Holland & Knight Names New Energy & Clean Tech Co-Chairs
WASHINGTON – July 12, 2011 – Holland & Knight has appointed Michael Cavanaugh and Beth Viola as the new co-chairs of its Energy & Clean Technology team, the law firm announced today. The team's 70 attorneys and professionals work in all areas of energy and clean tech related regulatory, legislative, transactional, and litigation matters.
Cavanaugh is a partner with the firm, which he joined in 1997. His practice includes representation of clients in infrastructure project development transactions, principally in the areas of energy and transportation. He represents both buyers and sellers in energy acquisitions, and has been lead counsel to utility clients in several nuclear power plant sales. He also has assisted power project developers and utilities, including public power authorities with public-private partnership projects.
Viola, a senior policy advisor, has been with Holland & Knight since 2000. She is one of Washington’s top public affairs advocates, whose work in renewable energy and environmental resources has earned her the respect of leaders from both sides of the political aisle. She worked closely with President Clinton and Vice President Gore on transformative public policies in her time as senior advisor to the White House Council on Environmental Quality. At the firm, she uses that experience to help private sector interests, primarily clean technology companies, interface with Washington to create sound public policy drivers for their businesses. Her practice includes energy and environmental consulting, trade, federal funding, and strategic communications.
"Michael and Beth's experience and leadership, combined with the expertise of others on the Energy & Clean Tech team, will not only heighten our capabilities in this ever-growing industry, but also increase opportunities for the firm as a whole," said Gerry Sikorski, head of Holland & Knight's Government Section. "We congratulate them in their new roles."
Added James McDermott, leader of the firm's Business Section, "Our Energy & Clean Tech team has achieved considerable momentum, which we expect only to increase with Michael and Beth at the helm," added James McDermott. "They will be instrumental in continuing to add top-notch talent across the country."
Members of Holland & Knight's Energy & Clean Technology team include former Federal Energy Regulatory Commission attorneys; a former member of the Florida Governor's Energy and Climate Action team; former in-house counsel to energy companies, including importers of liquefied natural gas; and a member of Congress who served on the House Energy and Commerce Committee.
Cavanaugh and Viola reside in the firm's Washington, D.C., office.