Sherry A. Quirk leads Schiff Hardin's Energy and Public Utilities Group and counsels energy companies in a variety of complex and innovative matters. She helps investor-owned utilities, rural electric cooperatives, public power entities, alternative energy developers, casino developers, and other large consumer groups meet their goals through proficient negotiations, transactions, and regulatory and legislative work.

"My goal is to keep the client's best interests at heart and to find the most cost-effective way to achieve the best possible results," she says.

Ms. Quirk is a trusted and experienced adviser who takes the time to listen to her clients before deciding a plan of action. When necessary, she assembles a multidisciplinary team to break down the problem one piece at a time. She has acted as lead counsel in a number of large administrative matters before various agencies.

Ms. Quirk represents clients before the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), the U.S. Department of Energy, Congress, regional power marketing administrations, and various state agencies. She also has significant experience in matters involving Independent System Operators (ISOs) and in handling large energy transactions.

Ms. Quirk continues to act as a trailblazer in novel energy cases and transactions, drawing from her vast knowledge and applying creative solutions when necessary. Her clients benefit from her straightforward and honest approach, as she remains focused on the goals of her clients while also skillfully adapting to new developments in policy and technology.

Experience

• Representing the independent board of directors of the Texas Reliability Entity (TRE), which enforces national reliability standards within the Electric Reliability Council of Texas. The TRE board was presented with an enforcement case involving an alleged violation of reliability standards – the first of its kind to be litigated on the regional entity level. In this groundbreaking case, Ms. Quirk and her team advised the TRE board and drafted a proposed decision for their review.


• Leading a team that represented ISO New England through litigation, appeals and various refinements of the forward capacity market design established for the region. Ms. Quirk gained a deep understanding of the technical and economic context in which electricity markets are established during this significant case.


• Represents wholesale purchasers of power in proceedings at FERC in which key terms of pricing and service are established, and in wholesale rate proceedings.


• Acting as counsel to an ISO on numerous proceedings related to the development and implementation of regional power markets.


• Serving as lead counsel for an ISO in a significant proceeding before FERC involving development of the regional capacity market, resulting in the achievement of a successful result for client.


• Assisting an ISO in establishing regional capacity requirements.


• Representing wholesale purchasers of power in proceedings before FERC in which key terms of pricing and service are established, and in wholesale rate proceedings.


• Representing various entities in merger proceedings at FERC


• Negotiating significant power supply arrangements for wholesale and retail customers.


• Negotiating a 5-year $600 million power transaction in 2010.


• Representing Southeastern Power Administration customers in various legislative and administrative matters.


• Assisting developers in the negotiation of contracts with utilities and service providers for the delivery of electricity and other energy services to casinos and associated hotels, retail malls, convention centers, and theatres.

Publications

"Resource Adequacy: Texas Initiatives and NERC Concerns," (co-author) Energy Manager Today (March 12, 2013)

Speeches and Presentations

"What Should the Northwest Consider as it Faces Greater FERC Involvement in the Northwest?" (co-presenter) 19^th Annual FERC Briefing, Portland, Ore. (June 5, 2013)

"Electric Industry Hot Topics – Generation and Markets," 19^th Annual FERC Briefing, Westminster, Colo. (May 22, 2013)

Pro Bono Activities

Ms. Quirk co-founded First Star, an organization dedicated to improving the lives of abused and neglected children by strengthening their rights and promoting necessary reforms. Among its many initiatives, First Star develops report cards to address issues affecting children, including inadequate representation of children in dependency courts, state secrecy and child deaths.

First Star also collaborated with several universities to establish summer academies for children in foster care on college campuses and to provide foster youth with the resources and encouragement needed to attend college. First Star is also pursuing the establishment of a virtual institute to promote collaboration and research on the root causes of child abuse and trauma.

Previous Experience

While still in law school, Ms. Quirk started working for an energy firm. After graduating, she served as a law clerk to administrative law judges at FERC and later worked at the FERC's Office of Opinions and Reviews.

Prior to joining Schiff Hardin, Ms. Quirk was a partner at a national general practice law firm, and earlier at a national law firm that merged with a global law firm.

Awards and Honors

AV Rated — Martindale-Hubbell

Best Lawyers in America, Energy Law

Washington, D.C. Super Lawyers – Energy & Natural Resources

Washington, D.C. Super Lawyers, Top 50 Women Lawyers (2007)