McGuireWoods earned recognition for its U.S. energy regulatory and transactional work as well as its banking and finance and labor and employment capabilities in Chambers and Partners’ 2022 Global Guide. In addition, seven partners attained individual rankings based on feedback from clients and practitioners.
The firm was ranked in the Energy: Electricity (Transactional) and Energy: Electricity (Regulatory & Litigation) categories, highlighting its deep bench and extensive experience in both areas. Partners Joanne Katsantonis, Brian Kelly, Todd Mullins and Noel Symons earned individual rankings and praise from respondents interviewed by Chambers researchers.
Katsantonis, the firm’s deputy managing partner for development and former leader of the energy industry team, advises public utilities, independent power producers and investors on transactional matters and broader corporate strategy. A respondent interviewed by Chambers described her as “excellent across the board; she’s deeply experienced, very accessible and rolls up her sleeves.”
The Chambers guide singled out Kelly, who leads McGuireWoods’ energy industry team, for his “strong track record representing electric utilities, infrastructure companies and independent power producers in a range of transactions.” His deal work includes mergers and acquisitions, energy project and infrastructure development, project finance, and structured commodity and hedging transactions.
Mullins, managing partner of the Washington, D.C., office, handles high-stakes matters for energy industry clients before the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and is a former branch chief at FERC’s Office of Enforcement Division of Investigation. “He has a really in-depth knowledge of FERC enforcement proceedings,” a respondent said. “He has a very good practical and commercial approach and he gives real-world advice.”
Symons represents electric utilities and other energy companies before FERC and appellate courts and advises on cross-jurisdictional matters involving other regulatory bodies. One respondent called Symons, “a very good writer with a ton of institutional expertise. He’s also a really strong technical FERC practitioner.” Symons also was hailed as an “an out-of-the-box thinker who comes up with creative solutions.”
In addition, partner Michael Woodard was ranked in the Projects: Power & Renewables: Transactional category. The chair of the firm’s M&A and Energy Transactional Department, Woodard was recognized for “expertly” handling the acquisition and development of energy assets, particularly in the renewables sector.
Partner Timothy Callahan earned rankings in the Projects category and the Projects: Renewables and Alternative Energy category. Chambers cited his “impressive project finance practice focusing on lender and sponsor-side representation, with expertise in the financing, development and acquisition of wind, solar, gas-fired and battery storage infrastructure.”
The firm also received practice rankings in the Labor & Employment and Banking & Finance categories. Daniel Peyton, managing partner of McGuireWoods’ London office, earned an individual ranking for Labor & Employment. He practices in all aspects of English employment law, with a focus on contentious matters, including whistle-blowing, discrimination, restraint of trade and confidential information disputes.
A client said of Peyton: “He is always available, always quick to respond, and it feels like he is a business adviser and not an outside adviser.”