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“Chris Reeder and his team are the best in the business.”

Chief legal officer and secretary, independent power producer

Overview

Chris concentrates his practice in the area of administrative law with an emphasis in matters pertaining to energy and natural resources.

Chris practices in Husch Blackwell’s Energy and Natural Resources business unit. He focuses on electric regulatory matters, working with a wide variety of clients, including conventional and renewable power generators, customers, retail electric providers, public power utilities, EPC companies, and investors. Chris focuses on a broad scope of regulatory issues, including compliance and enforcement, commercial and settlement disputes, market structure, development-related matters, rates, transmission system access, policy questions, and registration and certification questions.

He also works on energy development and acquisition matters, leading teams that advise clients on all aspects of energy infrastructure development, acquisition, and financing deals.

He is also a board member of CleanTX, which focuses on the development and deployment of clean technology and renewable resources. Chris is a frequent author and speaker on energy and administrative law matters, and is Board Certified in Administrative Law.

“Chris Reeder and his team are the best in the business.”

Chief legal officer and secretary, independent power producer

Industry

Services

Recognition

  • BL Rankings’ The Best Lawyers In America®
    • Energy Law, 2025
    • Energy Regulatory Law, 2024 and 2025
  • Chambers USA
    • Energy: State Regulatory & Litigation (Electricity), 2022-2024
    • Litigation (Electricity), 2014-2015
  • The Legal 500 United States
    • Energy: Energy regulation: electric power, Recommended attorney, 2024
  • Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent

Education

  • J.D., University of Texas School of Law
    • with honors
  • B.A., University of Texas at Austin
    • with special honors

Admissions

  • Texas
  • U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Texas
  • Louisiana
  • U.S. District Court, Northern District of Texas
  • U.S. District Court, Southern District of Texas
  • U.S. District Court, Western District of Texas
  • U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Louisiana
  • U.S. District Court, Middle District of Louisiana
  • U.S. District Court, Western District of Louisiana
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit

Professional Memberships and Certifications

  • Austin Bar Association
  • CleanTX, Board Member
  • Federalist Society of America
  • Gulf Coast Power Association
  • Houston Bar Association
  • Louisiana State Bar Association
  • State Bar of Texas, Administrative Law Association
  • Texas Renewable Energy Industries Alliance, Board of Directors
Experience
  • Lead counsel for the new transmission utility applicant seeking Texas Public Utility Commission certification of what would eventually become the longest utility transmission line in Texas.
  • Lead counsel for the complainants challenging ERCOT’s recommendation of a major transmission upgrade project at the Public Utility Commission of Texas.
  • Lead local counsel on a recent tax equity investment in a 207.2 MW wind farm development, and Texas regulatory counsel on numerous other tax equity investments in wind generation facilities.
  • Lead counsel defending a power generation company against an enforcement action based on alleged failure to comply with ERCOT Protocols.
  • Obtained Texas Public Utility Commission certification for numerous retail electric providers and power generation companies, and handled recurring reporting obligations.
  • Represented a major power marketer and power generation company in obtaining Texas Public Utility Commission approval of a Voluntary Mitigation Plan.
  • Lead counsel for a wind developer on a Texas Public Utility Commission complaint against a Texas utility for failure to interconnect.
  • Represented several retail electric companies defending against Texas Public Utility Commission formal customer complaint cases.
  • Lead counsel to a power plant developer’s gas pipeline affiliate in obtaining Texas Railroad Commission approval for the pipeline and associated tariffs.
  • Counsel or lead counsel in numerous judicial review proceedings of Texas Public Utility Commission orders.
  • Assisted energy company in receiving approval from the Public Utility Commission of Texas for an application to approve changes stemming from a change in control as a result of a transaction.
  • Filed a petition on behalf of power company successfully challenging wholesale transmission charges to be imposed on distribution-level wholesale storage companies.
  • Assisted two separate entities with their efforts to exit the Texas retail electric market as they wound down their regulatory obligations with ERCOT and Public Utility Commission of Texas and transferred their customers to other providers.
  • Successfully assisted in pursuing a change to ERCOT protocols involving changes to the testing of certain behind-the-meter electric generation assets.
  • Represented energy company as local counsel in a public-private partnership where client acquired a license and operating rights to the on campus electric utility system of a university.
Legal Updates | October 18, 2022
ERCOT Schedules Winter Weather Preparedness Workshop
Speaking Engagements | January 25, 2024
Speaker, "Texas PUC - 2023 Year in Review," GCPA 2024 Luncheon
Speaking Engagements | October 14, 2021
Conference Chair, 2021 Gas and Power Institute hosted by UT Law
Webinar | December 2020
Building the Renewable Power Project Webinar Series - Emerging Energy Storage Issues

Building the Renewable Power Project Webinar Series

Speaking Engagements | November 18, 2020
Speaker, "Texas + Federal Legislative Preview," CleanTX Webinar
Webinar | December 2019
Community Solar in Texas

Meeting Texas’ Energy Needs as Renewable Energy Evolves and Grows

Community Leadership
  • Don and Birdie Reeder Global Emergency Relief Fund, Founder and Director, 2007-present
  • Texas Law School 1L Mentoring Program, Volunteer, 2019
  • Big Brothers Big Sisters, Volunteer, 2003-2004
  • District 9A Grievance Committee, 1997-2003
  • Women’s Advocacy Project, Volunteer, 1989-1990