Contact: Cari Brunelle, 302.540.5060
WASHINGTON – August 24, 2020 – Davis Wright Tremaine today announced the arrival of Richard Sparling as of counsel in its Washington, D.C. office. He is the seventh lawyer to move to DWT's energy group so far this year, joining a nearly 40-lawyer team also based in California, the Pacific Northwest and New York.
Sparling concentrates on electric utility regulation and business transactions, primarily representing investor-owned utilities before the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission on rate cases and agreements for the purchase, sale and transmission of electric power. He has also been involved in implementing and evaluating various federal and state industry restructuring proposals. Most recently, Sparling, as co-counsel, assisted a group of PJM transmission owners before FERC in a matter regarding the identification and planning for end-of-life transmission projects, which led to a significant order from FERC earlier this month accepting the tariff amendments proposed by the PJM transmission owners.
"Bringing on another prominent FERC attorney to complement our growing energy group and deepen our bench is exactly how we wanted to continue building on our strong start in 2020," said Vid Prabhakaran, chair of DWT's energy practice group. "Rick has extensive knowledge of the electric utility industry, including litigating utility rate cases, and joins us at a perfect time when client demand for quality FERC practitioners continues to grow."
Sparling was counsel in Alston & Bird's energy group and follows a nationally recognized six-lawyer energy regulatory group from that firm that joined DWT earlier this year. The group included partners Sean Atkins and Michael Kunselman, along with former senior FERC executive Andrea Wolfman, who spent 24 years at the Commission and led its Enforcement Office.
"I am excited to re-join Sean, Michael and the team and continue to grow the firm's leading national energy practice," said Sparling. "Davis Wright's willingness to utilize innovative alternate fee arrangements and embrace some of the new normals associated with lawyering due to COVID made it an attractive platform for my practice."
Sparling received his undergraduate degree from George Washington University and his law degree from Georgetown University. Sparling's addition continues DWT's growth in its targeted industries: financial services, technology, healthcare, media/entertainment, energy and restaurants/food and beverage.
About Davis Wright Tremaine
Davis Wright Tremaine LLP is a national law firm with more than 550 lawyers representing clients based throughout the United States and around the world. For more information, visit www.dwt.com.