Former FERC Chairman Willie Phillips and Chief of Staff Ronan Gulstone Join Holland & Knight's Energy Regulatory Team in Washington, D.C.
WASHINGTON (May 13, 2025) – Willie Phillips, the immediate past chairman of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), and Ronan Gulstone, former chief of staff and senior legal advisor with FERC, have joined Holland & Knight's Public Policy & Regulation Group in Washington, D.C., as partners. They will also be key members of the Firm's Energy & Natural Resources Industry Sector Group and Federal and State Energy Regulatory Team.
The addition of Mr. Phillips and Mr. Gulstone expands Holland & Knight's existing FERC capabilities and allows the Firm to offer comprehensive federal energy regulatory support for a wide range of stakeholders, including electric and natural gas utilities; wholesale power market participants and interstate transmission providers; renewable energy providers; oil, natural gas and liquefied natural gas (LNG) suppliers; and mining companies. Additionally, they will offer support on complex mergers and acquisitions (M&A), corporate finance and capital markets transactions for energy industry clients.
"We are fortunate to have such highly regarded and experienced energy regulators join our team," said Rich Gold, leader of Holland & Knight's Public Policy & Regulation Group. "Their knowledge and skill sets will allow us to provide a broader spectrum of legal and regulatory services, making Holland & Knight a one-stop shop for our clients' needs."
"As the nationwide demand for expanded transmission and power generation capacity for data centers continues to grow and with federal energy regulatory requirements central to solving the challenging energy problems of our time, we expect Willie and Ronan to be taking the lead on providing first-rate guidance to clients subject to FERC jurisdiction," said Beth Viola, chair of the Firm's Energy & Natural Resources Industry Sector Group. "Willie and Ronan have been involved in some of the most crucial conversations about solving modern-day power generation problems and will bring valuable insight to our clients."
Mr. Phillips is a nationally recognized utility regulator and attorney with more than 20 years of experience in the energy industry. Throughout the course of his career, he has led approval of landmark reforms accelerating the interconnection of energy generation projects to the electric grid, revamping long-term and regional transmission planning, and advancing grid reliability to combat extreme weather, cyber and physical security threats. As FERC's chairman, Mr. Phillips oversaw 2,000 professional, administrative and contractual staff, developed strategic plans and budgets, and represented the United States in international policy discussions.
In the past, Mr. Phillips also served as chairman of the D.C. Public Service Commission and as assistant general counsel for the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC). Mr. Phillips earned a J.D. degree from Howard University School of Law and a B.S. degree from the University of Montevallo.
"I'm excited to join Holland & Knight and continue serving the energy industry in this new capacity. During my tenure at FERC, I gained valuable experience and a deep understanding of the energy sector's complexities and opportunities to secure a more reliable and affordable energy future for all Americans," Mr. Phillips said. "The sector is navigating unprecedented challenges – from surging energy demand driven by AI data centers, to resource adequacy and the growing need for new infrastructure. I am eager to provide strategic counsel and legal advice that supports innovative solutions to these challenges in partnership with Holland & Knight's clients."
In his role as chief of staff and senior legal advisor with FERC, Mr. Gulstone advised the commissioner about reliability, transmission and infrastructure permitting, including for specific commission orders, litigation, policy initiatives and communication with Congress and media. Prior to joining FERC, Mr. Gulstone was director of D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser's Office of Policy and Legislative Affairs. Mr. Gulstone also previously served as government affairs and public policy manager for Maryland and Washington, D.C., at Washington Gas. He earned a J.D. degree from Howard University School of Law and a B.A. degree from the University of Toronto.
"I am thrilled to join Holland & Knight, a firm renowned for the size and depth of its government and energy practices. Drawing on my experience at FERC, in local government and in the private sector, I look forward to bolstering the Firm's regulatory capabilities and contributing to the success of its clients," Mr. Gulstone said.