National Energy Practice Joins Alston & Bird's Washington, DC Office

Alston & Bird has added fourteen energy attorneys to the firm from Swidler Berlin LLP. Joining the firm in the Washington, D.C. office are Steven J. Agresta, Kenneth G. Jaffe, Stephen C. Palmer, Sean A. Atkins, William B. Glew Jr. , and Timothy A. Ngau as partners, and Jamil Nasir, Richard Sparling, and Michael Ward as counsel. In addition, five associates will join the firm.

“In light of the context of increased stability in the electric power industry and the passage of the energy bill, we see the addition of an energy practice as the logical next step in our quest to meet the expanding needs of the marketplace,” said Ben F. Johnson III, managing partner of Alston & Bird. “Energy is an industry that is critical to our global economy—and to our clients. We are pleased to have Steven Agresta, Ken Jaffe, Steve Palmer and their team join our firm and bolster our energy practice.”

The highly credentialed team brings with them substantial experience in the electric, nuclear and hydroelectric power sectors of the energy industry. Having practiced together for many years as the industry has grown and changed, the team has broad regulatory capabilities on both the state and federal levels, including providing regulatory advice in the context of mergers and acquisitions. Chambers USA recently ranked the Swidler team third in the country among energy/electricity practices.

“Alston’s reputation as a leading national firm and its growing, powerful presence in the D.C. market make it an attractive platform for our group,” Steven J. Agresta said. “We look forward to expanding our energy practice at Alston.”

The Swidler team will add depth and breadth to the cadre of services that Alston’s Washington office offers. With robust practices in health care, financial services, tax, employee benefits, international trade, internal investigations, and legislative and public policy, the Washington office of Alston & Bird is fast becoming a major player in the D.C. market. The Swidler team joins the ranks of former U.S. Senators Bob Dole and Tom Daschle, former tax counsel to the U.S. Senate Finance Committee Ed McClellan, former head of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Tom Scully and former government officials from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the Treasury Department, and the Senate Finance Committee in Alston’s rapidly growing Washington office. The addition of this nationally recognized energy practice will enhance Alston’s ability to provide a full range of services and capabilities for their clients.