Skip to Main Content
Our Commitment to Diversity
David L. Wochner

David Wochner has advised and represented energy industry clients in Washington, D.C., for more than 20 years. As a thought leader with regard to the natural gas and hydrogen industries’ intersection with government, David regularly advises clients on critical U.S. federal regulatory and policy issues that impact energy infrastructure and commodities, with a particular focus on issues related to the global energy transition. David co-leads the firm’s global liquefied natural gas (LNG) practice, as well as its global hydrogen practice, and co-hosts the bi-weekly podcast, “Hydrogen Rising.”

Over the years, David has appeared regularly on behalf of clients before the U.S. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC); the US Departments of Energy, the Interior, and Transportation; EPA; and on Capitol Hill. In 2010-2011, he served as lead Washington counsel on behalf of Transocean in multiple Congressional, US federal agency, and UK House of Commons’ investigations and hearings related to the Gulf of Mexico Deepwater Horizon oil spill. 

David's clients include natural gas and LNG marketers, importers, exporters, and project developers; hydrogen project developers; financial institutions and hedge funds; offshore energy project developers, including offshore wind and marine hydrokinetic projects; oil and gas pipelines and shippers; oil and gas drilling companies; and state and provincial government officials.

His experience includes counseling and representing clients in matters concerning:

  • Development of hydrogen projects, including regulatory and policy considerations related to the development of clean hydrogen standards.
  • US liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports and imports.
  • Interstate natural gas, oil, and oil product pipelines' operations and policies before FERC.
  • Natural gas trading operations, including NAESB agreements, interstate transportation capacity, and asset management arrangements.
  • US federal, state, and local authorities' roles in the development of energy infrastructure.
  • Safety regulations under the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration's (PHMSA) Part 193, applicable to pipelines and LNG facilities.
  • Congressional investigations into oil and natural gas related matters, including oil spills.
  • Minerals Management Service (MMS) and Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) leasing issues associated with offshore energy facilities, including LNG terminals, wind and hydrokinetic power facilities, and natural gas pipelines.
  • Development of stakeholder engagement strategies for energy infrastructure projects.

Additionally, David is the lead practice area leader for the firm’s global Policy and Regulatory practice.

  • Selected for Best Lawyers in America for work in Energy Regulatory Law by Best Lawyers (2017-2022)
  • Selected to Rising Stars list for Energy, 2013-2014
  • Recipient, 2007 Burton Award for Legal Achievement for “Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) Litigation After the Energy Policy Act of 2005,” Energy Law Journal (November 14, 2006)
  • Member, Connected DMV National Capital Region Hydrogen Initiative Steering Committee
  • Past chair and current member, Georgetown University National Law Alumni Board
  • Member, Energy Bar Association
  • Witness, “Philadelphia LNG Exports Task Force Hearing,” (19 May 2023) (Remarks begin at 1:23:00 mark.)
  • Moderator, “DOE Support for Hydrogen RD&D and Regional Hydrogen Hubs,” S&P Global Platts Hydrogen Markets Americas: New Opportunities for Growth and Investment,” San Diego, CA (March 31, 2022)
  • Moderator, “Focus on Hydrogen - Is large scale, cost-effective commercialization possible for hydrogen as an alternative fuel?,” Decarb Connect North America, Houston, TX (March 30, 2022)
  • Speaker, “Hydrogen Town Hall: Key Trends in Global Hydrogen Policy and Regulation,” Washington, DC (March 24, 2022)
  • Moderator, “The State of Decarbonization in North America:  Hydrogen,” Decarb Connect North America: Identifying Competitive Industrial Decarbonization Business Models (June 15, 2021)
  • Moderator, “The Role of LNG in the Energy Transition,” S&P Global Platts 20th Annual LNG Conference (March 25, 2021)
  • Speaker, “Energy & Environmental Policy in the Next Administration,” hosted by K&L Gates (November 5, 2020)
  • Speaker, “US LNG Update,” presentation to Atlantik-Brücke, Washington, DC (October 31, 2019)
  • Speaker, “Making American Energy Great Again? The Trump Administration’s Use of Regulation and Policy to Impact Global Energy Markets,” World Energy Engineering Conference, Charlotte, NC, (October 18, 2018)
  • Speaker, “The U.S. Offshore: Outstanding Opportunity or Onerous Obstacle,” presented at “Issues of Offshore Wind Power Generation,” Japan Overseas Institute, Tokyo, (September 13, 2018)
  • Speaker, “LNG and U.S. Trade Developments,” Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Teleconference, (April 20, 2018)
  • Speaker, “Contracts and Offtake Agreements: A Legal View,” Bank of America Merrill Lynch U.S. LNG Prospects Conference, New York, (March 9, 2018)
  • Speaker, “US Infrastructure Cooperation | US Energy / Infrastructure Investment Opportunities Analysis,” Beijing, (April 18, 2017)
  • Speaker, “New Administration Policies: How to Maximize Your Business for Growth,” OCTANe - Orange County, CA (January 19, 2017)
  • Speaker, “Winter is Coming: The Regulatory Onslaught Against Oil & Gas Midstream Infrastructure,” Credit Suisse Restructuring Mini-Conference - Houston, Texas (February 1, 2016)
  • Speaker, “U.S. Environmental Standards and Regulations for Shale Gas Development,” U.S.-China Shale Gas Training Program, Environmental Policy and Technology for Shale Gas Development - Beijing, China (December 3-4, 2015)
  • Speaker, “Developments in North American Oil, Gas and LNG,” Australian Institute of Energy - Perth (September 29, 2015)
  • Speaker, “Developments in North American Oil, Gas and LNG,” K&L Gates - Singapore (March 26, 2015)
  • Speaker, “Regulatory Risk Factors for US LNG Export Projects,” Hart Energy North American LNG Exports Conference (November 20, 2014)
  • Speaker, Seoul LNG Seminar (March 25, 2014)
  • Speaker, “U.S. LNG Exports:  Consideration of the ‘Public Interest,’” 4th Annual North American LNG Exports Conference (December 11, 2013)
  • Speaker, Tokyo LNG Seminar (September 10, 2013)
  • Speaker, “Responsible Shale Development - Industry Perspectives,” K&L Gates Second Annual Alaska Oil & Gas Conference, (July 10, 2013)
  • Speaker, “U.S. LNG Exports: Policy and Political Issues,” LNG Export Forum North America (May 16-18, 2012)
  • Speaker, “Obtaining Permits for LNG Export,” 2nd Annual North American LNG Exports Conference (December 1, 2011)
  • Leader, Workshop: “Addressing the Impact of Legal & Regulatory Issues on the Shale Gas Industry,” World Shale Gas Conference 2011 (November 7-11, 2011)
  • Speaker, “Federal Agency Jeopardy: An Insider’s Guide to the Federal Regulation of Energy Companies and Commodities,” ACC 2011 Annual Meeting (October 23–26, 2011)
  • Moderator, “Key Policy Developments and their Impact on Offshore Wind,” Offshore Wind Power North America - Boston, MA (February 1-2, 2011)
  • Speaker, “Issues for Obtaining Liquefaction and Export Authority,” Prospects for North American LNG Exports Program (November 11, 2010)
  • Co-Leader, “Shale Gas Legal and Regulatory Issues Master Class,” World Shale Gas Conference and Exhibition (November 3-5, 2010)
  • Speaker, “Managing Regulatory Hurdles in Offshore Wind Projects,” EUEC 2010 – 13th Annual Energy & Environment Conference (February 2, 2010)
  • Speaker, “U.S. Climate Change Regulation: A Framework for Business Planning For a Sustainable Midstream Industry,” Gas Processors Association – Houston Chapter Annual Conference (October 13, 2009)
  • Panel Moderator, Platts Gas Interchangeability and Quality Forum, Washington, DC (November 19–20, 2008)
  • Speaker, “Improving Stakeholders Perception of LNG,” 15th International Conference and Exhibit on Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG 15) - Barcelona, Spain (April 25, 2007)
  • Speaker, “Regulating Gas Composition: The U.S. Regulatory System and Its Impact on the Globalization of LNG,” Gas Technology Institute Global LNG Interchangeability Conference (September 11–12, 2006)
  • Speaker, “LNG Market Outlook,” Valve Manufacturers Association’s Annual Market Outlook Workshop (August 18, 2005)
Additional Thought Leadership Pages
Additional News & Event Pages
Return to top of page

Email Disclaimer

We welcome your email, but please understand that if you are not already a client of K&L Gates LLP, we cannot represent you until we confirm that doing so would not create a conflict of interest and is otherwise consistent with the policies of our firm. Accordingly, please do not include any confidential information until we verify that the firm is in a position to represent you and our engagement is confirmed in a letter. Prior to that time, there is no assurance that information you send us will be maintained as confidential. Thank you for your consideration.

Accept Cancel