Sean A. Atkins
Partner
Co-chair, Energy Practice
With over two decades of experience before the FERC, state utility commissions, and federal appellate courts, Sean A. Atkins focuses his practice on the regulatory challenges facing the electric utility industry. He has extensive experience with legal and policy issues related to wholesale electricity markets, transmission planning and operations, and the development of renewable power facilities.
Sean represents clients in administrative and appellate litigation, and negotiates settlements of complex matters before utility regulators. He advises clients on the development of effective compliance programs and helps clients to develop best practices under a variety of regulatory regimes.
Sean's accomplishments include settling complex electric transmission formula rate issues, obtaining approvals for new transmission planning procedures designed to facilitate the needs of renewable power, and litigating the terms of a new wholesale electricity market design for an independent system operator in the western United States. He has served as chair of a working group of counsel representing utilities in the northeastern United States that successfully formed a regional transmission organization and attained incentive transmission rates.
Admitted to Practice
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District of Columbia, 1999
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U.S. Court of Appeals D.C. Circuit, 2016
Education
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J.D., University of Virginia School of Law, 1996
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B.A., English Language and Literature, University of Virginia, 1991
Memberships & Affiliations
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- Energy Bar Association, 1997-2020
- Energy Bar Association, 1997-2020
Professional Recognition
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- Named as one of "America's Leading Lawyers for Business" by Chambers USA in Energy: Electricity (Regulatory & Litigation) (Nationwide), 2010-2023; Global, 2017-2021, 2023
- Named as one of "The Best Lawyers in America" in Energy Law by Best Lawyers, 2020-present
Background
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- Partner, Alston & Bird LLP, Washington, D.C., 2005-2020
- Partner, 2005; Associate, 1998-2005 – Swidler & Berlin LLP, Washington, D.C.
- Attorney-Advisor, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Washington D.C., 1997-1998