With a broad electric power offering, Van Ness Feldman LLP routinely handles regulatory issues pertaining to large-scale transmission projects, interconnection matters, and wholesale market operations, among others. The firm also stands out for its hydropower capabilities, assisting clients with licensing and relicensing as well as representing them before authorities such as FERC and EPA. Joseph Nelson in Washington DC and Malcolm McLellan in Seattle jointly head the electric practice and are well versed in matters spanning the full spectrum of electric power issues, including enforcement actions and investigations. DC’s Mike Swiger, who acts as head of the firm’s hydropower practice, counts investor-owned utilities, municipal utilities, and independent power developers among his clients, for whom he handles both non-contentious and litigious matters. Douglas Smith, former General Counsel of FERC, is another key practitioner in the DC regulatory group.
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- 'There are multiple resources within the firm to draw on. They are willing to strategize, not simply execute a work product. Good collaboration between the attorneys.'
- 'Malcolm McLellan has been incredibly effective and willing to go the extra mile in his work. Doug Smith was very helpful and generous with his expertise.'
Key clients
- Drax Group
- Idaho Power Company
- California Department of Water Resources
- Confederated Salish & Kootenai Tribes
- Energy Keepers, Inc.
- New York Power Authority
- Grid United
- Avangrid Renewables
- EDP Renewables NA, LLC
- EDP Renewables NA Distributed Generation, LLC
- ConnectGen LLC
- Puget Sound Energy
Work highlights
- Advised Drax on federal energy and environmental regulation applicable to bioenergy projects with carbon capture and storage projects, as well as the existing wholesale and retail electricity markets in the target regions for BECCS facilities.
- Advised Grid United on compliance with federal energy regulatory requirements, wholesale market operations, transmission planning, and interconnection matters and federal energy policy initiatives at the Department of Energy promoting high voltage transmission systems.
- Serving as relicensing, regulatory, and compliance counsel to the California Department of Water Resources for the FERC-licensed hydroelectric components of the State Water Project.
Practice head
The lawyer(s) leading their teams.
Joseph Nelson, Malcolm McLellan, Mike Swiger