Katherine A. McDowell

Katherine A. McDowell

Portland, OR recognized lawyers icon Recognized in Best Lawyers since 2001
McDowell Rackner Gibson PC

2 Best Lawyers awards

McDowell Rackner Gibson PC logo

Awarded Practice Areas

Energy Law Energy Regulatory Law Litigation - Regulatory Enforcement (SEC, Telecom, Energy)

Biography

Katherine McDowell is an attorney at McDowell Rackner Gibson PC in Portland, Oregon, where her practice centers on Energy Law and Energy Regulatory Law, with a significant focus on litigation involving regulatory enforcement matters. She advises utilities and energy companies on a broad range of regulatory and administrative law issues, including ratemaking, resource development and acquisition, compliance with environmental mandates, industry restructuring, and utility mergers and acquisitions.

Katherine regularly represents clients before state and federal regulatory bodies throughout the western United States, including commissions in Oregon, Washington, Utah, Idaho, Wyoming, Nevada, and Arizona. Her experience also includes matters before the Bonneville Power Administration and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. In addition, she handles litigation and appeals arising from final orders issued by administrative agencies, including Regulatory Enforcement matters involving the SEC, telecommunications, and energy-related issues.

McDowell Rackner Gibson PC

2 Best Lawyers awards

McDowell Rackner Gibson PC logo

Overview

  • The University of Iowa, B.A., graduated 1981
  • Stetson University, J.D., graduated 1989

  • Florida, The Florida Bar
  • Washington, Washington State Bar Association
  • Oregon, Oregon State Bar

  • Oregon State Bar Energy, Telecom, and Utilities Section - Executive Committee Member
  • Florida, The Florida Bar
  • Washington, Washington State Bar Association
  • Oregon, Oregon State Bar
  • Oregon State Bar Energy, Telecom, and Utilities Section - Executive Committee Member
  • The University of Iowa, B.A., graduated 1981
  • Stetson University, J.D., graduated 1989

Client Testimonials

Awards & Focus

Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2025 - Energy Law Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2024 - Energy Regulatory Law Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2023 - Litigation - Regulatory Enforcement (SEC, Telecom, Energy) Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2020 - Litigation - Regulatory Enforcement (SEC, Telecom, Energy) Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2019 - Energy Regulatory Law Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2018 - Energy Law Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2017 - Energy Regulatory Law Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2016 - Energy Law Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2013 - Energy Law
Named "Lawyer of the Year" by Best Lawyers® for:
  • Energy Law, Portland, OR (2025)
  • Energy Regulatory Law, Portland, OR (2024)
  • Litigation - Regulatory Enforcement (SEC, Telecom, Energy), Portland, OR (2023)
  • Litigation - Regulatory Enforcement (SEC, Telecom, Energy), Portland, OR (2020)
  • Energy Regulatory Law, Portland, OR (2019)
  • Energy Law, Portland, OR (2018)
  • Energy Regulatory Law, Portland, OR (2017)
  • Energy Law, Portland, OR (2016)
  • Energy Law, Portland, OR (2013)
Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® 2026 for work in:
  • Energy Law
  • Energy Regulatory Law
  • Litigation - Regulatory Enforcement (SEC, Telecom, Energy)
Additional Areas of Practice:
  • Entertainment Law - Motion Pictures and Television
Special Focus:
  • Public Utility

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