Akerman is pleased to announce that Chris Zentz has joined the firm as a partner in its Corporate Practice Group. Chris brings extensive experience representing energy industry clients in regulatory and project development and finance matters, further strengthening Akerman's capabilities in these critical areas. He joins Akerman from Steptoe.

Chris represents utilities, independent power producers, and renewable energy developers in a wide array of transactional matters and regulatory proceedings before federal regulators — including the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) and the Bonneville Power Administration — as well as state and local regulators nationwide.

"Chris' addition is part of the firm's strategic expansion of its energy and corporate practices," said Corporate Practice Group Co-Chair Jonathan Awner. "His deep knowledge of the regulatory landscape and practical approach to solving complex legal challenges will be invaluable to our clients as well as our energy project finance and digital infrastructure teams," added Renewable Energy and Electric Power Co-Chair Josh DeBottis.

Chris' experience includes developing renewable resources and negotiating deals related to power, transmission, and storage assets. He also has significant experience securing market-based rate approvals from FERC and advising clients on compliance with key federal laws, such as the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act and the Public Utility Holding Company Act. His regulatory work encompasses transmission and ancillary service rate proceedings, Open Access Transmission Tariff compliance, generator interconnection, FERC Standards of Conduct, interlocking directorate issues, and transmission planning.

Akerman’s national energy capabilities have experienced notable growth in the past year, including the opening of its Charlotte office with the addition of experienced project finance partner Josh DeBottis and energy tax partner John McCaffrey. Most recently, the team welcomed partner Art Howson, an accomplished attorney in renewable energy project finance and development, and several associate attorneys.

About Akerman
Founded in 1920, Akerman is recognized as one of the country’s premier law firms, with more than 700 lawyers in 25 offices throughout the United States.