Experience

-Mr. Sponseller’s energy experience includes advising energy industry participants regarding disputes over withholding of electricity to increase wholesale market prices, market manipulation of energy index prices, associated regulatory issues (including representation before the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission), disputes over long-term energy purchase contracts, energy transportation issues, gas royalty disputes (including royalty class actions), stranded cost issues, and defense and prosecution of suits by energy investors and energy lenders. Mr. Sponseller has been lead counsel in suits on behalf of gas producers against some of the largest utilities in the eastern U.S. resulting in recoveries of over $20 million.

-Mr. Sponseller’s antitrust experience includes litigating and counseling companies on antitrust issues in the deregulating energy industry, including antitrust claims regarding energy market price manipulation (through both physical and financial conduct), denial of access to essential gas pipeline and power transmission facilities, conditioning of access to interconnection facilities, the antitrust aspects of the imposition of stranded cost surcharges on power customers, and the interfaces between regulatory jurisdiction and antitrust law (including the filed rate doctrine and federal preemption of state antitrust claims associated with the Federal Power Act). His antitrust experience includes a recent $29 million antitrust recovery for parties injured by electricity index price manipulation.

-Mr. Sponseller’s creditor’s rights experience includes the restructuring of over $30 million of guarantees issued to numerous energy investment partnerships, advising a power producer concerning enforcement of a long-term subordinated gas purchase agreement, representing parties in mortgage foreclosure actions involving commercial facilities with an aggregate value of in excess of $50 million (including a glass manufacturing plant, a luxury condominium complex, numerous commercial office buildings, and a 900,000 square-foot commercial warehousing facility), and acting as lead trial counsel in action to enforce a government loan guaranty resulting in a $2.5 million verdict, as well as various matters involving insolvency, commercial valuation and alleged fraudulent conveyances.

-Mr. Sponseller’s experience in other litigation includes actions for securities and insurance fraud,  enforcement of acquisition agreements, libel actions and actions for recovery for breaches of warranty under the Uniform Commercial Code resulting in recoveries of millions of dollars for his clients.

Court Admissions
-Supreme Court of Pennsylvania
-United States Courts of Appeals, Second, Third, Fifth, Sixth, Seventh and District of Columbia Circuits
-United States District Courts for the Western District of Pennsylvania, and for the Northern District of Ohio
-Pro Hac Vice admission to various state and federal courts throughout the country, including: Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Virginia, Texas, Washington and West Virginia

Professional History
Law Office of Daniel J. Sponseller, Pittsburgh, PA (2006-present)
Kirkpatrick & Lockhart (now K&L Gates LLP), Pittsburgh, PA (1981-2006) (Partner 1990-2006)

Professional/ Civic Activities

• Federal Energy Bar Association

• American Bar Association

  • Antitrust Section

    • Transportation and Energy Industries Committee

  • Environmental, Energy, and Resources Section

    • Energy Markets and Finance Committee

    • Energy & Natural Resources Committee

  • Litigation Section

    • Antitrust Litigation Committee

    • Environmental and Energy Litigation Committee

Education
J.D., Ohio State University College of Law (1981)
B.S., Georgetown University (1978)