Ryan J. Collins

Managing Shareholder

O: 202-393-1200 C: 202-731-0280
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Ryan’s practice is focused on natural gas pipeline, oil pipeline, and electricity transmission and energy market regulation, before the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), other federal agencies, and federal courts. Ryan is recognized by Chambers USA as being an “extremely bright and talented lawyer with very strong written and oral advocacy skills.”

On the electricity side of his practice, Ryan focuses on capacity markets, organized wholesale energy markets, and transmission planning and cost allocation for clients such as PJM Interconnection, L.L.C. He assists natural gas clients in obtaining certificates of public convenience and necessity to construct new or expansion facilities, ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements, gas import/export authorizations, as well as prosecuting both Natural Gas Act (NGA) section 4 and section 5 rate and tariff matters. He handles matters ranging from litigation to rulemaking and counsels clients regarding regulatory compliance and operational responsibilities. He brings a sharp and critical thinker mindset to his work.

Experience

Assisting natural gas pipeline companies in NGA section 4 general rate cases and NGA section 5 investigations and in matters of compliance, standards of conduct, and tariff implementation.

Assisting natural gas pipelines in project development, including obtaining and defending certificates of public convenience and necessity, negotiating precedent agreements, and drafting open season materials.

Representing a regional transmission organization (RTO) in obtaining FERC approval of the capacity reforms to PJM’s capacity market, which is known as the Reliability Pricing Model (RPM) including changes to The Minimum Offer Price Rule.

Representing an RTO in proceedings before FERC regarding wholesale energy and reserve markets, as well as other tariff matters, reliability agreements, and transmission planning and cost allocation matters.

Assisting a natural gas pipeline regarding NGA section 3 authorizations and Presidential Permits issued by FERC to permit construction of natural gas pipeline facilities across the U.S.-Mexico border.

Assisting clients in defending FERC-established returns on equity.

Assisting natural gas pipelines in regarding FERC’s Natural Gas Policy Act section 311 regulation for intrastate pipelines to offer interstate service.

Admissions

District of Columbia

Maryland

U.S. Court of Appeals, District of Columbia Circuit

U.S. Court of Appeals, First Circuit

U.S. Court of Appeals, Second Circuit

U.S. Court of Appeals, Third Circuit

U.S. Court of Appeals, Fourth Circuit

U.S. Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit

U.S. Court of Appeals, Seventh Circuit

U.S. Court of Appeals, Tenth Circuit

Supreme Court of the United States

Education

American University Washington College of Law, J.D. (2007)

Washington University in St. Louis, M.A. (2004)

University of the South, B.A. (2002)

Professional Activities

Energy Bar Association

Honors

Chambers Global, Energy: Oil & Gas (2022-2024)

Chambers USA, Energy: Oil & Gas (2021-2024)

Lawdragon, 500 Leading U.S. Energy Lawyers: Energy Regulation (2023-2024)

Publications

  • Chapter 11: Pipeline Service Obligations and Chapter 46: Judicial Review, Regulation of the Gas Industry, 2018 (co-author)
  • Chapter 145: Settlements, Energy Law and Transactions, Matthew Bender, 2018 (co-author)

Speaking Engagements

  • Washington Update, Interstate Pipeline Regulatory Committee, September 2019
  • Washington Update, Interstate Pipeline Regulatory Committee, September 2018
  • Profit or Loss? Financial Risks of Tax Cuts on Gas Pipelines, Webinar, February 2018

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