David L Wochner

Practice Areas

David Wochner has advised and represented energy industry clients in Washington, D.C., for more than 20 years. As a thought leader with regard to the natural gas and hydrogen industries’ intersection with government, David regularly advises clients on critical US federal regulatory and policy issues that impact energy infrastructure and commodities, with a particular focus on issues related to the global energy transition. David co-leads the firm’s global liquefied natural gas (LNG) practice, as well as its global hydrogen practice, and co-hosts the bi-weekly podcast, “Hydrogen Rising.”

Over the years, David has appeared regularly on behalf of clients before the US Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC); the US Departments of Energy, the Interior, and Transportation; EPA; and on Capitol Hill. In 2010-2011, he served as lead Washington counsel on behalf of Transocean in multiple Congressional, US federal agency, and UK House of Commons’ investigations and hearings related to the Gulf of Mexico Deepwater Horizon oil spill.

David's clients include natural gas and LNG marketers, importers, exporters, and project developers; hydrogen project developers; financial institutions and hedge funds; offshore energy project developers, including offshore wind and marine hydrokinetic projects; oil and gas pipelines and shippers; oil and gas drilling companies; and state and provincial government officials.

His experience includes counseling and representing clients in matters concerning:

Development of hydrogen projects, including regulatory and policy considerations related to the development of clean hydrogen standards.

US liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports and imports.

Interstate natural gas, oil, and oil product pipelines' operations and policies before FERC.

Natural gas trading operations, including NAESB agreements, interstate transportation capacity, and asset management arrangements.

US federal, state, and local authorities' roles in the development of energy infrastructure.

Safety regulations under the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration's (PHMSA) Part 193, applicable to pipelines and LNG facilities.

Congressional investigations into oil and natural gas related matters, including oil spills.

Minerals Management Service (MMS) and Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) leasing issues associated with offshore energy facilities, including LNG terminals, wind and hydrokinetic power facilities, and natural gas pipelines.

Development of stakeholder engagement strategies for energy infrastructure projects.

Professional Memberships

Member, Connected DMV National Capital Region Hydrogen Initiative Steering Committee

Past chair and current member, Georgetown University National Law Alumni Board

Member, Energy Bar Association

Publications

“It’s a Gas! Federal and State Developments Continue to Light Up the Natural Gas Debate,” Energy Law Report, May 2024.

“U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit Cans Berkeley Gas Ban Under Federal Law,” Pratt’s Energy Law Report, July-August 2023

“Proposed Regulations to Improve Offshore Wind Lease Auction Processes and Timelines,” ALI CLE’s The Practical Real Estate Lawyer, May 2023

“How Proposed BOEM Regs Will Boost Offshore Wind Projects,” Law360, 1 February 2023

"Hydrogen Gets a Lift in Federal Infrastructure Act," Pratt’s Energy Law Report, April 2022

“NY, NJ Lease Auctions Highlight US Push For Offshore Wind,” Law360, 10 February 2022

“Key Provisions of FERC’s 2021 Enforcement Report,” Pratt’s Energy Law Report, February 2022.

“The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021 Is Now Law,” The Banking Law Journal, February 2022

“Pipeline Projects Face New Questions On Landowner Rights,” Law360, 6 November 2019

“When States Fail To Act On Federal Pipeline Permits,” Law360, 24 July 2017

Co-author, “Antitrust: A New Line Of Attack Against Pipelines,” Energy Law 360, 13 February 2017

Co-author, “Antitrust Claims: A Novel Line of Attack by Groups Opposing Natural Gas Infrastructure Projects,” The Override, January 2017

Co-author, "Paris Agreement to Enter into Force: Implications for Enforcement in the United States and Internationally," The National Law Review, 25 October 2016

Co-Author, CEQ Issues Final Greenhouse Gas Guidance Directing Federal Agencies to Consider Climate Change in Their NEPA Reviews, Pratt’s Energy Law Report, Vol. 16-9, October 2016

Co-author, "K&L Gates: How will the U.S. Presidential Election Affect the Energy Landscape," Caijing, 23 September 2016

Author, "The Implications of Final Rule Regulating Arctic OCS Drilling," Alaska Journal of Commerce, 18 September 2016

Co-author, "Federal Court Upholds FERC’s Approach on LNG Environmental Permitting and Shifts Focus to Challenges to DOE’s Environmental Review," Pratt’s Energy Law Report, September 2016

“The European Commission Approves an Energy Security Package Emphasizing Infrastructure Development and LNG Imports,” Pratt's Energy Law Report, May 2016

Co-author, “FERC's Jurisdiction Now Reaches Ethane Pipelines Too,” Energy Law 360, 27 February 2014

Co-author, “The Development of U.S. Shale Gas Resources: Regulation and Litigation,” Managing Power Magazine, 1 September 2011

Commentator, “Pro-drilling GOPer wins Va. governor’s race, fueling push for 2011 lease sale,” Inside Energy, 9 November 2009

Commentator, “MMS issues rules for renewable projects on the OCS, eases way for offshore wind,” Inside FERC, 24 April 2009

Co-author, “LNG Importer Focus Turns to US Interchangeability Rules,” LNG Journal, November/December 2007

Co-author, “Reviewing LNG Regulations,” Pipeline and Gas Technology, November 2007

Author, “Middle Eastern Oil and Gas,” CQ Press, 2007

Co-author, “European LNG Developers Face Complex Commercial Landscape,” Oil & Gas Journal, 9 April 2007

Co-author, “Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) Litigation After the Energy Policy Act of 2005,” Energy Law Journal, 14 November 2006

Co-author, “Florida’s Gas Composition Decision Offers Preliminary Guidelines for US LNG Imports,” LNG Journal, May 2006

Co-author, "LNG’s Final Hurdle," Public Utilities Fortnightly, March 2006

Co-author, “Sandia LNG Study Changes Landscape for Terminal Siting,” LNG Observer, April–June 2005

Education