Benjamin T.Verney (Ben)

Associate

Pittsburgh + 1.412.394.7942

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Ben Verney is a litigator representing clients in complex commercial litigation with experience in energy, construction, and antitrust proceedings. He has assisted a wide range of clients and has significant experience in the energy and health care industries. In addition, Ben has assisted clients in connection with extensive federal and international antitrust reviews and state attorneys general investigations.

Ben's experience serving energy sector clients includes complex commercial disputes as well as construction and pipeline development litigation. He served on a team that successfully defended Texas Keystone against a billion dollar claim for interests in Iraqi Kurdistan oil fields, a claim that involved litigating in federal court, London Commercial Court, and international arbitration. He also served on a team that helped a client reach successful settlement in a $56 million state court claim related to construction costs of a 88-turbine wind farm. Ben has assisted clients gain federal and state antitrust clearance in a number of industries, including health care, telecommunications, aerospace, and food processing. In 2016 he assisted in the defense of Aetna from the federal antitrust challenge to its merger with Humana.

Ben is a member of the Pennsylvania and Allegheny County Bar Associations.

Experience

  • Natural gas producer defends against environmental criminal charges filed by Pennsylvania Attorney GeneralJones Day represented a Marcellus Shale operator in obtaining resolution of misdemeanor environmental criminal charges following a grand jury investigation.
  • Texas Keystone prevails against claim brought by Excalibur VenturesJones Day successfully defended Texas Keystone Inc., a U.S. oil and gas company based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, against Excalibur Ventures' $1.6 billion claim for an interest in various petroleum fields in Iraqi Kurdistan.
  • Exploration and production company disputes design and construction of gas gathering and processing facilitiesJones Day is representing an exploration and production company in a contract dispute with a midstream company regarding the design, engineering, and construction of gas gathering and processing facilities servicing certain wells in Ohio and West Virginia, as well as the design, engineering, and potential future construction of a pipeline.
  • Mehoopany Wind Energy settles litigation with RES America Construction over multi-million dollar wind farm developmentJones Day represented Mehoopany Wind Energy LLC ("MWE"), the owner of a 9,000 acre wind farm in Pennsylvania consisting of 88 wind turbines.
  • Aetna attempts acquisition of HumanaJones Day represented Aetna Inc. as antitrust counsel in its attempted $37 billion acquisition of fellow health insurer Humana Inc.
  • PinnacleHealth and UPMC close transactionJones Day advised PinnacleHealth System in its successful affiliation with the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC).
  • Global systemically important bank (GSIB) conducts risk assessment to determine impact of LIBOR transition on enterprise-wide portfoliosJones Day is advising a GSIB with respect to enterprise-wide portfolios impacted by the LIBOR transition, including conducting portfolio-wide risk impact assessments, analyzing various consumer products, and developing litigation contingency plans.
  • Level 3 obtains antitrust clearance for $34 billion merger with CenturyLinkJones Day represented Level 3 Communications, Inc. in its proposed $34 billion merger with CenturyLink, Inc.
  • PinnacleHealth System and Penn State Hershey attempt to merge Pennsylvania hospitalsJones Day represented PinnacleHealth System and Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center as antitrust counsel in the hospitals' proposed merger.
  • CommScope acquires TE Connectivity's network business for $3 billionJones Day acted as worldwide antitrust counsel to CommScope Holding Company, Inc., a global network infrastructure and connectivity provider based in North Carolina, on its $3 billion acquisition of the Telecom, Enterprise and Wireless business of Switzerland-based electronics company TE Connectivity Ltd.
  • Pilatus resolves aircraft accident cases arising out of 2009 crash of Pilatus PC-12 Legacy aircraftJones Day defended Pilatus Aircraft and Pilatus Business Aircraft Ltd. in aircraft accident cases filed in Los Angeles, California Superior Court.
  • CBS Outdoor Americas acquires premium outdoor advertising business from Van Wagner Communications for $690 millionJones Day advised CBS Outdoor Americas Inc. ("CBSO") on the cash acquisition of certain outdoor advertising business from Van Wagner Communications, LLC for $690 million.
  • ConAgra, Cargill, and CHS form joint venture combining flour milling businesses to create new company, Ardent MillsJones Day advised ConAgra Foods in a joint venture with Cargill Incorporated and CHS Inc. to form Ardent Mills, a new flour milling company that will serve customers in the baking and food industries.
  • Boeing obtains closure of FTC antitrust investigation regarding exclusive supply agreementOn behalf of The Boeing Company, Jones Day obtained the successful closure of a Federal Trade Commission (FTC) antitrust investigation into an exclusive rocket engine supply agreement between RD Amross LLC and United Launch Alliance LLC, a 50-50 joint venture owned by Boeing and Lockheed Martin Corporation.
  • Certain Hostess bread brands and bakeries acquired by Flowers Foods for $355 millionJones Day advised Hostess Brands, Inc. regarding the sale of its Wonder, Merita, Nature's Pride, Home Pride, and Butternut bread brands and associated bakeries to Flowers Foods, Inc. for $355 million.
  • Goodrich merges with industrial conglomerate United Technologies for $18.4 billionJones Day advised Goodrich Corporation in its $18.4 billion merger with United Technologies Corp., marking a major milestone for the company and strengthening its position in the commercial aerospace industry.
  • Latrobe acquired by Carpenter Technology for $558 millionJones Day advised Latrobe Specialty Metals, Inc. in its acquisition by Carpenter Technology Corporation for $558 million.
  • Education Management Corporation defends federal and state False Claims Act allegationsJones Day is defending Education Management Company (EDMC) against a False Claims Act action brought by private relators and joined by the federal government, several states and the District of Columbia.
  • Jones Day negotiates favorable settlement for pro bono client in landlord-tenant disputeJones Day associates Courtney Snyder, Johanna Schwartz Miralles and Ben Verney successfully resolved a claim brought against a residential tenant in the Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas.
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    February 2020 Alerts

    Pennsylvania Supreme Court Endorses Rule of Capture for Hydraulic Fracturing
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