Charlene B. Wright

Ms. Wright is an Energy and Pipeline attorney whose practice focuses on regulatory matters and litigation arising from the construction and operation of natural gas, crude oil, refined products and gas liquids pipelines and the transportation and storage of hazardous materials in North America. She advises clients on complex federal and state laws, agency regulations and industry standards including the Pipeline Safety Act, Federal Hazardous Materials Transportation law, Occupational Safety and Health Act, (OSHA) Toxic Substances Control Act, (TSCA), the PCB Mega Rule, LP Gas Code and NFPA Standards.

She represents clients in compliance, enforcement and permitting matters include those under the authority of the U.S. Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), Bureau of Ocean Energy Management Regulation & Enforcement (BOEMRE), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMSCA), United States Coast Guard, (USCG), State and Local LP Gas Agencies, the Texas Railroad Commission, and Transport Canada. Her experience includes drafting comments to proposed rules impacting the industry and analysis of legislative initiatives.

Ms. Wright defends energy clients in litigation resulting from rupture, leak, fire and explosion in state and federal courts. She has handled litigation in California, Colorado, Illinois, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Mexico, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Texas, Utah, and Wisconsin.

Court Memberships

• Illinois
• Kansas
• Missouri
• U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan
• U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin
• U.S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri
• Admitted Pro Hac Vice to handle litigation in Colorado, Minnesota, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon and Utah

Professional Affiliations

• Propane Gas Defense Association
• Adjunct Professor, UMKC School of Law

Publications

• Author, “Not just paperwork - Know how to handle regulatory citations, the implications for litigation,” LPGas Magazine, March 2010

Presentations

• Speaker, Audit Survival Guide, Common Ground Alliance Annual Safety Conference, March 6, 2012
• Speaker, Deposing the Difficult Witness and Handling Opposing Counsel Antics, Missouri Bar CLE, August 26, 2011
• Moderator, Annual Energy Symposium, 2009-2010
• Faculty, Advanced Trial College, The Missouri Bar, 2008-2010
• Speaker, Preparing for Your First Civil Trial, Missouri Bar, 2010
• Speaker, Regulatory Citations and Implications for Litigation, Propane Gas Defense Association - October 1, 2009
• Speaker, Taking and Defending Effective Depositions, UMKC School of Law CLE Program, 2009, 2011
• Speaker, Hancock Challenges, Missouri Municipal Attorneys Association - July 17, 2009