Matt Rudolphi is devoted to helping electric co-ops, municipal electric utilities, pipeline companies, and other utilities succeed by providing experienced transactional and regulatory counsel and representation.
From Thompson Coburn’s Chicago and Washington D.C. offices, Matt helps cooperative and municipal electric utilities and regulated pipeline clients across the country navigate federal and state regulations, market structure issues and appeals of regulatory decisions.
Matt has significant experience representing electric cooperatives such as the Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO); the Pennsylvania, Jersey, Maryland Power Pool (PJM); and California Independent System Operator (CAISO) regions. He regularly negotiates and drafts power purchase agreements, distribution and transmission interconnection agreements, coordinated operation agreements, and other contracts. He also helps ensure compliance by advising clients on electric, natural gas and oil regulatory matters and, when necessary, representing them before the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), state commissions and the federal courts. Matt regularly handles litigation related to wholesale power and transmission, including rates, terms and conditions of service, and the various requirements of state and federal regulations and laws.
With deep roots in southern Illinois co-op country, Matt thoroughly supports the co-op philosophy: provide reliable, affordable energy, while investing prudently in innovations designed to help ensure future generations’ access to that energy. With this commitment, he advises clients on implementing technology advancements that meet those objectives.
Matt’s deep understanding of highly regulated utilities is far from limited to electricity. When his clients venture into offering broadband or telecommunications services, for example, Matt is there to guide them through intricate and daunting FCC regulations and legislative matters to successful completion of any size project. He also represents nonprofits and trade associations in the energy, energy efficiency, and communications sectors.
A well-respected practitioner in energy law, Matt is a past president and board member of the 2,000-member Energy Bar Association.
experience
Energy Regulatory Matters
- Successfully challenged a regional transmission organization-wide guaranteed return on equity before FERC, including managing expert witness testimony, cross-examining witnesses, drafting briefs, and pursuing review of certain findings to the U.S. Court of Appeals.
- Represented a transmission owner in a technically complex contract interpretation matter challenging and litigating before FERC and the U.S. Court of Appeals another party’s compliance with a coordinated operations agreement.
- Routinely counsel clients; prepare and submit transmission revenue, reactive requirements; and other revenue requirement filings.
- Successfully negotiated for the removal from FERC regulation of two outer continental shelf pipeline systems.
Non-Profit Counsel
- Routinely advise nascent non-profits on choice of business structure; drafting initial corporate documents, including bylaws, articles of incorporation, conflict of interest policies, whistleblower policies and document retention policies; and board composition, education and management.
- Acted as counsel in over a dozen transactions guiding the merger and/or dissolution of non-profits.
- Serve as corporate counsel in drafting and interpreting standard and complex contracts, including employee and independent contractor agreements, leases, and event contract matters.
- Successfully defended a client in a U.S. House of Representatives investigation into alleged improper use of government grant funds.
Governmental and Public Policy Matters
- Drafted legislation to revise state cooperative enabling act to permit the provision of broadband.
- Advise clients on compliance with the Honest Leadership and Open Government Act and corresponding federal lobbying and contribution reports.
- Advised clients in establishment of political action committees and ongoing reporting requirements.
Professional
- District of Columbia Bar Association
- Energy Bar Association
- ABA Delegate, 2022-2024
- Nominating Committee, 2019-2023; Chair, 2022-2023
- President, 2018-2019
- Board Member, 2013-2020
- Program Committee Chair, 2012-2013
- Program Committee Vice Chair, 2011-2012
- Young Lawyers Committee Chair, 2010-2011
- Charitable Foundation of the Energy Bar Association, Board Member, 2017-2019
- Foundation of the Energy Law Journal, Board Member, 2017-2019
- Electric Cooperative Bar Association
- National Association of Telecommunications Officers and Advisors
- LGBT Lawyers of Washington, D.C., Board Member, 2007-2011
- Gay and Lesbian Lawyers of Philadelphia (GALLOP), Board Member, 2006-2007
Community
- Chicago Council on Global Affairs
Military Service
- U.S. Army, 82nd Airborne Infantry
- Paratrooper, 1991-1994
- National Defense Service Medal
- Expert Marksmanship Badge
- U.S. Airborne Wings
- U.A.E. Airborne Wings
- Army Achievement Medal
- Humanitarian Service Medal
- Expert Infantryman Badge
- Included in Washington, D.C. Super Lawyers (by Thomson Reuters) Rising Stars list, 2014-2016
- Listed, Lawdragon’s 500 Leading Energy Lawyers, 2023-2024
- “EPA’s Proposed Federal Implementation Plan for Nitrogen Oxide Emissions from Power Plants”
APPA Legal and Regulatory Conference, November 9, 2022 - “Conflict of Interest and Legal Responsibilities of Directors”
AEC/PREA Summer Meeting, July 14, 2022 - “Glick’s Frist 300 Days”
APPA Legal and Regulatory Conference, October 18, 2021 - “Regulatory Overview– Federal Communications Commission”
TVPPA Fiber University, February 2019 - “Electric Co-ops and Broadband – Regulatory Compliance and Business Law Considerations”
NRECA ECBA Webinar, October 2018 - “Addressing the Digital Divide: How are Electric Cooperatives Pursuing Rural Broadband Projects?”
NRECA G&T Legal Seminar, November 2017 - “Electrifying the Transportation Sector: Challenges, Strategies and Opportunities”
APPA Legal and Regulatory Conference, October 2017 - “Updates on Energy and Environmental Law”
National LGBT Bar Association 29th Annual Lavender Law Conference, August 2017 - “Grid Modernization Debate”
Energy Bar Association, Mid Year Energy Forum, October 2016 - “FERC Electricity 101”
EUCI, September 2016 - “Physical and Cyber Security Webinar: Preparation for Overlapping Initiatives”
December 2014
I’m a U.S. Army vet who loves to travel, having visited more than 50 countries so far. I have also performed at the famous Second City improv club here in Chicago.