The Legal 500 > United States > United States > Energy regulation: conventional power

McGuireWoods LLP represents a substantial amount of major utility companies in the US, covering regulatory matters in the transmission, generation and customer-facing segments. The group is notably strong in energy enforcement work including rate cases, and is also at the forefront of new market issues including fuel security mandates; in a recent highlight, the team acted for Exelon in a reliability-must-run case to keep its Mystic Generating Plant operational. The practice is also a key name for organized market design and tariff matters. Todd Mullins and Noel Symons are prominent names in the market and lead the group; Mullins is noted for Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) enforcement cases and Symons is recognised for his expertise in organized market design and tariffs work, regional transmission organization (RTO) issues and cost allocation matters. Julia English is a key name at senior counsel level. All named individuals are based in Washington DC.

Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP has extensive expertise in the conventional power sector and remains active in enforcement matters. It is also noted for its leading position in the nuclear segment and regularly handles second license renewals and decommissioning programs. The regulatory aspects of oil, natural gas and gas-fired generation projects are also central to the practice. Kathryn Sutton is a key figure for nuclear industry regulatory matters, while Steve Spina is a primary contact for electric utilities and other electricity sector organizations, frequently representing clients before FERC; both are based in Washington DC. San Francisco-based practitioner William Kissinger is another key name to note.

Van Ness Feldman LLP's electric practice is central to the firm with a number of former FERC and US Department of Energy practitioners operating within the partnership and wider ranks. The practice is primarily focused on representing clients before FERC, including acting for competitive electricity transmission developers and participants in the new energy imbalance market in the Western US. The group is also frequently singled out for its transactional regulatory expertise and fields a highly regarded hydropower regulatory practice. Joseph Nelson is noted for electric project development work and is recommended for representing clients before FERC, as is Douglas Smith, who is coordinator of the electric practice. Julia Wood and Mike Swiger are key figures in the hydroelectric market, Jessica Friedman is 'fantastic and very responsive', and Vincenzo Franco joined the team from Exelon. Named partners are based in Washington DC.

Baker Botts L.L.P. is highly regarded in the energy sector with its conventional power regulatory practice covering traditional electrical energy regulation and litigation, the regulatory aspects of transactions and financings, and the development of energy infrastructure projects in the US. The group is also increasingly involved in hydroelectric licensing and compliance matters before FERC. Clients range from major US utilities to new market entrants and private equity-backed generation and transmission portfolio companies. Washington DC partner Jay Ryan co-chairs the energy regulatory practice and frequently represents clients before FERC and the Department of Energy; he is a key contact for hydroelectric licensing and compliance issues. Houston's Jim Barkley is also a key name and heads up the global projects group, and DC-based special counsel Emil Barth well regarded in the space. Brooksany Barrowes departed to Kirkland & Ellis LLP.

Bracewell LLP has extensive experience before FERC, the DoE, the CFTC, the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) and other regional entities. The practice has a notable reputation in the energy field, backed up by key regulatory credentials. It also has a strong record in rate and centralized market issues and is singled out for its hydroelectric capabilities. Catherine McCarthy heads up the firm's energy regulatory department and has experience in obtaining FERC and other state approvals for major projects and transactions. Austin-based partner Deanna King has extensive transmission regulation experience and is active in the California independent system operator market. Paul Wight is noted for design and operations matters, Stephen Hug was promoted to partner in early 2019, and Michael Brooks is praised for his knowledge of wholesale markets. Named partners are based in Washington DC unless stated otherwise.

K&L Gates has extensive experience in regulatory proceedings, including tax recovery, fuel security, new rule making and cost allocation matters. The practice is primarily split between Washington DC and Seattle. Donald Kaplan is noted for handling antitrust and economic regulation issues in the energy sector including mandates before FERC. William Keyser is the coordinator of the power practice and frequently represents clients before FERC, the DoE, federal and state courts, and state public utility commissions; he is 'a terrific and impressive lawyer'. Seattle-based Elizabeth Thomas and Kari Vander Stoep are singled out for energy and water regulation work including matters linked to transactions and project developments in the hydropower industry. Seattle's David Hattery advises on the regulatory aspects of major thermal power plants and renewable energy facilities. Individuals are based in Washington DC unless stated otherwise.

Latham & Watkins LLP has a varied practice in the power generation sphere, maintaining a high volume of M&A advice alongside increasing levels of FERC enforcement work. Offtake and hedging work is another area of strength for the team, which has notable expertise in independent power matters and is building its practice in traditional utilities and merchant transmission issues. David Schwartz is a leader in utility M&A, while Natasha Gianvecchio is noted for power generation M&A, enforcement issues and offtake and hedging work. Tyler Brown is an emerging talent and made partner in early 2020, and Michael Gergen covers conventional and renewable energy regulation.

McDermott Will & Emery LLP established itself as a major player in the energy sector in early 2020 with the recruitment of market leaders David Tewksbury, Neil Levy and the team from King & Spalding LLP. The group is highly rated for merchant generation work and has an substantial track record in transactions and market rules. Bruce Richardson and counsel Stephanie Lim are also key practitioners

Vinson & Elkins LLP combines standalone regulatory credentials with a strong track record in transactional regulatory matters. The team frequently represents clients before FERC, the DoE, the North American Electric Reliability Corporation and RTOs. Before FERC, the practice has experience in transmission issues, transaction approvals, litigation and enforcement proceedings. The group has traditionally represented major utilities, and has recently expanded its focus to act for a growing number of investors seeking to acquire regulated assets. Washington DC's John Decker has a key reputation in transactional and standalone regulatory matters, while Jo Ann Biggs in Dallas is an established name for electric utility regulatory mandates. Promoted to the partnership in 2019, Dallas-based Jaren Taylor regularly advises on electric transmission lines in Texas. James Seegers and Anita Wilson are the key contacts and are based in Houston and Washington DC, respectively.

Winston & Strawn LLP has key regulatory experience, which is enhanced by its team, which fields former FERC and Commodities Futures Trading Commission officials. The practice regularly handles regulatory approvals for transactions, enforcement and compliance issues, and matters regarding structural changes in the market; it is also noted for its knowledge of the California regulatory environment. The group also has experience in the hydroelectric field and continues to expand its presence in the nuclear market. It primarily focuses on clients in the merchant market including power marketers, merchant generation players and investors. Michael Yuffee is a former FERC official with expertise in enforcement defense, compliance and transactional matters. Joe Karp leads the California energy practice from San Francisco and frequently represents clients in proceedings before the California Public Utilities Commission. San Francisco's Lisa Cottle and Richard Shutran in New York are also rated, while William Horin is a notable figure in the nuclear sector. John Whittaker retired. Named partners are based in Washington DC unless stated otherwise.

Arnold & Porter has a notable reputation in the regulatory field, which is particularly prominent in the conventional power sector; it also has an extensive track record in proceedings before FERC. Sandra Rizzo is an experienced figure in regulatory and compliance engagements, and frequently represents clients in enforcement and administrative proceedings before FERC and the courts. Brian Israel, who leads the environmental practice group, also contributes to the team. Both are based in Washington DC.

Greenberg Traurig LLP's expansive geographic presence across the US has enabled it to develop a broad conventional power regulatory practice. The group represents a client roster which encompasses a variety of public utilities, independent power producers, marketers, private equity investors, investment banks, cooperatives. Key areas of expertise include ratemaking, rulemaking and market structure proceedings, ISO and RTO matters, and certificate and licensing proceedings. Gregory Lawrence splits his time between Boston and Washington DC, and regularly represents clients before FERC and a variety of state utility commissions; he also has extensive experience in market manipulation issues, fraud enforcement investigations and regulatory compliance work. Boston-based John DeTore is also highly rated by clients for New England matters. William Garner in Houston and Kenneth Minesinger in Washington DC co-chair the energy and natural resources group, and Iskender Catto in New York leads the power industry projects and restructuring practice.

Hogan Lovells US LLP represents a range of electric utilities and other market participants before FERC, other regulatory entities and the courts. It has extensive experience in transactional and project development regulatory issues and FERC investigations including market rule violations. Daniel Stenger is an experienced nuclear energy specialist and frequently obtains licenses and regulatory approvals from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) and DoE. Senior counsels Mary Anne Sullivan and John Lilyestrom are also key names. All named individuals are based in Washington DC.

Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP's core team handles a mix of transactional support and standalone regulatory work, with ratemaking, rulemaking and enforcement cases being core to the practice. The group is also particularly strong at representing clients before FERC, the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT) and the Virginia State Corporation Commission. While it has historically advised ISOs, the practice has recently grown its client base of electric utilities. Myles Reynolds leads the practice from Dallas and represents natural gas utilities, midstream companies, electric utilities, and other energy businesses;  he frequently acts in proceedings before PUCT and FERC. Tab Urbantke in Dallas regularly handles the risk and regulatory aspects of project developments and capital markets and commercial energy transactions. In New York and Richmond, Kevin Jones focuses on the electric sector, and Washington DC's Deidre Duncan is a key figure for environmental issues.

Jones Day operates across the electric utilities, energy trading and marketing , and competitive merchant generation and transmission entity fields. It has an established record in FERC litigation and compliance work, and has substantial experience in Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) matters.  David Applebaum is singled out for FERC enforcement and compliance mandates; he joined from Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP in early 2019. James Beh also has key experience in representing a variety of power-sector players before FERC. Both partners are based in Washington DC, and Houston-based Jeffrey Schlegel leads the global energy practice.

Kirkland & Ellis LLP has established credentials in the energy sector with the recruitment of Robert Fleishman in 2018 and Brooksany Barrowes in 2019; Barrowes is highly regarded in the industry and joined from Baker Botts L.L.P. The well-regarded senior team frequently represents clients, including major energy players, and private equity houses and their portfolio companies, before FERC, DoE, Nuclear Regulatory Commission and CFTC. Andrew Stuyvenberg is a key name at the associate level.

Norton Rose Fulbright US LLP is highly rated for its renewable energy expertise and is active in matters which span conventional power and alternative energy. The team advises a range of energy clients on compliance and enforcement matters, with notable experience in the development of open-access electric transmission tariffs; it also has extensive experience in market design regulatory proceedings. On the transactional side, the team frequently advised on the regulatory aspects of the acquisition and financing of power projects. Robert Shapiro is an experienced figure in DC in defending long-term power contracts before regulatory agencies and the courts; and DC-based Joseph Williams specialises in regulatory, compliance and enforcement matters before FERC and the CFTC. Power and battery storage expert Becky Diffen joined the Austin office from McGuireWoods LLP in mid-2019, and Anna Biegelsen is a key senior associate in Washington DC. Keith Martin and Benjamin Koenigsberg jointly lead the projects group from DC and New York, respectively, and John Mauel in Houston is global co-head of the energy practice.

Paul Hastings LLP is rated for its regulatory expertise associated with large-scale power projects and battery storage programs. The group also has extensive experience before FERC, including handling transmission rate cases and enforcement proceedings. Washington DC-based William DeGrandis heads up the energy regulatory team and has substantial experience in energy regulatory, litigation and transactional mandates. San Francisco partner Peter Weiner leads the California energy team and regularly advises on the regulatory aspects of large-scale projects. Washington DC's Michael Spafford is highly rated for enforcement matters.