McGuireWoods has hired energy lawyer David Martin Connelly from Balch & Bingham to enhance the firm’s regulatory and enforcement capabilities.

Connelly rejoins McGuireWoods as a partner in the firm’s Washington DC office, having previously worked for the firm between 2012 and 2017. He adds significant expertise in energy regulation and more than 25 years of experience representing electric utilities and other energy industry clients in Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) and US Courts of Appeals matters.

His practice spans a range of regulatory and policy matters, with a particular focus on electricity transmission issues such as open-access transmission services, cost-of-service rates for transmission and incentive transmission rates. He also advises clients on transmission and generation interconnection issues related to renewables, as well as compliance matters such as self-reports, audits and cybersecurity.

Richard Viola, deputy managing partner of the firm’s corporate practice, said: “Dave played an important role in the growth and development of our energy industry team at McGuireWoods and his return strengthens our leadership position in this space.”

Connelly spent just under four years as a partner at Balch & Bingham after just over three years at Jones Day, which he joined following his first spell at McGuireWoods. Prior to his time at McGuireWoods, he spent five years as a senior counsel at US utility company Dominion Energy, having started his career in private practice at legacy firm Bruder Gentile & Marcoux.

Vishwa Link, co-leader of McGuireWoods’ energy regulatory and enforcement practice group, said: “Dave is a respected leader in the energy bar and is highly regarded by clients for his experience managing complex matters before FERC and federal appeals courts.”

Connelly is the fifth partner to join the firm in Washington in recent months, following the additions of antitrust lawyer Megan Lewis earlier in October and former chief of the Securities and Exchange Commission’s crypto unit David Hirsch in August.

Connelly said: “I am excited to return home to McGuireWoods and one of the nation’s top energy practices. The firm’s industry knowledge and team-oriented approach to client service sets it apart and I look forward collaborating with colleagues to build on that success.”

It is not only McGuireWoods seeking to strengthen in the energy sector. Back in July, Bracewell opened in Paris with the arrival of a 11-strong energy team from Norton Rose Fulbright, while in May, Clifford Chance hired tax and energy lawyer Todd Lowther from Shearman & Sterling in Houston.