Tom Roberts

Member

Tom Roberts provides strategic, legal, policy, and political guidance to clients on federal and state energy, climate change, clean air, and water supply issues.  With a thorough understanding of the law, insight into how policy decisions are made, and excellent relationships with senior officials in the White House, Department of Energy, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Environmental Protection Agency, Department of the Interior and the Congress, he offers clients a unique combination of government relations expertise and experience.

Mr. Roberts currently works with natural gas pipelines, industrial manufacturers, electric utilities and global mining companies in Canada and the United States.  He represents clients who are developing large-scale energy infrastructure projects, including a coal gasification facility and the Alaska Natural Gas Pipeline.  In addition, he serves as a lead co-counsel for the Coalition for Emission Reduction Projects: a coalition of energy companies, project developers, and financial houses dedicated to ensuring that U.S. climate change regulation provides for a robust market in greenhouse gas emission offset credits.

Several of Mr. Roberts’ clients are located in or have dealings with the State of Alaska.  His strong working relationships with the Alaska Congressional delegation, as well as with high-level officials in Alaska state government, enable him to facilitate communication and understanding between the federal government and the State in order to strengthen his Alaska clients’ positions.

Professional Background

Prior to joining Van Ness Feldman in 1995, Mr. Roberts served as the Legislative Director for the Environmental Protection Agency, where he was responsible for shaping all aspects of the agency’s legislative strategy.

Between 1985 and 1990, Mr. Roberts served as Chief Counsel and Legislative Director to Senator Frank H. Murkowski (R-AK). As the principal policy and legal advisor to Senator Murkowski, Mr. Roberts developed and implemented policy initiatives, drafted and analyzed legislation, and represented the Senator in policy and legislative negotiations.

Government Service

• Legislative Director, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 1990-1995
• Chief Counsel/Legislative Director, Senator Frank Murkowski, (R-AK), U.S. Senate, 1985-1990

Articles

• Designing a Climate-Friendly Energy Policy

Speaking Engagements

• Energy in Alaska: Emerging Policies, Markets and Resources, November 12, 2007
• Midwest Energy Association: Legal and Regulatory Affairs Roundtable, September 5, 2007

News

• Van Ness Feldman Again Ranked as a Top Emissions Trading Law Firm
• VNF's Tom Roberts Quoted in the Dallas Business Journal
• VNF's Tom Roberts Quoted in Petroleum News