Carolyn Elefant
Ocean Renewable Energy Coalition
OVERVIEW
About Carolyn Elefant
I am a highly skilled, well trained and respected lawyer with multiple talents in a variety of disciplines I bring passion, analytical skill and persistence to any undertaking, be it a long shot legal case (where I have a proven track record), a new area of law (such as marine renewables where I am a driving innovator), getting civil penalties vacated or money refunded for energy clients or adapting new technology/trends I use my unique combination of talents on behalf of, or within, corporations, law firms, renewable energy companies, or others who seek excellent service, top notch work and creative problem solving I also seek speaking engagements and offer turnkey programs on a variety of cutting edge topics.
Career highlights include:
*Practicing energy regulatory law since 1988, including all aspects of electric utility regulation before FERC and state PUCs Law firm recognized in ABA Bar Journal and Washington Legal Times
*obtaining hundreds of thousands of dollars in refunds or penalty rebates for energy companies
*lnternationally recognized legal/policy expert on offshore renewables,
*founder of Ocean Renewable Energy Coalition (now 40 members); significant experience in permitting offshore renewables and hydro. identifying funding sources and resolving regulatory uncertainty
*Litigation experience at admin hearings and courts First chaired admin. hearings five jury trials, discovery and motions practice in complex federal cases. Appellate practice includes over thirty appellate matters.
*Finding money so that clients can pursue claims or build projects
*Creator of ABA Topl00 Blawg, MyShingle.com (2002), longest running blog on solo and small firm practice, and respected commentator.
*Author of Solo by Choice: How to Be the Lawyer You Always Wanted to Be (December 2002)
*Co-contributor American Law Media, Legal Blogwatch.typepad.com
Career highlights include:
*Practicing energy regulatory law since 1988, including all aspects of electric utility regulation before FERC and state PUCs Law firm recognized in ABA Bar Journal and Washington Legal Times
*obtaining hundreds of thousands of dollars in refunds or penalty rebates for energy companies
*lnternationally recognized legal/policy expert on offshore renewables,
*founder of Ocean Renewable Energy Coalition (now 40 members); significant experience in permitting offshore renewables and hydro. identifying funding sources and resolving regulatory uncertainty
*Litigation experience at admin hearings and courts First chaired admin. hearings five jury trials, discovery and motions practice in complex federal cases. Appellate practice includes over thirty appellate matters.
*Finding money so that clients can pursue claims or build projects
*Creator of ABA Topl00 Blawg, MyShingle.com (2002), longest running blog on solo and small firm practice, and respected commentator.
*Author of Solo by Choice: How to Be the Lawyer You Always Wanted to Be (December 2002)
*Co-contributor American Law Media, Legal Blogwatch.typepad.com
Practice Areas
Administrative litigation (FERC, state PUCs, EEOC, MSPB)
Appeals & Appellate
Energy; Utilities
In-house counsel service to renewable and new energy tech companies
Litigation
Litigation in state and federal district and appellate courts (discovery, motions, briefs, oral argument, jury trials)
PPA drafting and review
Stakeholder mediation
Jurisdictions Admitted to Practice
| District of Columbia | |
| New York |
Professional Experience
| Counsel, Ocean Renewable Energy Coalition | -Current |
| I co-founded the Ocean Renewable Energy Coalition with Sean O'Neill in April 2005. Since then, the organization, with a mission of advancing and commercializing wave, tidal, hydrokinetic, OTEC and offshore wind in the United States has grown from 5 members to 40. Under my leadership, and with my coordination, the group has filed over 1000 pages of comments and testimony before Congressional committees and regulatory agencies such as MMS, FERC, NOAA and state public utility commissions. | |
| Author/Consultant, Carolyn Elefant/ My Shingle | -Current |
| n December 2002, I created MyShingle.com, the first blog dedicated to serving solo and small firm lawyers and those who yearn to start a practice. During that time, through my blog and consultancy, I have advised dozens of lawyers -- both solo and at law firms - on starting a firm or building a robust practice within a law firm. In January 2008, my book, Solo by Choice: How to Be the Lawyer You Always Wanted to Be issued, where I discuss solo practice as a viable option either for a career, or to transition to other professional opportunities. Packed full of practical information and marketing advice, the book provides a roadmap for using 21st century technologies to build a practice, and has received acclaim from groups as diverse as new solos, bar practice management experts and large firm marketers. | |
| Owner and Counsel, The Law Offices of Carolyn Elefant | -Current |
| I own the Law Offices of Carolyn Elefant, an independent law firm in Washington DC, specializing in electric utility/energy regulation, compliance issues, natural resources, renewable energy development, with emphasis on offshore renewables, wind and hydro. I also handle general litigation and appellate practice, with specific experience in employment law, Section 1983 litigation, criminal defense and contracts. My firm operates the weblog, www.renewablesoffshore.com and fercfights.com. | |
| of Counsel, Law Offices of Scott Hempling | - |
| Served as of counsel in prestigious energy practice with five attorneys. Supervised junior lawyers and paralegals and collaborated with senior lawyers, who included former state commissioners and other prominent industry members. Advised and represented clients in energy regulatory matters before FERC, including restructuring, RTO formation, mergers, cross-subsidization and affiliate issues, competitive bidding, distributed generation and standard PPAs, interconnection, transmission siting and post-EPAct 2005 changes to the FPA. | |
| Adjunct Faculty, University of Maryland University College | - |
| Served as adjunct professor of contract law in UMUC's esteemed paralegal program. Designed curriculum, taught several hundred students through a mixture of theory and hands on practical assignments. | |
| Associate Attorney, Duncan and Allen | - |
| Energy associate at Duncan & Allen, handled energy contract related arbitration, FERC hearings and all aspects of utility regulation, with focus on municipalities and coop systems. | |
Education
| Cornell Law School | J.D | ||
| Activities: Moot Court Board Editor | |||
| Brandeis University | B.A | ||
| Honors: magna cum laude | |||
Professional Activities
| Law Practice Management Steering Committee | DC Bar | 2006-2008 |
| of Counsel | Ocean Renewable Energy Association | 2005-2008 |
Awards
| Featured on the Cover of Washington Legal Times | Washington Legal Times- ALM Publications | |
| ABA Top 100 Law Blawg | American Bar Association | |
| Featured in Maryland Daily Record | Marlyland Daily Record | |
| Ocean Energy Pioneer Award | Energy Oceans Conference | |
| Featured in ABA Journal on small law practice | American Bar Association | |
| Featured on cover of Washington Legal Times | Washington Legal Times- ALM Publications | |
| Washington Legal Clinic for the Homeless Volunteer Award | Washington Legal Clinic for the Homeless |
Professional Affiliations
| Member, District of Columbia Bar | -Current |
| Member, New York State Bar | -Current |
| Member, Energy Bar Association | - |
PUBLICATIONS
Articles & Publications
A Snapshot of Marine Renewable Energy Regulation in the United States
Global Marine Renewable Energy ConferenceFederal and State Benefits and Subsidies for Marine Renewable and Hydrokinetic Technlogies
Hydrovision National ConferenceHow to Start A Business Networking Group to Build Referrals, Relationships and Reputation
Los Angeles Solo and Small Firm ConferenceHow to start a law firm; webinar
From Biglaw to Yourlaw: Starting A Law FirmSolo By Choice; How to Be the Lawyer You Always Wanted to Be
DecisionBooksTechnology to Retain Clients, Technology for Start Up Firms
ABA Tech Show 2008Update on Marine Renewables Siting and Permitting
Ocean Energy UpdateThe Third Wave: Marine Renewable Energy Development in the United States
Alterative Energy SymposiumOceans Apart? Is National Ocean Energy Policy Consistent With Oregon's Goals?
Ocean Energy in OregonThe Accidental Practice
Small Firm BusinessObstacles to Marine Energy Development in the United States
Capitol Hill Briefing on Marine RenewablesWhat Offshore Wind Developers Can Learn from the Hydroelectric Industry
American Wind Energy Association National ConferenceNational energy policy and offshore wind
Offshore Wind ConsortiumWave Energy Development in the United States and Regulatory Uncertainty
Ocean Energy OverviewWhy Lawyers Should Blog
What Lawyers Can Learn About BloggingDon't Copy That Brief (can legal briefs be copyrighted?)
Legal Times Intellectual Property MagazineHow Much Privacy Do Litigants Deserve in E-Filing
Washington Legal TimesSaved by the Web: How I Researched A Brief Online for Free
Washington Legal TimesEnergy resources on the web
Energy Resources on the World Wide WebOcean Energy Development in the 1990s
Energy Law JournalCan Law Firms Do Pro Bono: A Skeptical View
Alabama Journal of the Legal ProfessionWhen Helping Others Is A Crime: 18 USC 205's Restrictions on Federal Attorneys Seeking to Do Pro Bono
Georgetown Journal of Legal Ethics
WEBSITES & BLOGS
My Shingle
Is In-Person Networking the Right Approach for Every Person? Future of Law Fridays: When Every Day Is An Opportunity Lessons of Rakofsky v. the Internet: Be the Kind of Lawyer That Your Client Can Be Proud Of Don’t Lean In, Tune Out It Took Solo To Take Prenda Down All the News[letter] That’s Fit to Print Why We Choose Solo Practice A Public Apology: Webinar Cancelled Due to Anymeeting.com’s Terrible Service – But I’m to Blame As Well. Low-end Marketing Tip: Keep Your Digital Footprint Fingerprint Free
CONTACT & MAP
1629 K Street NW
Suite 300
Washington, DC 20006
USA
USA
Telephone: (202) 297-6100
Telephone: (202) 297-6100
Fax: (305) 675-8075

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