Best Lawyers in America for Energy Law

William M. Kerr, Jr. has more than three decades of experience in commercial transactions, with particular emphasis on acquisitions, financings and divestitures of oil and gas related concerns. He is a graduate of Washington and Lee University, where he received his bachelor of arts degree, cum laude , in 1979, as well as of the University of Texas School of Law, where he received his juris doctor, with honors, in 1981. Mr. Kerr is a fourth generation Texas lawyer and practiced for many years...

Miles Clements is a recognized trial attorney having tried 100 cases to judgment. He practices at the trial and appellate levels in both state and federal court as well as in specialized jurisdictions throughout the country. His reputation spans from the marine and energy sector to defending the business and commercial needs of privately held and publicly traded companies. Miles is a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, the highest distinction of trial lawyers in the United States...

Area of Emphasis Lisa Bruderly is a shareholder and past chair of the Environmental Group of Babst Calland. She is also a member of the Firm’s Energy and Natural Resources Group. Ms. Bruderly primarily focuses on regulatory issues associated with water resources, wastewater/stormwater management, compliance auditing, site assessments and remediation, including state voluntary remediation programs. As a former environmental consultant and environmental auditor for a large natural gas tra...

Malcolm S. Murchison is licensed to practice in Louisiana and Texas and enjoys a broad based commercial law practice. His variety of skills equip him to handle a wide range of legal issues for his clients, including oil and gas, real estate, corporate formations/mergers/dissolutions, commercial lending and financing arrangements, state/local tax disputes, and land-use issues. He has significant experience in handling Louisiana mineral interest issues ranging from acquisitions, title examinati...

Mr. Smith has a broad-based practice with emphasis in antitrust, business, healthcare, utility and telecommunications law. His extensive experience includes handling trial and appellate work in state and federal courts as well as regulatory, transactional and legislative assignments for clients in each of these sectors. Mr. Smith has more than forty years’ experience in assisting individuals and business clients with all aspects of their legal representation. He serves as outside counse...

Courtney E. Walsh is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Commercial Litigation, Energy Law and Litigation - Construction. Courtney E., who practices law in Columbia, South Carolina, has been recognized since 2021. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Courtney E. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Stephen E. Ramey is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Energy Law. Stephen E., who practices law in Shreveport, Louisiana, has been recognized since 2025. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Stephen E. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Ryan S. Holcomb is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Energy Law. Ryan S., who practices law in Houston, Texas, has been recognized since 2013. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Ryan S. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

RICKY J. COX currently serves as the Managing Partner of the Gulfport office of Balch & Bingham LLP and is a member of the firm’s Energy; Corporate & Securities; and Real Estate, Lending and Commercial practice groups. Mr. Cox enjoys a diverse practice and regularly represents clients in a wide variety of utility and commercial matters, including energy and utility litigation; energy regulation and transactions; water and sewer utility regulation, transactions, and litigation; b...

Jeff represents utilities in rate cases, periodic rate adjustment (tracker) proceedings, environmental compliance matters and other filings before the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission (IURC). As utilities are heavily regulated, Jeff guides clients through compliance with the statues and regulations that are applicable to them. Because Jeff is committed to taking a practical approach to solving the problems his clients face, he analyzes and applies the law in a way that seeks to support h...

John F. Pierce is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Energy Law and Environmental Law. John F., who practices law in Seattle, Washington, has been recognized since 2025. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which John F. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Chris Bowles is co-chair of Bradley’s Solar Energy Practice Group. He is an energy and economic development attorney practicing out of Bradley’s Nashville office. Chris regularly advises clients on the development and financing of energy and infrastructure projects, with an emphasis on renewable energy sources, helping them negotiate contracts and manage risk in each stage of a project’s development, including the real estate, tax and regulatory aspects of development and pr...

Tim has decades of experience in the regulation of water and wastewater utilities, electric utilities, gas utilities, and telecommunications utilities. His career has been dedicated to navigating utility regulation matters at the Arizona Corporation Commission (ACC), affording him comprehensive insight into these industries from various perspectives. Tim has served as a Staff Attorney at the ACC, in-house counsel at a prominent water utility, and external counsel for diverse utilities. Tim po...

Richard Lorenzo has over 30 years of experience in the energy industry, antitrust and complex litigation. Mr. Lorenzo has extensive experience in federal and state courts and at both the state and federal level, has been involved in every type of regulatory proceeding, from rate cases to rulemakings to prudence investigations involving over $10 billion in assets. He successfully defended Central Maine Power Company in a suit filed by FPL Energy Maine to void its $850 million contract to purch...

Lela M. Hollabaugh has served as the lead trial lawyer in more than a dozen jury trials, as well as more than two dozen bench trials, arbitrations and administrative hearings. She advises leading natural gas pipeline companies on issues involving location, land acquisition, construction and operations. Hollabaugh serves as lead counsel for several pipeline projects in the southeast involving more than 200 lawsuits. She also represents leading pharmaceutical, medical device and other manufactu...

Mr. Griggs represents clients’ interests in legal actions concerning environmental matters brought by private parties and government agencies. He practices before administrative agencies, in state and federal trial courts, and in appellate tribunals. Mr. Griggs' litigation practice includes defense and prosecution of cases arising under federal and state environmental statutes, toxic tort cases, CERCLA and UST disputes, civil penalty proceedings, appellate practice, and FIFRA arbitration proc...