WILKINSON BARKER KNAUER BOLSTERS ENERGY PRACTICE WITH THE ADDITION OF SUSAN BERGLES

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Wilkinson Barker Knauer, LLP announced today that Susan Bergles has joined the firm as a partner, merging her natural gas regulatory practice with the firm’s growing energy practice. Ms. Bergles will continue to provide regulatory and transactional advice to utilities, pipeline companies, storage companies, and energy marketing companies. Her practice focuses on regulation of the natural gas industry, primarily before federal agencies (including the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), with respect to natural gas pipeline rate and tariff matters, natural gas contracting, natural gas storage regulatory and contracting matters, and regulatory compliance. She will practice from the firm’s Washington, D.C. office, but also will work closely with attorneys in the firm’s Denver, CO office.

Ms. Bergles has advised clients on natural gas regulatory and contract matters for over twenty years, and has served as Chair of the American Gas Association’s FERC Regulatory Committee. Prior to moving to the East Coast in 2000, she was in-house counsel for Northwest Natural Gas Company (NW Natural) in Portland, OR, where she handled state regulatory matters, natural gas sale and purchase agreements, gas transportation and storage agreements, financial derivative contracts, and represented NW Natural in regulatory proceedings before the Oregon Public Utility Commission, the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission, and the FERC. Earlier in her career, Ms. Bergles was an associate in the law firm of Ater Wynne LLP in Portland and an attorney with Texaco Inc. in Houston, TX. She earned her law degree (with distinction) from the University of Iowa College of Law, and holds a B.A. in Political Science from the University of Iowa.

Bryan Tramont, managing partner of Wilkinson Barker, said “Susan’s broad-ranging natural gas practice and FERC expertise will complement our firm’s growing energy practice. Attracting someone of Susan’s stature is an important step in building our D.C. profile in this space. We look forward to using Susan’s skills to serve clients in new ways; she will be a great fit for our team.” Denver partner Ray Gifford, former Chair of the Colorado Public Utilities Commission, added, “Susan is a great addition to the firm, and will allow us to serve our clients better at both the state and federal level. We are thrilled to add her FERC and CFTC expertise to Wilkinson Barker’s team.”

Ms. Bergles said, “Wilkinson Barker provides the perfect platform for me to expand the services I am able to provide clients. I am excited to be a part of the firm’s continuing growth in the energy regulatory field.”

Wilkinson Barker Knauer, LLP, one of the largest law firms in the nation dedicated primarily to the practice of communications and energy law, is ranked as a “first tier” firm by U.S. News & World Report and Best Lawyers, Chambers USA (Telecom, Broadcast, and Satellite: Regulatory), and Legal 500 (Telecoms and broadcast: regulatory). The firm, with offices in Washington, D.C. and Denver, Colorado, advises clients ranging from global Fortune 100 companies to small start-ups in regulatory, transactional, corporate and litigation matters involving all aspects of communications and energy law, at both the state and federal levels. Additional information is at http://www.wbklaw.com.

Ms. Bergles is resident in the firm’s Washington, D.C. office and can be reached at (202) 383-3365 and at sbergles@wbklaw.com. Additional information about Ms. Bergles can be found at http://www.wbklaw.com/Our_team/Susan_Bergles.