After over 20 years of legal and management work in California’s energy industry, I founded a solo energy law practice in 2001, and was joined by Gregory Klatt soon after. Don Liddell, my former cohort at the Pacific Lighting Law Department, joined us in 2003.

Our practice focuses exclusively on energy industry transactional and regulatory work in California and the West. Unlike other firms that focus on multiple practice areas and may do energy work as a sideline, our firm is 100% focused on energy issues. This means our clients can expect knowledgeable and attentive service with easy access to top quality highly experienced practitioners. We help companies navigate the labyrinth of energy regulation in California, enabling them to provide, deliver, and obtain cost-effective and reliable energy.

My practice focuses on electricity and natural gas transactional and regulatory work before the CPUC and FERC for clients that include major owners of renewable and conventional generation; energy service providers and large educational, governmental, commercial and industrial end users.

Some key highlights of my practice include:
✓ Co-founder of the Western Power Trading Forum, a trade association of generators, energy service providers, scheduling coordinators, energy traders and investment banks.
✓ 

Co-founded and counsel to the Alliance for Retail Energy Markets, a consortium of the largest retail electricity marketers in California.


✓ Co-founded and counsel to the Direct Access Customer Coalition, an association of large governmental, educational, commercial and industrial customers.

My accomplishments prior to founding Douglass Liddell & Klatt include: 
✓ Arter & Hadden LLP – Partner and head of California energy practice.
✓ Cook Inlet Energy Supply – President and Chief Operating Officer for nation’s largest minority natural gas marketing firm.
✓ Southern California Gas Company – In managerial positions in gas supply and marketing, started the nation’s first natural gas spot market program and led the utility’s transition to a core/noncore market.
✓ Pacific Lighting Corporation – Senior Counsel responsible for major natural gas and LNG transactional matters.

EDUCATION:

• Juris Doctor (J.D.): UCLA School of Law
• Master of Business Administration (MBA): UCLA Graduate School of Management
• Bachelor’s Degree, Political Science: UCLA

In addition to representing private clients for a variety of issues related to California energy law and regulation, I also engage in regulatory and legislative consulting and advocacy for energy policy. This work requires knowledge of the often Byzantine regulatory landscape in California and can help various entities understand those complex rules and adopt smart strategies that will serve them for decades to come.

After starting my career in 1978 as a government contract lawyer in the San Francisco office of the U.S. Department of Energy, I moved on to private industry, working with Pacific Lighting, a Sempra Energy predecessor company. There, I helped develop and operate 18 unregulated power plants in four states, as well as the world’s largest district heating and cooling facilities serving commercial buildings at Bunker Hill and Century City in Los Angeles, California, helping to establish the independent power market there. In 2003, Dan Douglass and I formed Douglass & Liddell, where I continue to offer transactional and strategic legal advice and advocacy related to the energy industry in California.

Significant career achievements include:

✓ Helped launch the energy storage industry as co-founder and general counsel of the California Energy Storage Alliance.
✓ Helped establish the independent power market in California as a board member and chairman of the Independent Energy Producers Association.
✓ Helped create and co-teach a course on Energy Law and Policy at the University of San Diego School of Law.

EDUCATION:

• Legum Magister (LL.M): London School of Economics
• Juris Doctor (J.D.): University of California, Hastings College of Law
• Bachelor of Arts with honors (BA): San Diego State University

I specialize in state and federal regulation of the electric power and natural gas industries, regularly advising generators, wholesale marketers and retail suppliers in licensing and compliance matters involving the California Public Utilities Commission, the California Energy Commission, the California Air Resources Board and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. I also act as regulatory counsel in energy-related transactions, including procurement contracting and asset acquisitions.

EDUCATION:

• Juris Doctor (J.D.): University of California Berkeley School of Law (Boalt Hall)
• Bachelor of Arts, magna cum laude, History (B.A.): University of San Francisco

With more than 35 years’ experience providing thorough and skillful support to law firm partners, I am dedicated and focused, able to prioritize, and complete multiple tasks.  As Office Manager for one of the leading law firms serving the energy industry, my role is to maintain essential functions and provide the administrative support the attorneys need to succeed.  This includes extensive communications with the firm’s clients and with the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) and other governmental agencies.  I make all CPUC and FERC filings and coordinate ex parte meetings with Commission officials.  I designed, maintain, and archive our highly effective filing system, including a quick and thorough index that results in easy access to critical information.

My duties also involve tracking office expenses, preparing all invoices for client services, and creating weekly reports with regard to the status of invoices, accounts payable, accounts receivable and interacting with clients on billing inquiries.

I have served as legal secretary to partners in a major national law firm in the practices of commercial litigation, corporate, real estate, and intellectual property.  My work has included extensive client contact, preparation of correspondence, contracts, and corporate documents.  I also have drafted, prepared and filed documents in the Superior Courts of various counties, as well as Federal and State filings, including the California Supreme Court and Appellate Courts. 

I studied at California State University, Northridge, where I majored in sociology.