Personable and dynamic guidance through complex energy issues
Chris Skey has a broad-based energy and infrastructure practice and handles regulatory, transactional and litigated matters. He represents a diverse array of clients, including:
- Energy suppliers (electric and natural gas) and green energy suppliers
- Public utilities and energy cooperatives
- Transmission companies
- Public entities such as municipalities and airports
- Large commercial, industrial and governmental energy users
- Renewable energy developers and asset owners
- Nonprofit organizations and trade groups
- Lenders
- Building and facility owners
- Data centers
Chris is on the forefront of new developments regarding energy issues and his clients appreciate his ability to provide them with dynamic solutions and counsel. Additionally, his experience has allowed him to see and understand the varied implication of complex energy issues. Chris is a responsive and personable attorney who partners with clients to guide them in a favorable direction.
Chris is strongly committed to pro bono work and serves as the pro bono coordinator for the firm's Chicago office. He has a long-standing affiliation as an active volunteer attorney for Chicago Volunteer Legal Services (CVLS), the oldest civil pro bono legal services organization in the Chicago area. Chris chairs CVLS's advisory board and is a former member of the board of directors and board president.
Experience in Action
- Counsels domestic and foreign energy market participants and energy project developers on compliance and strategic planning related to the regulatory, legal and political developments affecting their interests and projects.
- Handles complex contract drafting and negotiations associated with energy supply and project development issues.
- Represents clients in proceedings before state and federal regulatory agencies and courts on a variety of energy-related licensing, rulemaking, investigatory, compliance, audit, complaint and other litigated proceedings.
- Counsels clients on a number of environmental, natural resource, constitutional and commercial matters. Clients contact Chris for help regarding construction, insurance, trade secrets, restrictive covenants, employment, fraud, product liability, copyright, contracts, antitrust, securities and other business-related matters.
Capabilities
Professional Recognitions
- Law Bulletin Media "Illinois Leading Lawyer" (2020: Energy; Governmental, Municipal, Lobbying & Administrative; Public Utilities: Gas/Water/Electric)
- Chambers USA® (2019-present: Energy & Natural Resources: Regulatory)
- Chambers USA® "Leader in Their Field" (Illinois, 2018, 2019: Energy & Natural Resources)
- Lexology Client Choice Award (Illinois, 2017: Environment & Climate Change)
Professional & Civic Activities
- Evanston Utilities Commission, former acting chair; former vice chair; member (2019-2023)
- Chicago Volunteer Legal Services, volunteer; current chair of advisory board; former president, vice president for development, chair of board development committee, member board of directors (2008-2016)
- Books & Breakfast, board of directors, chair
- Feed My Starving Children, food repack volunteer
- Asian Legal Service Clinic, former volunteer and clinic coordinator
- Cook County Juvenile Detention Center and Barry Elementary School, through the Lawyers in the Classroom program sponsored by the Constitutional Rights Foundation Chicago, former volunteer teacher
- Chicago Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law's "Introduction to Legal Learning" course offered to incoming law students at Northwestern University School of Law, former instructor
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U.S. District Judge Steven D. Merryday, Middle District of Florida, Tampa Division, judicial law clerk (2000 to 2003)
Reported Cases
The following cases are a matter of public record and provide examples of Chris's regulatory and litigation work in the energy sector and beyond.
- North Shore Gas Company/The Peoples Gas Light and Coke Company, Petition for Exemption re: Pilot Program for Single-Path Ultrasonic Meters, 2021 WL 2778362 (Ill. Commerce Commission 2021)
- Re: Boyce Hydro Power, LLC, 166 FERC P 61029, 2019 WL 256482 (Federal Energy Regulatory Commission 2019)
- Illinois Commerce Commission Part 412 / Part 453 Rulemaking, 2017 WL 4780636 (Ill. Commerce Commission 2017); 2017 WL 2424022 (Ill. Commerce Commission 2017)
- Fortis Inc. and ITC Midwest, LLC Petition for Reorganization, 2016 WL 4493843 (Ill. Commerce Commission 2016)
- Re: Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity 2014-2017 Energy Efficiency Portfolio and Plan, 2014 WL 408767 (Ill. Commerce Commission 2014)
- Re: Ameren Transmission Company of Illinois (Illinois Rivers Project), 2013 WL 4508733 (Ill. Commerce Commission 2013)
- Re: Illinois Power Agency 2013 Procurement Plan, 2012 WL 6725795 (Ill. Commerce Commission 2012)
- Re: Chicago Clean Energy, Inc., 2011 WL 681760 (Ill. Commerce Commission 2012)
- Re: Chicago Clean Energy, Inc., 2011 WL 7142048 (Ill. Commerce Commission 2011)
- BDO Seidman, LLP v. Harris, 885 N.E.2d 470 (Ill. App. Ct. 2008)
- United States v. All Meat and Poultry Products Stored at LaGrou Cold Storage, 407 F. Supp. 2d 823 (N.D. Ill. 2007)
- Re: Interstate Power and Light Company, 2007 WL 4754232 (Ill. Commerce Commission 2007)
- Re: Interstate Power and Light Company, 2007 WL 1794929 (Ill. Commerce Commission 2007)
- Re: South Beloit Water, Gas and Electric Company, 2007 WL 1794930 (Ill. Commerce Commission 2007)
- Schindler v. Cequent Consumer Products, Inc., 2006 WL 2062099 (E.D. Mo. 2006)
- Strategic Energy, LLC v. Illinois Commerce Commission, 860 N.E.2d 361 (Ill. App. Ct. 2006)
- MidAmerican Energy Company v. Illinois Commerce Commission, 854 N.E.2d 238 (Ill. App. Ct. 2006)
- Illinois Commerce Commission v. Entergy-Koch Trading, LP, 841 N.E.2d 27 (Ill. App. Ct. 2005)
- Mercury Skyline Yacht Charters v. The Dave Matthews Band, Inc., 2005 WL 3159680 (N.D. Ill. 2005)
- Roadway Express v. Juedes, 2004 WL 2423811 (N.D. Ill. 2004)
News & Insights
Education
- Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law (J.D., cum laude, 1997)
- Northwestern University (B.A., 1991)
Bar Admissions
- Illinois
- Florida