America's Leading Lawyers for Business 2011: Energy: Electricity

Chambers & Partners has compiled its independent and objective list of America's Leading Lawyers for Business based on comments gathered from thousands of interviews with clients and lawyers from Maine to Hawaii. This guide — which is designed to reflect market opinion — contains a view of the firms and attorneys who are considered leaders in their field.

In Chambers' 2011 review of national legal talent in the area of "Energy: Electricity," our Firm and our lawyers are listed among the best in the country.

Chambers' comments:

Transactional
Nationwide Ranking: Tier 2

The Firm: The energy practice here is primarily centered around its sophisticated corporate expertise. It draws on its experience in capital markets, M&A and restructuring to advise power and oil and gas industry clients on major transactions. With several multitalented partners in the ranks, Kirkland can also provide regulatory support to these transactions. On the electricity side, the firm has longstanding relationships in the independent power community. Its representations in the oil industry involve integrated oil companies and other clients.

Key Individuals: Mitch Hertz is an exemplary transactional energy attorney who concentrates on M&A and restructuring. He has a background in regulatory work, and clients believe his broad base of expertise means Hertz "truly understands how energy deals can be structured." His skill and attitude have also impressed clients: "He is extremely practical and thinks from a tactical perspective." Over the past year, he has represented NRG in the sale of its 4,000 MW Padoma Wind development company to a subsidiary of Enel North America, and in its purchase of South Trent Wind. Leading the firm's energy trading practice, Elaine Walsh has expertise on both the regulatory and transactional sides of the energy industry. She represents utilities, IPPs and private equity clients in M&A, structured trading and hedging, and finance work, and uses her regulatory expertise to support these transactions. She recently acted for Macquarie on the $360 million sale of a percentage equity stake in its district energy business to John Hancock. "Walsh is extremely diligent and always protects our interests." Anthony Danti assists power and oil and gas clients with various transactional matters, including M&A and restructuring. He recently advised Constellation on its $4.5 billion sale of 49.99% of its nuclear generating assets to wholly owned subsidiaries of EDF. The junior partner is praised for his "considerable work ethic and dedication to the deal."

Reprinted with permission from Chambers USA, America's Leading Lawyers for Business 2011— www.chambersandpartners.com.