By Allison Grande

Law360, New York (January 01, 2012, 12:00 AM ET) -- Energy attorneys anticipate an active year in 2012 in energy-related litigation. Challenges to the controversial natural gas extraction technique, hydraulic fracturing, are expected to heat up, while utilities will likely be waging battles over the structure and functionality of the electric utilities markets.

The rapidly changing nature of energy generation also may spark most major disputes in the upcoming year, as the industry mounts legal challenges before both federal courts and the U.S. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, according to attorneys.

“The electricity and gas marketplace is...