William K. Fahey
Awarded Practice Areas
Administrative / Regulatory Law Appellate Practice Energy Law Energy Regulatory Law Land Use and Zoning Law Litigation - Land Use and Zoning Litigation - Municipal Municipal Law Utilities Law
Biography
William K. Fahey is a Michigan lawyer serving public utilities and municipalities for more than 32 years. He represents electric and natural gas utilities in administrative, regulatory, commercial and appellate matters, and has been involved in nearly every major matter affecting Michigan public utilities over the last three decades.
Mr. Fahey has represented more than 100 Michigan municipalities throughout Michigan, both as municipal attorney and as special counsel, principally handling municipal utility projects, land use regulation and zoning, municipal boundary proceedings, intergovernmental agreements, special municipal athorities, litigation and appeals.
Mr. Fahey has represented more than 100 Michigan municipalities throughout Michigan, both as municipal attorney and as special counsel, principally handling municipal utility projects, land use regulation and zoning, municipal boundary proceedings, intergovernmental agreements, special municipal athorities, litigation and appeals.
Overview
- University of Wisconsin–Madison, JD, graduated 1977
- University of Wisconsin–Madison, BA, graduated 1974
- University of Wisconsin–Madison, JD, graduated 1977
- University of Wisconsin–Madison, BA, graduated 1974
Client Testimonials
Awards & Focus

Named "Lawyer of the Year" by Best Lawyers® for:
- Municipal Law, Lansing (2024)
- Litigation - Municipal, Lansing (2021)
- Administrative / Regulatory Law, Lansing (2019)
- Municipal Law, Lansing (2018)
- Municipal Law, Lansing (2016)
- Energy Law, Lansing (2015)
Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® 2026 for work in:
- Administrative / Regulatory Law
- Appellate Practice
- Energy Law
- Energy Regulatory Law
- Land Use and Zoning Law
- Litigation - Land Use and Zoning
- Litigation - Municipal
- Municipal Law
- Utilities Law
Additional Areas of Practice:
- Litigation - Real Estate
- Real Estate Law
Special Focus:
- Administrative
- Appellate
- Electricity
- Energy
- Energy Projects
- Environmental
- Litigation
- Municipal
- Oil and Gas
- Public Utility
- Regulatory
- Utilities
- Water
News & Media
Case History
Cases
- National Steel Corp v Public Service Comm
Sixth Circuit upheld state regulation of new service within natural gas utility''s service area.
- Eyde Brothers Development Co v Eaton County Drain Commissioner
Michigan Supreme Court upheld the municipality''s right to use existing road right of way for the installation of sewer and water systems without the approval of the underlying landowner.
- Altman v Meridian Charter Township
Michigan Supreme Court affirmed township''s right to require a road improvement as a condition of subdivision approval.
- English Garden Condominiums, LLC v Howell Township
Michigan Supreme Court upheld right of municipality to seize letter of credit for unfinished land use project.
- City of Taylor v Detroit Edison Company
Michigan Supreme Court held that a city had no authority to force an electric utility to relocate its lines underground without compensation.
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