Bio
Christopher J. Barr is a Principal in the firm's Energy & Utilities Practice Group. His practice focuses on the regulation of natural gas utility and oil pipeline companies and trade associations under the Natural Gas Act, Interstate Commerce Act, the Hazardous Liquids Pipeline Safety Act, the Federal Power Act, and a variety of other federal statutes. His broad-based experience includes participation in business planning in light of federal regulations, planning and development of new services and facilities, rate cases, enforcement proceedings, declaratory order proceedings, rule makings, certificate proceedings, as well as appellate proceedings.
Mr. Barr regularly appears before the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). He played an important role in the development of market- based rates at FERC in the oil pipeline and natural gas pipeline contexts. He has successfully guided clients' proposals for innovative service and rate proposals through the FERC approval process, and has extensive experience in assisting in the pre-filing processes with the FERC's staff to ensure that the proposed projects and rate filings meet with FERC approval.
Mr. Barr is ranked by Chambers and Partners for the United States in the Energy: Oil & Gas (Regulatory & Litigation) category. The Best Lawyers in America©, a peer-review publication, selected him for its 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025 editions in the categories of Energy Law and Oil and Gas Law. For information about these selections and an overview of common third-party publications, rankings, and list methodologies, click here.
Education
- J.D., George Washington University National Law Center, 1983
- B.A., Yale University, 1979
Bar Memberships
- District of Columbia
Affiliations
- Energy Bar Association (Past Chair of the Oil & Liquids Pipeline Regulation Committee and Past Chair of the Committees on Natural Gas Regulation and Oil Pipeline Regulation)
- American Gas Association (AGA)
- American Bar Association (ABA)
Speaking Engagements
- Panelist, "Bridging the Divide: Straight Talk on Reliability," the American Gas Association's (AGA) 7th Annual Energy Market Regulation Conference, New Orleans, LA (October 9, 2014)
- Presenter, "Pipeline Rate Issues," AGA Energy Market Regulation Conference, New York, NY (October 3, 2013)
- Presenter, "Rate Implications of Changing Gas Flows," AGA's 2012 Energy Market Regulation Conference, Hotel Monaco, Portland, OR (October 4, 2012)
- Presenter, "Regulatory Basics for Oil Pipelines and Planning Pipeline Expansions in Light of FERC's Rules" the Annual Business Conference of the Association of Oil Pipe Lines, Savannah, GA (September 19, 2012)
- Mr. Barr has spoken on regulatory topics in seminars sponsored by bar and trade organizations.
Publications
- Author, American Bar Assocation's (ABA) chapter on natural gas developments in the 2013 edition of Recent Developments in Public Utility, Communications and Transportation Industries (2013)
- "Unfinished Business: FERC's Evolving Standard For Capacity Rights On Oil Pipelines," Energy Law Journal, Vol. 32, No. 2 (2011)
- "Regulation of the Natural Gas Industry," Chapters 8, 8-A and 8-B of the American Gas Association's Treatise
- "Energy Markets Face Expanded Enforcement," Business Crimes Bulletin (December 2007)
News & Insights
Education
- J.D., George Washington University National Law Center, 1983
- B.A., Yale University, 1979
Bar Memberships
- District of Columbia
Affiliations
- Energy Bar Association (Past Chair of the Oil & Liquids Pipeline Regulation Committee and Past Chair of the Committees on Natural Gas Regulation and Oil Pipeline Regulation)
- American Gas Association (AGA)
- American Bar Association (ABA)