Vogel, Joseph A.

Jeff Vercauteren is an Associate in the firm. His practice areas include Energy & Telecommunications, Governmental Relations, and Business.

In his transactional practice, Mr. Vercauteren represents clients in project development and financing, entity formation, acquisitions, contract drafting and negotiation, and permitting. He has drafted and negotiated asset purchase agreements, limited liability company operating and member interest purchase agreements, and consulting and services agreements.

Mr. Vercauteren advises clients regarding detailed and complex permitting issues, including permits issued by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, the Wisconsin Department of Transportation, and other state agencies and municipalities. He also advises clients regarding federal and state grant, loan, and bond opportunities.

In his regulatory practice, Mr. Vercauteren represents clients in electric and water utility rate cases, energy policy investigations, telecommunications proceedings, and other dockets before the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin. In his governmental relations practice, Mr. Vercauteren advises and represents clients in pending matters in the Wisconsin legislature and state agencies, primarily related to energy and telecommunications issues.

Transactional Experience
- Negotiated power purchase agreement and asset purchase agreement on behalf of client related to the construction of a new hydroelectric generating facility.
- Represented limited liability company in negotiation of limited partnership agreement and limited liability company agreement for creation of project financing investment fund.
- Advised two large corporations on potential joint venture entity options, project financing, and structure to maximize federal and state financial incentives for project.
- Represented wind energy developer in sale of wind energy facility, including negotiating acquisition, limited liability company, and services agreements, and providing due diligence review.
- Drafted and negotiated power purchase agreement, retail energy sale agreements, and limited liability company agreement related to development of commercial wind energy facility.
- Drafted and negotiated limited liability company member interest purchase agreement for the acquisition of a community-scale wind energy facility.
- Provided analysis, advice, and assistance to business clients in obtaining grants, loan guarantees, bond financing, and other financial incentives available through federal and state programs.
- Negotiated acquisition agreements for generation company in three separate transactions involving the acquisition of hydroelectric dams.

Regulatory Experience
- Protected interests of competitive telecommunications companies by drafting and submitting comments in proceeding to recertify a large, multinational telecommunications company in case of first impression before the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin.
- Advised telecommunications providers on the implementation by the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin of an omnibus telecommunications reform bill passed by the Wisconsin legislature.
- Represented client in Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources licensing and permitting processes for new hydroelectric generating facility.
- Drafted briefs on behalf of business intervenor group in transmission CPCN proceeding before the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin.
- Represented wind developer in intervention in utility wind energy facility CPCN proceeding before the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin and negotiated settlement agreement with utility.
- Safeguarded competitive telecommunications companies in intrastate access rate and deregulation dockets before the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin.
- Successfully represented competitive telecommunications company in obtaining dismissal of complaint filed against it by a large, multinational telecommunications company before the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin.
- Represented large electric power generator and nonprofit organization in several municipal water rate cases before the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin and negotiated agreements with utilities.

Governmental Relations Experience
- In representation of competitive telecommunications companies, preserved key state regulatory authority over the wholesale operations of incumbent telecommunications companies during the passage of an omnibus telecommunications deregulation law passed by the Wisconsin Legislature.
- Represented large energy efficiency company in passing legislation expanding authority of municipalities to create energy efficiency programs.
- Led effort on behalf of wind energy developers to draft and negotiate revisions to wind siting rules and drafted extensive comments on rules for submission to the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin.
- Represented client in obtaining two substantial bond allocations from the Wisconsin Department of Commerce for energy efficiency improvements.

Mr. Vercauteren was a featured presenter at the 2010 Community Wind Across America conference hosted by Windustry in St. Paul, Minnesota, where he gave a presentation on public-private collaboration in community wind development. Mr. Vercauteren also presented at the 2010 Art and Science of Starting a Cooperative Business workshop in Madison, Wisconsin, where he spoke about cooperative models for community-owned renewable energy projects.

Mr. Vercauteren served as Executive Editor of the Journal of College and University Law at Notre Dame Law School. In 2007, he published an article in the Journal titled An Alternative to Prescriptive Standards in Hazardous Waste Regulation: Subpart K and Performance-Based Standards for Academic Labs. At Notre Dame, Mr. Vercauteren also received the 2007 Dean's Award in Environmental Law.

Mr. Vercauteren is active in the community as a member of the Dane County Bar Association and the St. Thomas More Society and as a volunteer judge for the Evan A. Evans Constitutional Law Moot Court Competition hosted by the University of Wisconsin Law School and the Wisconsin High School Mock Trial Program. He is also a member and regular volunteer for Cathedral Parish and Olbrich Botanical Gardens, and a volunteer for Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra Concerts on the Square.