Mayer Brown welcomed Chad Richards to the firm’s Washington DC office as a partner in the global energy group. He joins from Kirkland & Ellis.
“Chad’s experience and successes span the vast energy and infrastructure landscape,” Alex Chequer, leader of the global energy group at Mayer Brown, said. “With this background, Chad will be instrumental as our clients navigate their most complex issues in the ever-evolving energy sector, as well as advising on the regulatory risks associated with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) and state regulatory commission approvals required in connection with transactions.”
Richards advises project developers, strategic investors, financial institutions, investment funds and their portfolio companies, and other industry participants on a wide range of energy regulatory matters, with a particular focus on the energy regulatory aspects of complex transactions and financings. Leveraging his experience on many of the most significant deals in the energy infrastructure sector, Richards counsels clients on transaction diligence, structuring and negotiation to manage regulatory risk and to secure required energy regulatory approvals from the US Department of Energy and FERC, among other regulators.
Richards also provides counseling on energy regulatory compliance and periodic reporting obligations under the relevant federal statutes and regulations governing the energy industry. His experience spans a broad range of energy assets, including natural gas, liquefied natural gas, solar, hydro, oil, on and offshore wind, transmission, demand response, fuel cells and storage.
“I’m excited to join Mayer Brown at such a pivotal time for the energy sector, specifically in light of the change in administration and the increased demand for electricity due to the growth in U.S. manufacturing, planned data centers and artificial intelligence, and the electrification of the grid,” Richards said. “I look forward to helping our clients adapt to these shifts, seize new opportunities, and contribute to the firm’s market-leading teams.”
“Chad’s experience advising clients on some of the most significant transactions in the energy infrastructure sector, along with his deep understanding of how to navigate complex regulatory matters, makes him a tremendous asset to our clients and our expanding Washington office,” Andrew Olmem, the managing partner of Mayer Brown’s Washington DC office, said.
