Clifford (Mike) M. Naeve

Of Counsel, Energy Regulatory

mike.naeve@skadden.com

Mike Naeve is head of Skadden’s Energy Regulatory Group. He advises clients on a broad range of energy policy and regulatory matters, including federal and state regulatory proceedings, transaction approvals, market restructurings, and authorizations for natural gas infrastructure and electric transmission expansions.

Bio

Prior to joining Skadden, Mr. Naeve served as a commissioner at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, where he played a leading role in developing FERC policies for restructuring the electric power and natural gas industries.

In his legal work, Mr. Naeve has represented numerous utilities before FERC in merger proceedings and has been involved in dozens of friendly and unsolicited merger transactions. In addition, he has worked with a variety of utilities on innovative electric transmission cases, wholesale rate proceedings and FERC enforcement proceedings.

Mr. Naeve has represented major oil and gas producers, natural gas pipelines, electric cooperatives and financial institutions in a variety of commercial and regulatory matters. He has testified before Congress on various matters ranging from electric industry restructuring to antitrust issues in the energy sector. Mr. Naeve formerly served as board chair of TotalEnergies USA Holdings, a member of the secretary of energy’s Electricity Advisory Board, and on the board of directors for the Ontario Independent Electricity System Operator and the National Grid Renewables Advisory Board.

Mr. Naeve consistently has been singled out by Chambers and Partners as its highest-rated U.S. energy lawyer, being designated as a Star Individual in Chambers USA and Chambers Global. In 2006, Mr. Naeve received the Chambers USA Award for Excellence as the nation’s leading lawyer in his field. He has been selected for inclusion in Lawdragon 500 Leading Lawyers, The Best Lawyers in America, The Legal 500 United States and Who’s Who Legal: Oil and Gas. In addition, Mr. Naeve was named Best Lawyers’ Washington, D.C. Project Finance Law Lawyer of the Year, Washington, D.C. Energy Law Lawyer of the Year and Washington, D.C. Oil & Gas Lawyer of the Year. Mr. Naeve served as head of the Washington, D.C. office from 2008 until February 2015.

Credentials

Education

J.D., George Washington University, 1984 (Highest Honors, Order of the Coif)
M.P.A., L.B.J. School of Public Affairs, The University of Texas at Austin, 1972
B.S., Mechanical Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin, 1970

Admissions

District of Columbia

Government Service

Legislative Director, Office of U.S. Senator Lloyd Bentsen (1978-80)

Commissioner, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (1985-88)

Member, Electricity Advisory Board to the Secretary of Energy (2002-08)