Utilities 

Deregulation, restructuring, merger, bypass, legislative studies, customer choice, cash flow, new source funding, reasonable return on equity, trial court litigation; the winds of change are piling new problems on utilities.  More traditional issues, such as administrative hearings, rate designs, service territory, financing and local political issues also challenge the industry. 

We understand from our years of experience the history of utility operations and regulations; and we have studied in detail the options available to meet the changing deregulated utility environment. We are prepared to assist you in solving your utility problems. Whether you are a small water and sewer utility, a large municipality, a natural gas distributor, an electricity generator, a local exchange carrier, an internet service provider, a cable franchise or an aggregator of customers, we understand the dilemmas you face.

Water and Sewer:

• Formation and start-up of local and regional entities
• Financing and rates for established entities
• Expansion of service areas and systems
• Strategic planning for growth and expansion
• Environmental permits
• Condemnation and construction litigation

Energy - Electric and Natural Gas:

• Formation and certification of start-up entities
• Financing and rates for established entities
• Strategic planning for growth, acquisitions and mergers
• Contract negotiations and customer complaints
• Deregulation, relaxed regulation, and bypass strategies
• Siting and zoning

Communications Technology:

• Formation and certification of CLECs
• Financing and rates for established entities
• Consumer complaints and service issues
• Interconnection and TA '96 compliance
• Rate, tariff and service standard issues
• Wireless siting and zoning issues
• Cable franchise and overbuild strategies
• Internet Service Provider service issues

All Utilities:

• Public affairs and public policy
• Tax, corporate structure and succession planning
• Employee benefits and labor relations
• Green initiatives, including certification, sustainability, energy management, clean technology and construction issues
• Complex contract issues
• Creditors' rights, workouts and litigation
• Debt and equity facilities
• Protection of intellectual property
• Litigation in state and federal trial and appellate courts

With the extensive experience of our Utilities Group, you have the essential connections. We'll work with your in-house counsel or local counsel to help you deal with today's issues and seize tomorrow's opportunities.