas Processors (November 19, 2013)
Law360
In “The Trouble With New Rules For Natural Gas Processors,” published on November 19 by Law360, Sutherland partners Rachel Clingman and Jacob Dweck discuss the The Department of Transportation’s ...
'Dodd-Frank' is next storm to weather for energy companies (October 4-8, 2010)
Reprinted with permission from Houston Business Journal
Reviewing LNG Regulations (November 2007)
Pipeline and Gas Technology
European LNG Developers Face Complex Commercial Landscape (April 9, 2007)
Reprinted with permission, Oil & Gas Journal
Achieving True Market Value (April, 2007)
Reprinted with permission Fundamentals of LNG
Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) Litigation After the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (November 14, 2006)
Reprinted with permission, Energy Law Journal
