Best Lawyers in America for Energy Law
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Mike Childers has a unique combination of comprehensive experience in complex energy transactional matters and in executive management roles with an international power generation company and an international heavy civil construction company. He draws on his years in executive management roles for insights into the business strategies and goals of clients. Mike supports clients on the project development and construction of utility-scale solar and wind facilities with and without battery stor...
For more than a decade, I have worked to understand how environmental law impacts my clients. Identifying problems is only a part of what I do; what I most enjoy, and what my clients value, is finding solutions. For me, practicing law is about helping real people and businesses to succeed in an increasingly competitive marketplace. My early career as a lawyer prepared me to provide effective, commonsense guidance. I have closed asset purchases, conducted corporate due diligence, and served as...
Patrick J. Ferguson is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Energy Law and Energy Regulatory Law. Patrick J., who practices law in San Francisco, California, has been recognized since 2020. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Patrick J. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Jim Salerno focuses his practice in all stages of development for constructing and financing domestic and international energy and infrastructure projects. He represents developers, sponsors, investors and lenders in structuring and negotiating renewable power, energy storage, carbon capture, renewables, geothermal, hydro and nuclear generation projects, including the drafting and negotiation of project documents and related financing. Jim also represents lenders in domestic PPPs and clients ...
Since 1995, Richard “Chip” Thompson has represented energy companies in their development, acquisition and sale, and ownership and operation of energy projects. These projects include natural gas, solar, wind, biomass, transmission, battery storage, gas pipelines, and other energy projects located across the United States and abroad (including in Europe, South America, Asia, Africa, and the Middle East). Chip’s expertise includes structuring, negotiating, and drafting the va...
Dillon J. Ferguson is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Energy Law. Dillon J., who practices law in Austin, Texas, has been recognized since 2019. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Dillon J. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Dana Shelton is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Administrative / Regulatory Law, Energy Law, Energy Regulatory Law and Utilities Law. Dana, who practices law in New Orleans, Louisiana, has been recognized since 2020. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Dana is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Anita Girdhari is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Energy Law. Anita, who practices law in New York, New York, has been recognized since 2025. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Anita is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Etienne Balart is a partner in the Maritime and Litigation practice groups, in the Construction Industry Team, and co-leads the firm's Latin America working group. He provides transactional and litigation counsel to clients in the energy and maritime industries. Etienne helps clients identify and quantify financial, compliance, and other risks associated with disputes and litigated matters, negotiate, and, where necessary, bring to trial commercial and other disputes. Relying upon this deep e...
M. Curtis Whittaker has been a shareholder of the firm since 1991. Curt heads the firm’s Energy Practice Group, and is a member of the Corporate/Business Law Group. Curt works with developers, owners, operators, investors and lenders in the alternative energy area, including biomass, hydropower, wind, solar, cogeneration and alternative fuels. While at Harvard Law School, Curt took aim at a career in the alternative energy sector by authoring a law review article on the history of hydro...
Bert M. Cass Jr., is a jury trial litigator concentrating in the defense of bodily injury and death cases particularly in marine and offshore litigation claims. His practice focuses on representing vessel owners, oil and gas producers, exploration and drilling companies, facility operators, distributors, and offshore service contractors and their insurers against personal injury, wrongful death and survival claims. He is also experienced in energy-related claims, including interpretation of i...
Our Methodology
Recognition by Best Lawyers is based entirely on peer review. Our methodology is designed to capture, as accurately as possible, the consensus opinion of leading lawyers about the professional abilities of their colleagues within the same geographical area and legal practice area.
The Process
Best Lawyers employs a sophisticated, conscientious, rational, and transparent survey process designed to elicit meaningful and substantive evaluations of the quality of legal services. Our belief has always been that the quality of a peer review survey is directly related to the quality of the voters.