Best Lawyers in America for Energy Law
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Jennifer Cranston (formerly Ratcliff) focuses her practice in three primary areas: real estate disputes involving condemnation and valuation issues; insurance coverage analysis and bad faith litigation; and public utility regulation. Jennifer’s objective is to provide sound legal advice, exceptional service, and cost-effective resolution for all her clients. She has successfully negotiated favorable settlements, as well as prevailed for clients at hearings, in arbitrations, at trial, an...
Pam Mascari is a state and federal court litigator, trial advocate, and regulatory advisor who represents clients in high-stakes environmental and energy-related disputes in Louisiana and beyond. Based in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, she works with energy , petrochemical, and manufacturing companies on complex litigation involving property contamination , environmental claims, and related business risks. Her practice regularly involves litigation strategy and case management before Louisiana state...
Thomas L. Penland, Jr. is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Energy Law. Thomas L., who practices law in Atlanta, Georgia, has been recognized since 2007. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Thomas L. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Catherine Little counsels clients on energy-related environmental and administrative law at all levels of federal, state and local government, with particular emphasis on regulatory compliance, enforcement defense and administrative adjudication under the Pipeline Safety Act, Clean Water Act (including wetlands) and the Oil Pollution Act. Catherine regularly advises clients with respect to pipeline safety regulatory compliance issues, permitting, spill and release reporting, as well as natura...
Don Smith joined Pray Walker in 1983 and has been a Shareholder with the Firm since 1990. Practicing in the areas of energy law, environmental law and title examination law, his primary emphasis is in energy transactions, principally representing oil and gas producers and operators in the purchase and sale of exploration and production assets, gathering and other midstream properties, and energy-related surface facilities. Don has negotiated, coordinated and closed numerous energy transaction...
Matt is a member of the Environmental and Energy Practice Groups. A significant portion of Matt’s practice involves representation of municipalities and private developers in regard to water law matters, including: the permitting, operation and expansion of water supply/treatment/distribution systems and wastewater collection and treatment systems; sewer use ordinance drafting and enforcement including industrial pretreatment programs; stormwater management including ordinance drafting,...
Dean Cooper gas a general administrative and civil practice with emphasis on public utility law. He has appeared extensively before the Missouri Public Service Commission on behalf of public utilities (electric, natural gas, water, and sewer). He has also appeared before both state and federal courts (trial and appellate level) and many administrative bodies. Dean is a member of the Energy Bar Association and has been listed in The Best Lawyers in America in the field of Energy Law since 2008...
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.
Jason B. Yost is a Principal in the law firm of Mercer Thompson LLC. His practice focuses on representing both regulated and non-regulated energy companies in all aspects of domestic and international project development and finance, including the development, acquisition and sale, and ownership and operation of power projects. He has extensive experience drafting and negotiating equipment procurement agreements (turbine and balance of plant), engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) a...
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...
EXPERIENCE Successfully tried numerous lawsuits through jury trial and bench trial, as well as appeal, in both state and federal courts Significant experience in complex commercial arbitration matters filed under the American Arbitration Association Experience in litigation and arbitration matters filed in Oklahoma, Texas, Kansas, Arkansas, Georgia, Colorado, Wyoming and California Testified as an expert witness on matters related to the recovery of attorney fees in complex trust litigation S...
Richard J. Johnson is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Administrative / Regulatory Law and Energy Law. Richard J., who practices law in Minneapolis, Minnesota, has been recognized since 1995. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Richard J. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Bill advises businesses and organizations on energy related matters, strategic planning initiatives regarding economic development, state and federal regulatory affairs, and policy decisions. He also advises clients on local, state and federal governmental affairs. Bill is noted for his experience in regulatory policies and legislation related to electricity, gas, water, cable television, and telecommunications services. He served as Chairman of the New York State Public Service Commission (N...
Will Russ is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Energy Law. Will, who practices law in Dallas, Texas, has been recognized since 2026. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Will is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
John is the managing partner of the firm’s Capital District Offices in Albany and Saratoga Springs. He advises clients on various legal and regulatory issues. For example, as part of the Energy Team, John successfully represented the owners of nuclear and coal-fired electric generating facilities before the New York State Public Service Commission (PSC) in connection with securing three reliability support services agreements (RSSA) with two upstate utilities. He also represents a natio...
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.