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Firm News8/26/2008 National Regulatory Leader Joins McGuireWoodsKerr to Lead New National Energy Policy Practice McGuireWoods LLP announced today that James Yancey Kerr II, currently a member of the North Carolina Utilities Commission and immediate Past President of the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (“NARUC”), will be joining the firm as partner on September 1, 2008. Kerr (44) will work out of the firm’s Raleigh and Washington, D.C. offices and will lead the firm’s Energy Policy Practice. McGuireWoods Energy Policy Practice is a new national practice group that will offer comprehensive solutions to clients’ legal and policy needs in the increasingly important and complicated energy sector by utilizing lawyers from McGuireWoods and professionals from McGuireWoods Consulting. As leader of the practice, Kerr will focus his efforts on assisting clients in crafting and executing successful legal, policy and business strategies related to the industries involving issues such as energy sources, generation facilities, renewable energy sources and portfolio standards, transmission issues, carbon regulation, climate change policy, environmental regulation and compliance, and innovative finance solutions. In addition, he will assist clients with interests in regulated industries such as energy, telecom, water and waste water. “The need for a strong and sensible national energy policy has never been more apparent,” said McGuireWoods Chairman Richard Cullen. “Jim Kerr is recognized on a national level as having unique insight and hands-on experience with all aspects of energy policy. We are excited that he will lead McGuireWoods' Energy Policy Practice as we tackle the challenges that Americans will face in the next decade as they deal with new laws and policies involving energy. With Jim Kerr’s leadership, the highly experienced energy, environmental, and transactional lawyers of McGuireWoods and the professionals at McGuireWoods Consulting will provide clients with the tools to achieve their legal, policy and public relations goals.” Kerr, based on his role as a state utility commissioner and as President of NARUC, offers a uniquely national perspective on the nation’s regulated industries and the millions of customers who depend on them, as well as the role that states have traditionally played in regulating utilities. Having testified numerous times before Congress and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission on energy issues, and having served as a delegate to the 2007 EU-US Energy Regulations Roundtable in Athens, Kerr is an active and respected participant in the public debate concerning the future of energy policy—both nationally and internationally. “Our nation is at a crossroads when it comes to energy issues and Jim Kerr’s proven record of working with policy makers – on both sides of the aisle – will allow him to be an effective and credible advocate for a strong energy policy that will benefit our clients, consumers and the nation as a whole. We are pleased that he will lead this new group and continue to serve our clients,” said L.F. Payne, President of McGuireWoods Consulting. “This is a challenging time for policy makers, service providers, investors, and consumers for whom these electric, gas and telecom services are essential. To be effective in this context, solutions and sustainable results have to account for the interests of all stakeholders. This requires knowledge, insight, and leadership,” said Kerr. “McGuireWoods has a national reputation for understanding these needs and solving problems. Just as important, McGuireWoods has experienced and skilled lawyers and consulting professionals with a proven record of delivering results for clients. That is why I joined McGuireWoods.” Kerr lives in Raleigh with his wife and two children. He has been active in various bar-related and community service organizations, including the American Bar Association, the North Carolina Bar Association, and the North Carolina Association of Defense Attorneys. He has served on the Board of Directors of the Triangle Division of the March of Dimes, the Board of Directors of the UNC School of Law Alumni Association, and currently he serves as a member of the Board of Directors of the North Carolina Museum of Art Foundation. PRESS CONTACT Leslie A. Valenza McGuireWoods news is intended to provide information of general interest to the public and is not intended to offer legal advice about specific situations or problems. McGuireWoods does not intend to create an attorney-client relationship by offering this information, and anyone's review of the information shall not be deemed to create such a relationship. You should consult a lawyer if you have a legal matter requiring attention. |
