Dentons, the world's leading global law firm, today announced an affiliation with EJM Associates to provide strategic advice to clients on a range of energy policy, innovation and security issues. As part of the unique relationship, former US Secretary of Energy and EJM chairman, Ernest  Moniz and principals Joseph Hezir and Melanie Kenderdine are senior advisors to the Firm.

Under the affiliation, EJM and Dentons will assist clients in identifying new energy innovation opportunities; navigating government policies affecting business investment and planning; and providing comprehensive policy, technology, security and geopolitical risk assessment for domestic and international energy projects. The relationship will expand the global reach of services provided by both organizations to address growing changes to the world's complex energy systems.

"This strategic affiliation with EJM Associates strengthens our unique service offerings and global reach for our clients facing numerous complexities and challenges operating in the global energy industry," said Dentons US CEO Mike McNamara.

EJM was founded earlier this year by Moniz, Hezir and Kenderdine, and includes a team with unmatched energy policy expertise and leadership, and a track record that includes successfully running a $30 billion federal agency. EJM  has routinely developed and engaged in significant strategic communications with high-level officials in government, industry organizations and NGOs; been deeply engaged for decades in developing and implementing high-impact global energy policy analyses and innovation initiatives; and served as founders and managers of energy technology and policy organizations.

"Driving change in the world's energy path forward is at its most critical point," said Moniz. "Our partnership with Dentons on legal issues will help us focus on solutions that are effective and pragmatic and Joe, Melanie and I look forward to working with the firm in taking meaningful action on behalf of our clients around the world."

Moniz was the 13th US Secretary of Energy, serving under US President Barack Obama. As Secretary, he advanced energy technology innovation, nuclear security and strategic stability, cutting-edge capabilities for the American scientific research community, and strengthened the Department of Energy's partnership with the Department of Defense. During his tenure, he produced energy policy proposals that attracted bipartisan support, led an international initiative that placed energy science and technology innovation at the center of the global response to climate change, and negotiated alongside the Secretary of State on the historic Iran nuclear agreement.

Moniz joined  the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) faculty in 1973.There, he was the founding director of the MIT Energy Initiative, where he led the launch of new educational programs for energy and established models for industry-faculty engagement. Moniz is currently the Cecil and Ida Green Professor of Physics and Engineering Systems emeritus and special advisor to the MIT President. He is also a non-resident Senior Fellow at the Harvard Belfer Center, a member of the Council on Foreign Relations, a member of the international advisory board of The Atlantic Council, and is currently CEO and chairman of the Washington-based Energy Futures Initiative, Inc., a non-profit dedicated to energy innovation.

Hezir served as chief financial officer and senior advisor to the secretary of energy from 2013-2017 where he led a 200-person organization responsible for the $30 billion Department of Energy budget, including strategic planning, programming, budget formulation and budget execution. During his tenure, Hezir led the analytical work, advocacy and negotiations processes with the Office of Management and Budget and Congress to secure an increase in the Department of Energy Budget of 10 percent. He was a member of the Department of Energy credit review board.

Prior to joining the Department of Energy, Hezir was a senior member of the MIT Energy Initiative; co-founded and served as managing partner of the EOP Group where he provided strategic advice to corporations, non-profit organizations and industry trade associations on environmental, energy and federal budget and regulatory policy; and served as deputy associate director for Energy and Science at the Office of Management and Budget.

Kenderdine previously served as energy counselor to the secretary of energy from 2013-2017 and concurrently as director of the Department of Energy's Office of Energy Policy and Systems Analysis. As counselor, she provided key strategic advice on a broad range of issues, including Mission Innovation, a 22-country and EU initiative that supports transformational clean energy RD&D; North American grid integration and security; and modernization of the Strategic Petroleum Reserve. She led the analysis and development of  two installments of the federal government’s Quadrennial Energy Review and was its primary author, was an architect of the G-7 Energy Security Principles adopted by G-7 leaders in Brussels in 2014 after the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and conceived of and led the analysis and development of  Energy Security Valuation Study, submitted to Congress in early 2017.

Prior to her service at the Department of Energy, Kenderdine helped establish the MIT Energy Initiative and served as its executive director; served as vice president of Washington operations for the Gas Technology Institute and served in several key posts at the Department of Energy during the Clinton administration. Kenderdine is a non-resident senior fellow at the Atlantic Council and is on the Board of OurEnergy Policy.org.

Dentons' global Energy practice includes over 1,000 lawyers and professionals working to provide innovative solutions to clients in the most dynamic energy markets across the world. Dentons' Energy group has consistently received top rankings in leading trade publications including Chambers USA, The Lawyer and Legal 500. In its Guide to Energy and Infrastructure, IFLR1000 ranked Dentons as a Tier 1 firm in seven categories and recognized the firm's work in 15 countries and four regions. Most recently, Who's Who Legal named Dentons its "2017 Energy Firm of the Year" for the third consecutive year.

About EJM

EJM Associates is a strategic consulting firm based in Washington, D.C. EJM offers real-world solutions on energy policy, geopolitical risk assessment and systems innovation. EJM’s leaders are respected across the political divide for their track record of developing government policies in partnership with industry and academia to propel innovation and attract transformative energy investment. www.ejmassociates.energy

About Dentons

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