Biography
Steven R. Miles is a fellow in global natural gas for the Center for Energy Studies. His research includes energy transition issues related to LNG, natural gas markets, renewable energy and energy storage. Miles also serves as senior counsel at Baker Botts LLP, where he headed the LNG team for much of his 35 years as a lawyer. In addition to LNG, his practice focused on natural gas, electric power and renewable energy. While a partner at Baker Botts, Miles chaired the firm’s Energy Sector Committee and served for six years on the firm’s Executive Committee.
Miles has previously served as a member of the board of directors of the Association of International Petroleum Negotiators (AIPN), as well as co-chair of the 200-member AIPN LNG Committee, which published a model LNG master sales agreement for use by the LNG industry. He has been a member of the program committee for LNG17, LNG18 and LNG19 and continues to be a member for LNG 2022. He has also served on the advisory board for Energy Law 360.
While living in Saudi Arabia, Miles founded what is now the Baker Botts Saudi Arabia office. He managed the Middle East practice for two law firms for 10 years, and served as outside legal counsel for the National U.S. Arab Chamber of Commerce for a decade.
Miles has achieved the highest ranking in his field by several leading publications, including Chambers Global, and Chambers USA’s Guide to America’s Leading Business Lawyers (Band 1, LNG 2019); the Guide to the World’s Leading Energy & Natural Resource Lawyers, (“Leading Practitioner” 2016-17, and “Global Elite Thought Leader” 2018-19); Legal 500 U.S. (“Leading Lawyer, Energy Transactions” 2016-17; “Hall of Fame” 2018-19); Best Lawyers in America – Oil and Gas Law (2019). In 2017 he received the Finance Monthly Global Award for “Energy Lawyer of the Year, USA.”
Miles received his J.D. and MBA degrees from Cornell University in 1984, and his B.A. degree summa cum laude from Union College in 1980.
Contact at Steven.R.Miles@rice.edu or 703-505-9150.
Recent Publications
Baker Institute Energy Fellows Appear on Shale Magazine's 'In the Oil Patch'
Center for Energy Studies fellows Steven R. Miles and Gabriel Collins joined Shale Magazine's 'In the Oil Patch' radio show to discuss European gas supply in light of Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
Permian, Appalachian Basins Biggest Players in NatGas Production Increase, IEA Says
A new IEA report found the EU is exposed to LNG spot market price increases — but, with some gas contracts set to expire in the next few years, the situation is even worse than the agency describes, says fellow Steven Miles.
Reliable European Demand Fuels U.S. Natural Gas Boom
U.S. natural gas production has reached an all-time high compared to a decade ago. It's a boom in the industry that has since experienced steady growth following Russia's reduction of shipments to Europe in summer 2021, fellow Steven Miles explained.
External Publications
- “China’s Big Gas Bet Raises Questions About Complicity With Russia,” Foreign Policy, June 12, 2023.
Presentations
- “Outlook 2023: America’s Role in Global Gas Security” in Petroleum Economist. Nov. 23, 2022.
- US Department of Energy Workshop on Natural Gas for a Sustainable Future. Presentation, October 2022.
- Can Energy Security and Climate Goals Coexist? Presentation at GasTech 2022. Sept. 5, 2022.
- Gas Geoeconomics Essential to Win the “Long War” in Ukraine — and Asia. PowerPoint associated with the Baker Institute report on “Winning the Long War in Ukraine Requires Gas Geoeconomics.” Sept. 22, 2022.