Catherine D Little

Energy Regulatory, Litigation, Oil &Gas

For more than 35 years, Catherine Little has counseled owners and operators of oil and gas pipelines, associated storage, and LNG facilities nationwide on the full range of energy, transportation and safety-related matters. Whether at the federal, state or local levels, including before the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) within the U.S. Department of Transportation or in the courts, Catherine and her team are at the forefront of cutting-edge legal issues for the energy industry.

As co-leader of Bracewell’s Pipeline and LNG Safety Practice, Catherine and her team regularly assist clients in navigating complex regulatory compliance and enforcement defense matters. These matters range from project planning, construction, operations, maintenance and inspection, and special permits to security issues and accident or incident response (including those involving parallel investigations by other agencies, such as the NTSB). Whether managing high-profile or otherwise sensitive matters, Catherine leverages her extensive experience and unique understanding of safety and regulatory risks facing this industry to work to resolve matters strategically, effectively, and efficiently.

As such, Catherine routinely advises clients on litigation strategy and policy issues, including legislative and rulemaking developments, and frequently manages compliance audits and confidential internal and governmental investigations. As to the latter, Catherine and her team have favorably resolved investigation matters led by the DOT Office of Inspector General and successfully challenged administrative agency actions at the federal appellate level. See e.g. ExxonMobil Pipeline Co. v. United States DOT, 867 F.3d 564 (5th Cir. 2017).

Energy Bar Association; American Bar Association (Section of Environment, Energy, and Resources; Section of Administrative Law & Regulatory Practice); Women’s Energy Network; State Bar of Georgia (Environmental Section; Administrative Section)

Tulane University Law School, J.D., 1991, cum laude; University of Virginia, B.A., 1986