Suedeen G. Kelly
Participants in today’s energy industries are complex businesses that regularly need to make strategic decisions to move forward in markets characterized by uncertainty and legal intricacy. Suedeen Kelly understands these businesses, their markets, and the legal landscape they operate in. Suedeen represents and counsels clients throughout the energy industries. She helps them make the challenging decisions they face through understanding, navigating, complying with, and as needed, changing federal, state, and local energy law and policy.
Private companies, public utilities, cooperatives, startups, trade associations, and even regulators across the United States rely on Suedeen’s guidance. She helps them understand when to request approvals or file complaints, manage risk, comply with regulations, defend themselves in regulatory, legal and enforcement actions, and appeal decisions as needed. Suedeen also excels at helping clients seize opportunities that arise due to changes in law and energy policy, working across the energy sector from electricity and natural gas to hydrogen and carbon capture.
Whether facing regulators, legislators, or judges, Suedeen works to create solutions that are right for her clients while also appealing to decisionmakers and other interests, clearing the way for clients to achieve their goals. She brings her diverse experience as an energy litigator, regulator, academic, environmental advocate, and legislative staffer to help her clients advance their mission. She is able to see all sides of the problem to enable her clients to fashion the best approach to solving problems and taking advantage of opportunities.
I look at the law creatively so that it is a vehicle, not a hindrance, to achieving the client’s objectives.
Credentials
Service / Recognition
Overview
Participants in today’s energy industries are complex businesses that regularly need to make strategic decisions to move forward in markets characterized by uncertainty and legal intricacy. Suedeen Kelly understands these businesses, their markets, and the legal landscape they operate in. Suedeen represents and counsels clients throughout the energy industries. She helps them make the challenging decisions they face through understanding, navigating, complying with, and as needed, changing federal, state, and local energy law and policy.
Private companies, public utilities, cooperatives, startups, trade associations, and even regulators across the United States rely on Suedeen’s guidance. She helps them understand when to request approvals or file complaints, manage risk, comply with regulations, defend themselves in regulatory, legal and enforcement actions, and appeal decisions as needed. Suedeen also excels at helping clients seize opportunities that arise due to changes in law and energy policy, working across the energy sector from electricity and natural gas to hydrogen and carbon capture.
Whether facing regulators, legislators, or judges, Suedeen works to create solutions that are right for her clients while also appealing to decisionmakers and other interests, clearing the way for clients to achieve their goals. She brings her diverse experience as an energy litigator, regulator, academic, environmental advocate, and legislative staffer to help her clients advance their mission. She is able to see all sides of the problem to enable her clients to fashion the best approach to solving problems and taking advantage of opportunities.
I look at the law creatively so that it is a vehicle, not a hindrance, to achieving the client’s objectives.
Areas of Focus
Credentials
Admissions
- District of Columbia
- New Mexico (Inactive)
Education
- Cornell Law School, JD, cum laude
- University of Rochester, BA, with distinction
Court Admissions
- US Court of Appeals, Tenth Circuit
- US Court of Appeals, DC Circuit
- US District Court, District of Columbia
- US District Court, District of New Mexico
Service / Recognition
Awards
- Chambers USA, Energy: Electricity, Regulatory and Litigation, Nationwide, 2012-2022
- Chambers Global, Energy: Electricity, Regulatory and Litigation, 2012-2022
- Legal 500 US in Energy, Transactions Oil and Gas, 2016; Industry Focus, Energy Litigation, Conventional Power, 2020-2021
- Chosen by Metropolitan Corporate Counsel as its cover story for January 2016
- The National Law Journal, Top 50 Regulatory & Compliance Trailblazers, for moving the needle in the legal industry by devising new strategies, pioneering technological advancements, litigating landmark cases and impacting the regulatory regime in environment, energy and law, 2015
- Best Lawyers in America, Energy Law, 2005-2022
- Women’s Council on Energy and Environment, Champion, 2010
- CNBC Executive Vision, Top US Energy Leader, 2009
- Gridwise Alliance Award for Leadership, 2008
Community
- Commissioner, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 2003-2009
- Legislative Aide, Sen. Jeff Bingaman (D-NM), 1999
- Chair and Commissioner, New Mexico Public Service Commission, 1983-1986
- National Institute of Standards and Technology, Smart Grid Advisory Committee, 2010-2013
- US Consumer Product Safety Commission, Advisory Council Chair, 1979-1981
- Board of Directors, Advanced Energy Economy (AEE) Institute, 2020-present
- Advisor, Advisory Board of Directors, American Wind Energy Association (AWEA), 2019-present
- Member, Environmental Law Institute Leadership Council, 2015-present
- Trustee, Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation, 2015-2017
- Member, Board of Directors, UIL Holdings, 2011-2015
- Member, Board of Directors, Access Midstream Partners, 2010-2015
- Member, Board of Directors, Tendril, 2010-2012
- Advisory Board, The Perfect Power Institute, Chicago, IL, 2011-2015
- Advisory Board, Gridquant, Columbus, OH, 2013
- Dean’s Advisory Council, Hajim School of Engineering, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, 2012-present
- Advisory Council, Women’s Council on Energy and Environment, 2008-2012
- Board Member, Charitable Foundation of the Energy Bar Association, 2010-2013
- Member, Task Force on Policy and Coordination, American Bar Association Section of Environment, Energy and Resources, 2011
- Council Member, American Bar Association Section of Administrative Law and Regulatory Practice, 2010-2012