Full-Service Law Firm solving complex challenges through bold thinking, precise execution, and shared purpose.

Full Service Law Firm | Michael Best & Friedrich LLP

Specializing in the Intersection of Business &amp; Government

Meet our team of trusted advisors, strategic thinkers, and community builders dedicated to client success.

Learn about our full-service legal and business solutions, designed to address complex challenges for leading organizations across industries.

Access thought leadership, news, and resources to stay informed about the latest trends, legal developments, and industry innovations.

Discover how partnership, bold thinking, and precise execution drive results for clients nationwide.

Explore how our national reach and local expertise support clients across the United States and beyond.

Grow at a firm designed to bring out your best.

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Our multidisciplinary Energy team connects you to deep experience in regulation, transactions, and litigation, with leadership experience in both state and federal agencies. We have been recognized for our leadership in biofuels and were an early participant in wind, biomass, and solar energy development. Our capabilities also extend to the rapidly growing data center sector, where we advise on siting, permitting, energy procurement, and infrastructure development to support high-demand operations.

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Get support across the energy lifecycle—from permitting and financing to production, distribution, and trading—for electricity, natural gas, renewables, and data center energy strategies. If you are a utility, independent power producer, transmission company, investor, or data center developer, our nationally recognized team is ready to partner with you.

Our Approach: Your Partner in Energy Policy and Progress

We start with a comprehensive review of your energy portfolio and regulatory posture—identifying gaps, exposures, and opportunities across state and federal jurisdictions. Our team then develops a tailored strategy for compliance, permitting, and advocacy, with clear timelines, responsibilities, and milestones—aligned with your business objectives and risk tolerance.

From securing permits and managing regulatory submissions to supporting transactions and defending against enforcement actions, we execute the plan with precision. You’ll receive regular updates and status reports to maintain visibility throughout the process.

3. Ongoing Monitoring &amp; Continuous Improvement

We provide proactive regulatory updates, horizon scanning, and compliance refreshes to keep your organization ahead of change. Post-project debriefs and long-term planning are built into our process to ensure sustained success across the energy lifecycle—including electricity, natural gas, renewables, and emerging areas like data center energy strategies.

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Comprehensive Counsel Across the Energy Regulatory Landscape

Data Centers 

Data centers are a critical pillar of today’s digital economy, requiring robust energy infrastructure, environmental compliance, and efficient permitting. Michael Best offers a comprehensive approach to data center development, guiding clients from local board meetings to federal regulatory processes.

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Energy Infrastructure &amp; Regulatory Strategy

We advise on interconnection procedures at RTOs such as MISO, SPP, and PJM, including evolving FERC and DOE rulemakings. Our team negotiates Power Purchase Agreements and energy service agreements to secure reliable power for large-scale operations.

State &amp; Local Permitting

From utility commission approvals to zoning and conditional use permits, we navigate complex regulatory landscapes. Our attorneys have decades of experience in tariff design and rate cases, making us trusted advisors to utilities and developers.

Environmental Compliance

We manage air and water permitting, backup generator approvals, and site diligence to ensure compliance with federal and state environmental laws.

Real Estate 

Our Real Estate team supports every stage of data center site development—from land acquisition and title review to negotiating leases and easements. We handle zoning, land use approvals, and construction contracts to ensure projects stay on schedule and within budget. With deep experience in complex transactions, we help clients secure strategic locations and mitigate risk throughout the development process.

Data centers involve significant capital investment and ongoing operational costs. Our Tax team advises on structuring transactions to optimize tax benefits, including incentives, abatements, and credits available at the state and local level. We also assist with property tax assessments, sales and use tax issues, and compliance strategies to reduce exposure and maximize savings.

State Public Utility Commissions 

We help you with all your proceedings before state and local regulators, including state public utility commissions. We offer full representation and litigation (if necessary) on rate cases, large project certification, and complaint filings. We can also provide related representation for site acquisition, zoning/land use and environmental permits, energy entity mergers, and service area issues.

Federal Energy Regulation Compliance &amp; Advocacy 

We provide you with counsel on all aspects of energy-related regulatory compliance, including rules and standards of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC), North American Energy Standards Board (NAESB), regional transmission organizations (RTOs), and independent system operators (ISOs); as well as advocacy in ratemaking, government relations, and rulemaking.

Renewable Energy &amp; Project Development 

We advise investor-owned gas and electric utilities and electric transmission companies; wind, solar, biofuels, and biomass developers, generators, and manufacturers; and investors and trading parties on the development, interconnection, and operation of renewable energy projects and technologies, as well as on renewable energy credits (RECs) and other energy/environmental commodities.

Energy Enforcement Investigations &amp; Disputes

Get counsel on defense of investigations and litigation by FERC, state public utility commissions, CFTC, and other government agencies; utility tariff and rate disputes; commodities and price protection litigation; and challenges to agency proceedings, rules, and decisions, including petitions for review before the federal circuit courts of appeal.

Michael Best is at the forefront of energy and infrastructure innovation with success like: permitting the largest solar farm in Wisconsin, leading innovation in battery energy storage siting, and successfully defending local permitting challenges before the Wisconsin Supreme Court.

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Assisted a biodiesel producer in raising capital and securing project permits to construct and operate a full-scale renewable fuel production facility. Our services included entity formation; raising seed capital; raising construction financing; negotiating off-take, supply, and other agreements; and securing the real estate and obtaining regulatory approvals.

Selected as first chair counsel for multiple utilities in multiple jurisdictions on rate case filings, certificates of public convenience and necessity, and tariff filings.

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Advised a U.S. transmission company with regard to the construction of a new transmission line to be co-owned with another utility, including negotiating and drafting the joint development, construction, and ownership and operating agreements, and negotiating, drafting, and filing with FERC new interconnection agreements.

Represented a tribal sovereign nation as project developer and owner of a 3.5MW commercial-scale solar project. Our work included a presentation to tribal leaders regarding background, structural, and business issues relating to energy projects; negotiation of all agreements including power purchase agreements; and representation in New Markets Tax Credit and other tax-related financing.

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Aerial view of solar panel arrays installed across a grassy landscape, capturing sunlight for renewable energy production.

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Key Contact

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