Van Ness Feldman has promoted Van Smith and Chris Zentz, members of the firm's nationally-recognized electric practice, to Of Counsel.

"The promotions of Van and Chris reflect the depth of expertise and commitment they bring to their work. We look forward to their continued success at Van Ness Feldman," commented firm Co-Chair, Doug Smith.

Van Smith (Washington, D.C. office). Van advises electric utilities, consumer and industrial products manufacturers, and trade associations on a broad range of federal energy and environmental regulatory matters. He provides counsel on electric regulatory matters under the Federal Power Act, energy derivatives regulation under the Dodd-Frank Act, and the Department of Energy's mandatory energy efficiency standards. He practices before the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, EPA, and DOE, and represents clients in agency rulemaking, administrative and appellate litigation, and enforcement proceedings.

Chris Zentz (Seattle office). Chris represents energy industry clients before the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, the Bonneville Power Administration, and state and local regulators. Chris has a wide-ranging electric practice. He provides counsel on transactions, due diligence, corporate transaction authorizations under Section 203 of the Federal Power Act, rate and tariff filings under Section 205 of the Federal Power Act, market-based rate authorizations, and compliance with the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act. Chris works on transmission and ancillary service rate cases, Open Access Transmission Tariff compliance and the Standards of Conduct, and transmission planning. His experience includes renewable resource development along with the negotiation of transactions involving power, transmission, and storage resources.

Van Ness Feldman is a nationally recognized law firm focused on energy, environmental, and natural resources law and policy, and is home to one of the largest and most highly regarded energy regulatory practices in the United States. With offices in Washington D.C., Seattle, Denver, and the Bay Area, the firm's electric practice provides strategic counsel to all sectors of the electric industry including utilities, independent power producers, power marketers, municipalities, and independent transmission providers.