Here’s an example of what I mean about new practice trends. This article, Business adapts to reflect climate change (Puget Sound Journal 1/22/07) reports that law firms are gearing up to represent business clients in issues related to climate change.  Seems that new carbon emissions laws, combined with the threat of shareholder suits against companies for noncompliance are creating new questions where businesses need legal assistance.

Given that utilities will face important climate change issues, this seems like a potential practice area for energy law firms to explore.

The kick off meeting for the Small Energy Law Firm Network is scheduled for Wednesday, January 24, 2007, starting at 11:45. As I’ve noted, lunch is free, courtesy of my firm, Law Offices of Carolyn Elefant . So far, at least eight lawyers are expected to attend, but it’s not too late to invite other colleagues and bring them along. Also, please be sure to bring at enough business cards to circulate to other participants.

I’ll have a short agenda of some of the ideas that I’m interested in pursuing. But I look forward to your input as well. Looking forward to meeting everyone on January 24.

If you’re still skeptical about the potential power of collaboration, check out this article, Small Firms Align in Central and Eastern Europe. From the article:

Small law firms are trying to hold their ground in the fast-changing markets of central and eastern Europe — with a little help from their friends. A range of law firm alliances have sprung up across the region in recent years. Last summer, four small firms with offices in Prague, Brussels, Bucharest, Vienna and Budapest formed the newest network, bpv legal.
The Central European Law Offices, an alliance founded in 2004, includes eight firms in seven countries across the region. LAWIN, also founded that year, groups 100 lawyers in three firms based in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.

As the article reports, many of these “small firm alliances” work together jointly on projects.

Welcome to the first post of the Solo and Small Energy Law Firm Network. If you click on this link (or the About button on menu at top), you can read about the reasons that I’ve decided to create this Network.

For those of you who don’t know me, my name is Carolyn Elefant and I’ve been practicing in the energy regulatory field for 18 years now, first as an attorney with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), then as an associate with the law firm of Duncan & Allen and since 1993, with my own firm, Law Offices of Carolyn Elefant . I also served as of counsel to the former Law Offices of Scott Hempling. My energy expertise is broad and includes representation and counseling of clients in FERC hydroelectric proceedings and electric issues such as mergers, RTO issues, market design, rates and generation interconnection and I have briefed and/or argued more than twenty energy related appeals in federal circuit courts. I have a unique niche practice representing developers in the emerging wave, instream tidal and offshore wind renewable energy industry.

At the same time, I am also an active voice for solo and small firm practice. I have run the weblog, MyShingle for four years now and my book related to solo and small firm practice will be released by Decision Books sometime this year. I view this network as a way to marry my commitment to small firm practice with my energy expertise, and to bring my practice to new levels of success. Will you join me?