Jesse Halpern, Attorney, Schiff Hardin LLP at the Knowledge Group’s Understanding and Mitigating FERC Enforcement Actions: A 2015 Perspective Live Webcast

New York, NY, July 14, 2015 --(PR.com)-- The Knowledge Group/The Knowledge Congress Live Webcast Series, the leading producer of regulatory focused webcasts, has announced today that Jesse Halpern, Attorney, Schiff Hardin LLP will speak at the Knowledge Group’s webcast entitled: “Understanding and Mitigating FERC Enforcement Actions: A 2015 Perspective LIVE Webcast.” This event is scheduled for July 15, 2015 @ 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM (ET).

For further details, please visit:
http://theknowledgegroup.org/event_name/understanding-and-mitigating-ferc-enforcement-actions-a-2015-perspective-live-webcast/

About Jesse Halpern

Jesse Halpern focuses her practice on utility compliance with Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) requirements. She is experienced in assisting clients with FERC compliance, including the FERC Standards of Conduct and Affiliate Restrictions, with particular emphasis on North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) reliability standards.

Ms. Halpern leads clients through the NERC enforcement process, from audits to spot checks to self-reports. She has prepared comments and protests on behalf of clients in several NERC-related proceedings at FERC. Ms. Halpern also advises clients on wholesale power contracts, electric rate disputes and open-access transmission tariffs. Her previous experience in the FERC Office of Enforcement provides her with a unique insight into FERC policy and the audit process.

About Schiff Hardin LLP

Schiff Hardin LLP is a general practice law firm representing clients across the United States and around the world. We have offices located in Ann Arbor, Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Lake Forest, New York, San Francisco and Washington. Our attorneys are strong advocates and trusted advisers – roles that contribute to many lasting client relationships.

Event Synopsis:

In late 2014, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) Office of Enforcement released its annual report on enforcement. The primary concerns cited were, detecting and deterring fraud and market manipulation, serious violations of reliability standards, anti-competitive behavior, and threats to the transparency of regulated markets.

Nevertheless, the extent of FERC’s authority is being challenged in the courts and the Department of Energy’s Inspector General is examining FERC’s enforcement process. Although the limits of FERC’s authority and jurisdiction have been questioned, it will continue to investigate and enforce against entities that violate applicable ‘Reliability Standards’, fail to comply with mandatory tariff requirements, or engage in fraudulent and manipulative conduct in energy and other markets.

The report suggests the importance of strong corporate compliance programs and self-reporting. Notably, every settlement of an investigation in 2014 required the investigated company to enhance compliance to report upon them. Hence, it is prudent to examine recent and currently pending cases and recent regulatory and other changes within the department to understand the potential risks that companies may face from enforcement.

In a two-hour, live Webcast, a panel of thought leaders and practitioners assembled by The Knowledge Group will discuss the important need for Understanding and Mitigating FERC Enforcement Actions. The speakers will review recent cases and offer best practices in developing and implementing compliance programs as a means to mitigate the risk of enforcement.

Key topics include:

· FERC Annual Report for FY 2014
· Investigation and Enforcement Actions:
- Division of Investigations (DOI)
- Division of Audits and Accounting (DAA)
- Division of Energy Market Oversight
- Division of Analytics and Surveillance (DAS)
· Analyzing Report Statistics
· FERC’s 2015 Focus:
- Fraud and Market Manipulation
- Serious Violations of Reliability Standards
- Anti-competitive Conduct
- Conduct Threatening Transparency of Regulated Markets.
· Effective Compliance Programs and Practices
· Compliance and Litigation Risks

About The Knowledge Group, LLC/The Knowledge Congress Live Webcast Series

The Knowledge Group, LLC was established with the mission to produce unbiased, objective, and educational live webinars that examine industry trends and regulatory changes from a variety of different perspectives. The goal is to deliver a unique multilevel analysis of an important issue affecting business in a highly focused format. To contact or register to an event, please visit: http://theknowledgegroup.org/