Group Brings Extensive Regulatory Experience in the Public Utility Sector.
Foley announced today that a group of attorneys led by former Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) Chairman Edward Hurley has joined the firm’s Energy Industry Team and will reside in the Chicago office. In addition to Hurley who joins as a partner, the group includes of counsel Theodore Eidukas and associate Jerry Brown. All three most recently practiced with Chicago firm Chico & Nunes P.C.
“These attorneys have well-deserved reputations for excellence in electric and telecommunications regulatory work, as each of them has handled many complex litigation matters and significant proceedings before the Illinois Commerce Commission,” said Bradley Jackson, vice chair of Foley’s Energy Industry Team and head of the firm’s energy regulatory practice. “With public and government interest in the energy industry as prevalent as ever, the deep understanding of the business and legal challenges facing today’s utilities that this group brings will be a tremendous asset to our clients. We are excited to welcome them to the team.”
The arrival of Hurley, Eidukas and Brown marks the latest move in the continued expansion of Foley’s Chicago office. It comes on the heels of the recent addition of Ralph Dudziak to the firm’s Finance & Financial Institutions Practice and seven former Lovells LLP attorneys to the Insurance & Reinsurance Litigation Practice.
“The addition of these accomplished attorneys helps solidify Foley’s standing as the firm that’s uniquely positioned to address the broad array of issues impacting companies in the growing energy industry,” said Mark Prager, managing partner of Foley’s Chicago office. “Their arrival, combined with the other eight talented attorneys we have added recently to the Chicago office, highlights our success and reputation in the Chicago business and legal community.”
“The opportunity to operate from a national platform, particularly at this time when there is a virtual explosion of new developments in the energy industry, is in large part what attracted us to Foley,” said Hurley. “Over the years we have enjoyed working with Foley attorneys and look forward to joining its nationally recognized energy team.”
Hurley has extensive experience in public utility regulation. Over a sixteen year period he held several positions including Chairman, Commissioner, and Administrative Law Judge with the ICC. During his tenure at the ICC, Hurley was involved in the resolution of complex issues impacting Illinois businesses, including the deregulation of the electric energy markets, the process for procurement of electricity by electric utilities, and mergers and acquisitions of electric, natural gas, and telecommunications utilities. He was also active with the National Association of Utility Commissioners, where he served on the Board of Directors and the Water Committee. In these roles, Hurley became involved in national regulatory issues, including requirements imposed upon utilities operating in newly competitive markets.
Eidukas’ practice focuses on regulatory matters, complex commercial litigation, and employment litigation. He has extensive experience representing clients in a variety of complex litigation matters, including defense of employment discrimination claims; defense of defamation claims; enforcement of restrictive covenants; defense of class actions in the consumer and financial services areas; breach of contract disputes; insurance coverage, and intellectual property.
Brown focuses his practice on regulatory matters and has handled contract modifications, rate increases, and approval of affiliated interest contracts for public utilities before the ICC. His extensive trial and arbitration experience includes a wide variety of matters, including breach of contract, commercial paper fraud, housing discrimination, real estate litigation, Freedom of Information Act claims, personal injury defense, and equitable remedy actions.
Foley 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 energy practices in the latest Chambers USA rankings.
Foley & Lardner LLP continually evolves to meet the changing legal needs of our clients. In a recent survey of Fortune 1000 corporate counsel*, Foley ranked first for superior client service and value. We also were named to the InformationWeek 500 list for four consecutive years for our client-focused technology. With nearly 1,000 attorneys in 21 offices and more than 60 practices, Foley strives to provide high-caliber business and legal insight. 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)