Energy and Public Utilities

Schiff Hardin represents electric utilities, municipal and cooperative electric suppliers, electric "merchant" generators, electric and natural gas marketers, natural gas and petroleum pipelines, natural gas local distribution companies, and other energy companies in virtually all aspects of applicable regulatory law. Schiff Hardin's energy lawyers participate actively in its Corporate and Securities, Finance, Litigation, Construction, and Environmental practices to provide a seamless array of services — transactional, counseling, regulatory and litigation — to address the legal needs of its diverse energy industry clients.

Schiff Hardin serves clients in regulatory matters before federal agencies and state utility regulatory commissions involving the electric and natural gas industries. These matters include:

Rate cases
Complaints
Tariff matters
Certificate applications
Rulemakings
Supply contracts
Infrastructure matters
Electric restructuring matters
Electric reliability
Mergers and acquisitions
Enforcement proceedings and investigations
Other types of regulatory proceedings

Schiff Hardin also represents clients seeking judicial review of regulatory decisions in state and federal courts. The energy litigation practice is actively engaged in representing energy companies in regulatory and commercial disputes (including class actions) before state and federal courts, through alternative dispute resolution mechanisms, and in arbitration. The energy finance practice represents energy companies and financial institutions (including underwriters) in debt and equity financings, transactional matters, and options, commodities and futures markets.

Schiff Hardin also has substantial experience functioning as inside counsel for energy companies. For many years, our partners have served as general counsel and deputy general counsel for energy companies and have worked closely with both large and small in-house legal staffs. Through our experience serving as inside counsel, we have acquired a deep understanding of the energy industry and understand the timing and budget pressures under which in-house counsel work. We also know how to work strategically with other law firms and company advisors when acting as outside counsel.

Our preeminence in energy law is evidenced by the fact that Chambers USA has recognized our energy practice in its annual rankings for the past four years. In addition, two of our attorneys were named Leading Lawyers by Chambers USA in their respective states.