Brings Extensive Federal Regulatory Experience in the Electric Utility and Natural Gas Industries.
Foley announced today that Andrea Chambers has joined the firm as a partner in the Washington, D.C. office, working with the Energy Industry Team. Prior to joining Foley, Chambers was a partner at Troutman Sanders LLP.
Chambers focuses her practice on providing regulatory counsel to entities involved in the restructuring of the electric utility and natural gas industries. She has represented utility clients on the development of the independent system operator (ISO) markets that have evolved as Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) regulation has moved from the traditional cost-based regulatory model towards a market-oriented model. She has also led regulatory teams and worked with utilities in achieving compliance under Order No. 890 to enhance open access transmission requirements.
“Andrea has substantial experience with and knowledge of the business challenges that exist within the energy industry and how those challenges are made even more complex by the regulatory environment today,” said James Tynion, chair of Foley’s Energy Industry Team. “She is a welcome addition to our team during a time in which energy is a central issue for businesses and individuals across the globe.”
Chambers previously represented a group of eight utilities in obtaining regulatory approvals to restructure a $3 billion electric market in New York State that resulted in the FERC approval of a comprehensive restructuring of the wholesale electricity market. She served as lead counsel for an energy company in fact-finding proceedings to investigate Enron-type gaming allegations leading up to the California Energy Crisis and also prevailed in litigation regarding payments for reactive power. Most recently, she served as counsel to a Midwestern utility in matters involving open access transmission tariffs, regional transmission planning and generation interconnection, and compliance with NERC reliability standards. In addition to her electric industry experience, she has extensive background in natural gas pipeline rate and certificate matters.
“We are extremely pleased to welcome Andrea to our Washington, D.C. office as the addition of her practice will strengthen what continues to be one of the top energy practices in the market,” said Jay Freedman, managing partner of the firm’s Washington, D.C. office.
“Foley provides me a unique opportunity to expand and grow my practice by leveraging the firm’s national presence and footprint in several of the most important and rapidly emerging energy markets in the country, including Florida and the Midwest,” said Chambers. “There are also countless opportunities for me to grow my practice and offer clients tremendous additional value by leveraging the firm’s deep team of energy attorneys and vast experience with the many issues impacting the industry.”
Foley & Lardner LLP has a long history of working with the energy industry, which dates back to the industry’s origin and has continued through every stage of its development. Our experience spans federal, state, and municipal levels, and includes critical roles in creating energy laws and regulations around the country as well as providing a full range of services to meet the growing legal and regulatory needs of our energy sector clients. We represent electric and gas utilities, wind and solar developers, interstate pipelines and natural gas distributors, power marketers, and energy lenders and investors. Areas where we regularly assist our clients include: corporate and business transactions, investigations and litigation, federal, state and local government regulations and public policy, energy facility development and project finance, and renewables. The team was also nationally recognized among the leading practices in the latest Chambers USA rankings.
Foley & Lardner LLP continually evolves to meet the changing legal needs of our clients. Our team-based approach, proprietary client service technology, and practice depth enhance client relationships while seeing clients through their most complex legal challenges. The BTI Consulting Group (Wellesley, Massachusetts) recently recognized Foley as one of the top four law firms shaping the U.S. legal market, while CIO magazine has named Foley to its CIO 100 list six times for our client-focused technology. With nearly 1,000 attorneys in 21 offices and more than 60 practices, count on Foley for high-caliber business and legal insight.