John E. Matthews

John helps clients navigate the unique insurance and liability issues associated with the ownership and operation of nuclear assets under US and international nuclear liability regimes. He directs litigation teams in contested licensing proceedings before the NRC and in complex commercial litigation involving nuclear assets. John also provides counsel in commercial transactions involving the acquisition and/or financing of nuclear assets. Engagements include the development of the South Texas Project, Units 3&4, and the sale of Zion station to ZionSolutions for decommissioning.

Additionally, John advises on the internal restructurings of electric utilities holding reactor licenses and on acquisitions or sales of companies holding NRC and/or Agreement State nonreactor nuclear licenses. He counsels clients through the development of new nuclear power plant projects, and advises individual utilities and industry groups regarding NRC rulemaking activities and other nuclear regulatory issues. John has represented clients in NRC hearings relating to the licensing of the South Texas Project, Units 3&4, the Mixed Oxide Fuel Fabrication Facility, numerous contested license transfer proceedings, license amendment proceedings, and contested import/export license proceedings.

He periodically speaks at industry conferences regarding nuclear asset transfer issues, decommissioning issues and FOCD issues.

• Represented a utility in asset sale of commercial nuclear reactor, including $800M+ trust fund, for purposes of accelerated decommissioning
• Represented a contractor in acquisition of special purpose entity owning commercial nuclear, including $500M+ trust fund, for purposes of accelerated decommissioning
• Represented a U.S. utility entering into two marketing agreements for inventory of uranium, uranium hexafluoride, and enriched uranium product (one with the marketing arm of a major supplier, and one with an international uranium trading company)
• Represented an international uranium supplier in dispute over terms of uranium supply contract with Asian utility seeking to invoke force majeure provisions
• Represented a U.S. utility regarding disposition of various fuel supply contracts for a prematurely shutdown reactor site
• Represented a U.S. utility negotiating agreement among owners of commercial nuclear reactors regarding governance of $4B decommissioning project
• Represented a contractor entering into $75M+ fixed price arrangement to assume NRC licensed responsibility for performance of commercial nuclear reactor decommissioning
• Represented a U.S. utility in sale of operating commercial nuclear reactor, including $745M trust fund
• Represented multiple U.S. utilities in obtaining NRC approval for corporate restructurings, involving transfer of control of reactor licenses
• Represented a U.S. utility on nuclear regulatory matters relating to merger/acquisition of utility
• Represented an international utility evaluating a $20B international financing package for development of new commercial nuclear reactors
• Represented utility in sale of two unit commercial nuclear reactor site, including $900M trust fund, for purposes of accelerated decommissioning