Rich draws on more than four decades of experience in energy law—including stints in-house at a major public utility company and within the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC)—to provide developers, independent power producers, and utility companies with strategic legal advice.
Rich began his career with a clerkship for FERC administrative law judges, later moving into a trial staff role at the commission. It was a time of great growth in the energy industry, and Rich was immediately fascinated by the interplay of law, engineering, finance, and business. Particularly drawn to the business side of energy, he knew he wanted to focus his legal career on working hand in hand with businesspeople. He later accepted senior in-house roles with the Long Island Power Authority as well as Public Service Electric and Gas Company, one of the largest combined electric and gas utility companies in the country.
At Husch Blackwell, Rich represents renewable generation project developers and independent power producers before FERC in obtaining the approvals and regulatory mechanisms necessary for their businesses. He routinely assists clients in obtaining market-based rate authority, exempt wholesale generator status, and qualifying facility status, and he also handles applications for transactions that fall under Section 203 of the Federal Power Act. In addition, Rich devotes a significant portion of his practice to the representation of electric transmission and natural gas utility companies, advising on FERC filings, transmission formula rates, transactions, and reliability matters. He also performs FERC compliance audits; assists clients with the development and implementation of regulatory, ethics, and reliability compliance programs; and provides training and representation throughout government investigations.
With experience in virtually all 10 electric power markets, Rich has a truly national practice. He’s known for both his extensive, solid experience and his remarkably deep knowledge of the subject matter and the energy industry. After nearly 20 years at utility companies, Rich also has an inside understanding of what clients need from outside counsel.