Varnum LLP is pleased to announce that Katie Duckworth has joined the firm as Counsel on its Energy, Environmental and Natural Resources team. Duckworth brings a wealth of diverse experience, having served as a trial attorney for the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), in-house counsel to a leading publicly traded independent power producer and in private practice.
Duckworth will leverage her broad knowledge of the energy sector to advise Varnum’s clients—including renewable energy and energy storage developers, investors and others—on navigating complex regulatory regimes involved in transformational energy projects and their operations.
“I was drawn to Varnum’s impressive growth trajectory and commitment to excellent client service,” Duckworth said. “I am excited to join this talented team and work with clients across Michigan and nationally on their most critical energy and infrastructure matters.”
In the midst of a rapidly evolving energy landscape and the firm’s longstanding focus on the sector, Matthew Eugster, partner and leader of the firm’s Energy, Environmental, and Natural Resources team, expressed enthusiasm about Duckworth’s addition: “We are thrilled to have Katie join us. Her unique blend of private practice, in-house counsel, and government service brings a valuable perspective to our team. Her depth of experience in the energy sector will be a tremendous asset as we continue to enhance the services we provide to clients.”
Duckworth earned her law degree from Vanderbilt University School of Law and her undergraduate degree from Michigan State University.
Varnum’s Energy, Environmental and Natural Resources Practice
Varnum’s experienced team of renewable energy lawyers has navigated dozens of wind and solar projects through the entire permitting and approval process. Our experience dates to the 1980s, when we represented many of Michigan’s first commercial-scale renewable energy developments, including wood-fired and waste-to-energy projects as well as the first large-scale wind operations in Michigan’s Thumb area. Today, Varnum represents wind, solar and energy storage developers across dozens of projects across the state and country, including with respect to regulatory compliance, permitting and approval processes, land use agreements, environmental reviews and community education.