Practice Focus

Energy and Telecommunications, Government Relations, and Alternative Dispute Resolution

Experience

Bringing over 22 years of public sector experience to her practice at Orr & Reno, Susan was a Public Utilities Commissioner for the State of New Hampshire for over ten years before joining Orr & Reno in 2004. As a PUC Commissioner, Susan adjudicated matters affecting the state's electric, telecommunications, gas and water industries. Susan also was a Senior Assistant Attorney General at the New Hampshire Department of Justice, where for over eight years, she represented numerous state agencies and officials in state and federal court litigation. She also served as the first Chief of Staff in that office in 1993. Susan's experience includes:

• Representing telecommunications and energy companies
• Securing the first certificate of site and facility for a commercial wind energy facility in New Hampshire
• Mediating NH Superior Court cases under Rule 170
• Restructuring the state's electric and gas industries, and implementing the federal Telecommunications Act of 1996
• Serving on the New Hampshire Energy Facility Site Evaluation Committee which conducted several proceedings concerning the permitting of gas pipelines, competitive electric generating facilities and electric transmission facilities
• Representing state agencies in federal class action litigation and state court proceedings
• Counseling state agencies, boards and commissions on administrative law and other legal matters
• Legal and legislative consulting at the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services on issues involving the Medicaid and other financial assistance programs, adult and child protective services, and the child support enforcement program
• Negotiating complex collective bargaining agreement regarding state employment as a member of the State Negotiating Team in 2002

Practice Areas

• Alternative Dispute Resolution
• Energy and Telecommunications
• Governmental Relations

Professional Activities

• NH 2-1-1 Advisory Board
• NH Superior Court, Rule 170 Mediator
• Advisory Council of the New England Energy Alliance
• Former member, NH Board of Bar Examiners
• Former President, New England Conference of Public Utility Commissioners, 1998–1999

Honors and Distinctions

• Cited in The Best Lawyers in America, 2007, 2008, and 2009 for energy law
• Cited in New England Super Lawyers, 2007 and 2008 for energy and natural resources law

Community Involvement

• Leadership New Hampshire, Class of 2004
• Capitol Region Food Program, Trustee

Bar Admissions

Susan is admitted to practice in the state courts in New Hampshire, Massachusetts, and the Federal District Court in New Hampshire, and the First Circuit Court of Appeals.

Education

Mount Holyoke College, A.B., Political Science, 1977; Suffolk University Law School, J.D., 1980