Lem O. Smith IV, former Director for US Government and Regulatory Affairs of Encana Oil & Gas (USA) Inc., has joined Squire Patton Boggs as principal in its Energy & Environment Public Policy Practice, based in the firm’s Denver and Washington DC offices.
Senator Trent Lott, Co-Chair of the Squire Patton Boggs Public Policy Practice, said, “With nearly 20 years working in the legislative and regulatory policy arena at both the federal and state levels, Lem has a distinguished bipartisan reputation on the Hill and nationally. Having personally worked with Lem, I’ve seen first-hand his ability to use his deep understanding of the energy sector to formulate legislative initiatives and get things done. We are delighted to have him on the team.”
On Mr. Smith’s appointment, Democratic Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper said, “From Colorado methane rules to serving as a delegate on my ‘Oil and Gas Task Force on Local Control,’ Lem played an important role in my shaping of Colorado’s energy future. His sharp mind, grasp of imperative and impactful issues, and broad respect across multiple constituencies make Lem a critically important asset to our community.”
“From the local to the global, Lem has demonstrated mastery of historic and modern energy policy issues. His breadth of knowledge of the economic and environmental concerns that drive policy as well as the legislative and regulatory processes is incredibly unique,” said Peter S. Gould, managing partner of the Squire Patton Boggs’ Denver office. “A seasoned deal-maker, highly valued on both sides of the aisle, Lem is a respected member of the Colorado and DC business communities. Our clients will benefit greatly from Lem’s sophistication and expertise in addressing complex policy, political and business matters.”
Most recently, Mr. Smith directed all aspects of US government relations at the state and federal levels for the US subsidiary of the Calgary-based Encana Corporation. In 2010, Mr. Smith played a key role in negotiation of Colorado House Bill 1365, The Clean Air – Clean Jobs Act; and in 2013, he negotiated withdrawal of the EPA Report “Draft Investigation of Ground Water Contamination Near Pavillion, Wyoming” with the state, EPA HQ and EPA Region 8. He was also heavily involved building state and federal strategies in the successful coalition to repeal the 40-year crude-oil export ban.
Mr. Smith left the banking industry to begin a career on Capitol Hill in 1998, first as Staff Assistant to then Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott (R-MS) and then as a Legislative Assistant to then-Congressman, now Senator Roger Wicker (R-MS). Later, he joined the late US Representative Charlie Norwood’s (R-GA) staff where he would become Legislative Director. There, Mr. Smith served as the principal liaison to the House Energy and Commerce Committee on energy, environment, telecommunications and oversight, where Dr. Norwood was very active in the precursor energy bills, including the Energy Policy Act (EPAct) of 2005. Mr. Smith successfully negotiated a number of key energy provisions within EPAct, including native-load electricity protections, FERC Standard Market Design (SMD) prohibition and the BLM permit-processing improvement fund.
In early 2004, Mr. Smith joined Kerr-McGee Corp., first as Director of Federal Relations in Washington DC, and later as Director of Government Relations in Denver and Washington DC. At Kerr-McGee, Mr. Smith directed and managed all aspects of government relations functions at the state and federal levels and provided strategic advice to company executives on political and policy matters, including upon the contentious Deep Water Royalty Relief Act (DWRRA) price-thresholds lawsuit. Upon Anadarko Petroleum Corporation’s 2006 acquisition of Kerr-McGee, Mr. Smith became the combined entity’s Manager of Government Relations for the Southern Rockies in Denver.
Mr. Smith extolls a strong sense of civic duty, serving on the Board of the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce, and within energy-trades as a past Board Member of the Western Energy Alliance, the Louisiana Mid-Continent Oil & Gas Association and immediate past-Chairman of the Colorado Petroleum Association. Mr. Smith also served on the Mississippi Energy Institute and was elected by his industry peers to be Colorado State-Lead for America’s Natural Gas Alliance (ANGA).
Mr. Smith’s political activities are extensive and include Republican Haley Barbour’s 2003 Campaign for Governor and, more recently, appointments by Democratic Governor Hickenlooper to his Transition Team for Natural Resources in 2010, as well as by Republican Mississippi Governor Phil Bryant to his Transition Team for Energy in 2012.
