Robert G. Szabo

Bob Szabo counsels and advocates to the Congress and the Executive Branch agencies and departments on behalf of firm clients in the areas of federal energy, environmental, land and water, public policy, and transportation law.

Among recent or ongoing client issues are:

• Representing a large group of rail customers in an ongoing effort to achieve federal legislative and regulatory policy to restrain the monopoly power of the nation’s freight railroads.
• Representing the State of Louisiana in its successful effort to receive a share of federal Outer Continental Shelf oil and gas revenues from production offshore Louisiana.
• Representing the State of Louisiana in its successful effort to delay further federal OCS oil and gas leasing until a full environmental study had been completed regarding the damage to coastal Louisiana after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.
• Representing a cellulosic ethanol producer in its successful effort to develop the nation’s first demonstration facility in Louisiana.
• Counseling a major international mining firm in its effort to position itself for potential climate change legislation.
• Representing a wetlands mitigation banker in an ongoing effort with respect to federal taxation issues.
• Representing a hydroelectric facility jointly owned by the states of Texas and Louisiana in its re-licensing effort at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.
• Counseling a number of clients with respect to federal energy policy developments and provisions of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

Government Service

Senior Legislative Assistant, Senator J. Bennett Johnston, (D-LA), U.S. Senate, 1975-1978

Law Clerk, Justice John A. Dixon, Jr., Supreme Court of Louisiana, 1972-1973

Honors & Distinctions

• Best Lawyers in America; Government Relations Law; 2008-2012

Articles

• A Five Point Plan for Expanding the Nation's Wetlands Base and Improving the Section 404 Program

Speaking Engagements

• Prospects for Rail Regulatory Reform: A Shipper Perspective, September 12, 2007

News

• Van Ness Feldman's Bob Szabo Quoted in Wall Street Journal on Freight Rail Regulations
• For 7th Consecutive Year, Van Ness Feldman Professionals Are Among "The Best Lawyers in America"
• For 5th Consecutive Year, Van Ness Feldman Professionals Are Among "The Best Lawyers in America"
• Van Ness Feldman's Robert Szabo Quoted in Energy Biz Insider Article
• 10 Van Ness Feldman Lawyers Recognized as Leaders in their Field by The Best Lawyers in America
• Van Ness Feldman's Bob Szabo Quoted in Traffic World Article on the STB's June 30 Ruling