McGuireWoods Expands FERC Practice with New Partner Hire in Washington

May 11, 2010

Noel Symons has joined the Washington, D.C., office of McGuireWoods LLP as a partner with the firm’s Energy and Climate Change Team. He has nearly 20 years of experience advising clients on Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) compliance and enforcement, rate, transactional and market design matters. Prior to joining McGuireWoods, he was counsel for Skadden Arps in Washington, D.C.

Symons’ arrival is the latest in an ongoing series of lateral hires intended to round out McGuireWoods’ capability for providing full-service, one-stop shopping to energy sector clients. The firm has long-standing, thriving energy sector transactional, environmental and state regulatory practices. Symons provides depth to a bench of federal energy regulatory attorneys recently strengthened by the addition of Todd Mullins who was previously with FERC’s enforcement office; and Frank Schiller, former general counsel of Progress Energy Inc.

“The role and importance of federal regulation and regional markets continues to expand for our clients. Noel’s arrival significantly strengthens our energy regulatory team and allows us to better represent clients in these matters,” said Jim Kerr, co-chair of the firm’s Energy and Climate Change Team. “Noel is a fantastic attorney. We are excited for his arrival and look forward to putting his experience to work for our clients.”

“The energy industry is changing,” Symons said. “Companies increasingly are looking for firms with the capability to help them manage issues from all perspectives, including transactional and state and federal regulatory capabilities. McGuireWoods, with its national and international scope, full-service capability, and topflight lawyers, offers the kind of platform clients want.”