Natural gas pipeline companies TransCanada PipeLines Limited, Kern River Gas Transmission Company, Gas Transmission Northwest Corporation, and Portland Natural Gas Transmission System have retained Elrod to represent their interests in the bankruptcy case of energy giant Calpine Corporation.

Each pipeline holds one or more long-term contracts for natural gas pipeline capacity with a Calpine-affiliated company. Collectively, these contracts call for the payment of several hundred million dollars to the pipelines over the term of the agreements. Early in the case, Elrod has handled issues relating to the millions of dollars in assurances held by the pipelines and the interplay of jurisdiction between the bankruptcy court and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

"Each of our pipeline clients brought us into the case from the beginning to advise and handle the many complex issues affecting these important contracts," said David W. Elrod, managing partner of Elrod. "Getting involved in the case early has given us a chance to use our unique combination of bankruptcy court, litigation, and pipeline experience to protect these interests and maximize value to our clients."

Pending in the Southern District of New York, the Calpine bankruptcy case is one of the ten largest in U.S. history, according to BankruptcyData.com, and the largest case filed since the Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act of 2005 went into effect.