Mr Robert Shapiro > Norton Rose Fulbright US LLP > Washington DC, United States > Lawyer Profile

Norton Rose Fulbright advises on energy regulatory matters at both the state and federal level, alongside various regional renewable energy compliance programs. The firm is regularly involved in representing clients before FERC, NERC and other state regulatory agencies on matters arising under federal and state statutes and implementing regulations such as the Federal Power Act. The team, which is based in Washington DC and Houston, were responsible for representing Matrix Renewables USA, LLC, where it worked with the company in relation to the financing and acquisition of a 105MWac solar plus 80-MWh energy storage Gaskell West 2 and 3 from Canadian Solar Inc. Robert Shapiro , is the principal regulatory partner and has negotiated numerous power contracts and led some high-profile regulatory cases that have helped shape the US independent power market. Caileen Kateri Gamache offers a full service in regulatory work including PPA negotiations, interconnection agreements and regulatory findings, while Joseph Williams  regularly represents clients on regulatory, compliance and enforcement matters before FERC and the CFTC.

The renewables offering at Norton Rose Fulbright is jointly led by US projects team co-heads Keith Martin in Washington DC and Benjamin Koenigsberg in New York, and has a strong track record advising clients on complex and high-value project financing issues, including the formation of joint ventures and the whole range of tax equity matters. Martin has complementary experience lobbying both Congress and the Treasury Department on renewable energy matters, while Koenigsberg’s practice focuses on offshore wind. New York-based Todd Alexander acts for lenders and developers involved in projects from wind and solar to biomass, biofuel, and clean coal. The team also includes regulatory specialists Caileen Kateri Gamache in Houston and Robert Shapiro in Washington DC, while Becky Diffen in Austin stands out for her M&A work in the sector. The firm’s reach was further extended with the opening of an office in Chicago, where Sameer A. Ghaznavi, who arrived from DLA Piper LLP (US) in February 2022, is noted for his expertise in the development, acquisition and sale of energy and infrastructure projects. Another notable arrival in 2022 is Washington-based tax lawyer Hilary Lefko from Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP. Robert Eberhardt and Ikenna Emehelu, both based in New York, left the team in 2022.