Energy and technology companies nationwide bring their most pressing legal problems and disputes to Laurie Edelstein. As lead counsel, Laurie implements trial strategies that position clients to achieve success. She also helps clients avoid litigation with solutions that support business objectives while meeting regulatory mandates.
Clients turn to Laurie for contract disputes, competition issues, regulatory obligations, negligence allegations, and consumer challenges. She digs deep into each matter, learning the nuts and bolts of the business, scrutinizing the facts and the law, and asking the hard questions until the right approach is found.
Laurie previously worked at Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E), one of the nation’s largest electric and gas utilities. There, she gained valuable insight into what matters to in-house counsel- and how in-house counsel view and manage litigation. Today, Laurie guides companies through an evolving regulatory environment, while helping clients identify emerging issues and develop policies to minimize risk.
Laurie is committed to pro bono and public service representing clients in LGBTQ, asylum, human trafficking, and gun control matters.
I own a pair of steel-toed boots for climbing down manholes, examining utility tunnels, and touring substations-whatever it takes to represent my client effectively.
Representative Matters
- Defending major electric utility in litigation and government investigations arising out of major wildfire.
- Defended several California utilities in multiple litigations brought by governmental entities throughout California challenging the utilities’ implementation of municipal tax ordinances.
- Represented a major California electric provider in proceedings challenging the company’s wildfire response efforts.
- Defended an international technology company in a privacy class action lawsuit.
- Providing advice and counsel to an autonomous vehicle company on a variety of regulatory matters.
- Represented a technology company in litigation arising out a mass arbitration dispute.
- Defended a major natural gas provider in a RICO, antitrust, and business tort action brought by competitive supplier.
Credentials
Service / Recognition
Overview
Energy and technology companies nationwide bring their most pressing legal problems and disputes to Laurie Edelstein. As lead counsel, Laurie implements trial strategies that position clients to achieve success. She also helps clients avoid litigation with solutions that support business objectives while meeting regulatory mandates.
Clients turn to Laurie for contract disputes, competition issues, regulatory obligations, negligence allegations, and consumer challenges. She digs deep into each matter, learning the nuts and bolts of the business, scrutinizing the facts and the law, and asking the hard questions until the right approach is found.
Laurie previously worked at Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E), one of the nation’s largest electric and gas utilities. There, she gained valuable insight into what matters to in-house counsel- and how in-house counsel view and manage litigation. Today, Laurie guides companies through an evolving regulatory environment, while helping clients identify emerging issues and develop policies to minimize risk.
Laurie is committed to pro bono and public service representing clients in LGBTQ, asylum, human trafficking, and gun control matters.
I own a pair of steel-toed boots for climbing down manholes, examining utility tunnels, and touring substations-whatever it takes to represent my client effectively.
Areas of Focus
Representative Matters
- Defending major electric utility in litigation and government investigations arising out of major wildfire.
- Defended several California utilities in multiple litigations brought by governmental entities throughout California challenging the utilities’ implementation of municipal tax ordinances.
- Represented a major California electric provider in proceedings challenging the company’s wildfire response efforts.
- Defended an international technology company in a privacy class action lawsuit.
- Providing advice and counsel to an autonomous vehicle company on a variety of regulatory matters.
- Represented a technology company in litigation arising out a mass arbitration dispute.
- Defended a major natural gas provider in a RICO, antitrust, and business tort action brought by competitive supplier.
Credentials
Admissions
- California
- New York
Education
- Yale Law School, JD, Joseph L. Parker Prize in Legal History, 1992
- Yale University, MPhil, Mellon Fellow in the Humanities, Richard J. Franke Prize Fellow in the Humanities, 1989
- Stanford University, BA, Phi Beta Kappa, President’s Award for Academic Excellence, 1986
Court Admissions
- US District Court, Central District of California
- US District Court, Eastern District of California
- US District Court, Northern District of California
- US District Court, Southern District of California
- US District Court, Eastern District of New York
- US District Court, Southern District of New York
Clerkships
- Hon. Myron H. Thompson, US District Court, Middle District of Alabama, 1992-1993
Service / Recognition
Awards
- The Albert E. Jenner Pro Bono Award, 2024
- The Daily Journal, Top 100 Lawyers in California, 2020, 2023
- The Daily Journal, Top Women Lawyers in California, 2018, 2026
- The National Law Journal, Trailblazer in Litigation, 2020
- The Best Lawyers in America, Commercial Litigation, 2016-2026; Bet-the-Company Litigation, 2019-2026
- Northern California Super Lawyers, Business Litigation, 2017-2023
- Legal 500 US, Litigation: General Commercial Disputes, 2020; Energy Litigation, 2020