Lisa F. Rackner

Lisa F. Rackner

Portland, OR recognized lawyers icon Recognized in Best Lawyers since 2007
McDowell Rackner Gibson PC

2 Best Lawyers awards

McDowell Rackner Gibson PC logo

Awarded Practice Areas

Administrative / Regulatory Law Communications Law Energy Law Energy Regulatory Law
*Named the "Lawyer of the Year" in this practice area in the 2026 edition in Portland, OR.

Biography

Lisa Rackner is a Portland, Oregon attorney with a practice focused on Administrative / Regulatory Law,Communications Law, Energy Law, and Energy Regulatory Law. She advises natural gas and electric utilities, energy companies, and telecommunications carriers on regulatory compliance, transactions, and policy matters. Lisa regularly appears before the Public Utility Commission of Oregon and the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission, and she has represented clients in proceedings before the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).

After earning her law degree in 1987, Lisa began her legal career at the Portland law firm of Lindsay Hart Neil and Weigler LLP, where she became a partner in 1995. In 2000, she joined Ater Wynne LLP as a partner and later served as Head of the Telecommunications Practice Group and Chair of the Regulated Industries Department. In 2007, Lisa co-founded McDowell & Rackner, which is now McDowell Rackner Gibson PC, where she continues to advise clients on complex regulatory and energy-related matters.

McDowell Rackner Gibson PC

2 Best Lawyers awards

McDowell Rackner Gibson PC logo

Overview

  • Reed College, B.A., graduated 1981
  • New York University, J.D., graduated 1987

  • Washington, Washington State Bar Association
  • Oregon, Oregon State Bar

  • Oregon State Bar Labor and Employment Section - Member
  • Oregon State Bar Energy, Telecom and Utilities Section - Member
  • Washington, Washington State Bar Association
  • Oregon, Oregon State Bar
  • Oregon State Bar Labor and Employment Section - Member
  • Oregon State Bar Energy, Telecom and Utilities Section - Member
  • Reed College, B.A., graduated 1981
  • New York University, J.D., graduated 1987

Client Testimonials

Lisa Rackner's reputation as a skilled and experienced practitioner in the state energy regulatory field is well deserved. She is focused on achieving her clients' desired outcome and has the subject matter knowledge to make it happen. Her people skills are exceptional, allowing for a more nuanced approach when appropriate.

Awards & Focus

Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2026 - Administrative / Regulatory Law Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2024 - Administrative / Regulatory Law Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2020 - Administrative / Regulatory Law Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2016 - Administrative / Regulatory Law
Named "Lawyer of the Year" by Best Lawyers® for:
  • Administrative / Regulatory Law, Portland, OR (2026)
  • Administrative / Regulatory Law, Portland, OR (2024)
  • Administrative / Regulatory Law, Portland, OR (2020)
  • Administrative / Regulatory Law, Portland, OR (2016)
Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® 2026 for work in:
  • Administrative / Regulatory Law
  • Communications Law
  • Energy Law
  • Energy Regulatory Law
Special Focus:
  • Communications
  • Energy
  • Energy
  • Regulatory
  • Telecommunications
  • Utilities
  • VOIP

Your browser is not fully compatible with our automatic printer friendly formatting.

Please use the print button to print this profile page.

Spinning circle Big letter B