Greenberg Traurig Adds Ashley Brown, Global Energy Expert

Brown brings his knowledge of a wide range of international and domestic energy policy to the firm, having served as an adviser to governments, regulators, and private clients in the energy markets and infrastructure of more than 25 countries over many years. Recently, he advised the Brazilian Government on the design of its electricity market and regulations, highlighted during the recent US trip of that country's President, Dilma Rousseff, who publicly thanked Brown for his work in a formal address delivered at Harvard University. Among other things, he also played a significant role in drafting regulatory and energy laws in Hungary, Ukraine, Tanzania, Liberia, and Equatorial Guinea, and has worked extensively in Russia, India, Indonesia, Argentina, Bangladesh, South Africa, Zambia, and Namibia.

Brown also has extensive experience in U.S. energy markets, having served for 10 years as Commissioner of the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio and currently serving as the Executive Director of the Harvard Electricity Policy Group at the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. He is the author of multiple publications including being the co-author of The World Bank's Manual for evaluating Infrastructure Regulation.

"Our considerable capabilities and credentials in energy, infrastructure and sustainability have been seriously enhanced by selective additions in recent times which collectively strengthen our ability to deliver solutions and value to our clients in our usual independent and disciplined manner," said Richard A. Rosenbaum, Greenberg Traurig's Chief Executive Officer. "There are few individuals anywhere in the world with Ashley's range of knowledge, experience, relationships, and skills with respect to energy policy and implementation, especially in the areas of electricity generation and regulation, and we are pleased to welcome him to the team."

Brown received his J.D. from University of Dayton School of Law, his M.A. from University of Cincinnati and his B.A. from Bowling Green State University. He was previously counsel to Dewey & LeBoeuf and is in the final stage of obtaining his Ph.D. from New York University.

"This is a tremendous opportunity to provide my clients with an expanded global platform and vast practice area resources. Given the intensely collaborative nature of Greenberg Traurig, I look forward to quickly bringing additional, highly targeted experience to its clients in the international energy marketplace," Brown said.

Brown joined the firm simultaneously with Jude Kearney, another key player in the firm's Global Energy & Infrastructure Practice, who also now heads the firm's Africa Practice. Kearney's knowledge of the African market is owed in part to his having lived on the continent twice in his career, in Nigeria and in South Africa. Prior to joining the firm, Kearney was chair of the International Business Practice Group at Patton Boggs, LLP, where he worked with global emerging markets, and previously served as Deputy Assistant Secretary for Services Industries and Finance at the U.S. Department of Commerce, where he participated in various negotiations with GATT, NAFTA, Japan and China.

Brown and Kearney are only the latest additions to the firm's Global Energy & Infrastructure Practice. The group, co-chaired by Douglas C. Atnipp in Houston, Patricia Menendez-Cambo in Miami and Kenneth M. Minesinger in Washington DC, has seriously expanded and elevated its geographic scope and experience over the past 6 to 12 months.

Some other recent additions include:

• Michelle De Blasi in Phoenix: She serves as chair of the office's Energy & Infrastructure Group and as a member of the firm's Environmental Group.
• William Garner in Houston: He heads the firm's Renewable Energy Practice.
• John P McMullan in Houston: He was previously Senior Vice President and General Counsel at a green gas and environmental commodity company.
• Nicolas Borda in Mexico City: He is the current chair of the Energy Committee of the Mexico Bar Association.
• Robert S. Thompson III in Denver: He was appointed (by the Secretary of Interior Ken Salazar) to the Indian Oil Valuation Negotiated Rulemaking Committee representing the interests of the Western Energy.

The firm's international energy and infrastructure experience and market penetration were also enhanced by the recent addition of an office in Warsaw, Poland. The 50-plus lawyer team, which joined from Dewey & LeBoeuf in May 2012, provides legal services in a number of areas key to important industries in Eastern Europe and beyond, including energy and infrastructure, and increased Greenberg Traurig's international presence in these key areas, which already features an experienced energy and infrastructure team in its London office.

About Greenberg Traurig, LLP
Greenberg Traurig, LLP is an international, full-service law firm with approximately 1750 attorneys serving clients from 35 offices in the United States, Latin America, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. In the U.S., the firm has more offices than any other among the Top 10 on The National Law Journal's 2012 NLJ 250. For additional information, please visit www.gtlaw.com. In London, Greenberg Traurig operates as Greenberg Traurig Maher LLP; in Mexico City as Greenberg Traurig, S.C., and in Warsaw as Greenberg Traurig Grzesiak sp.k.

SOURCE Greenberg Traurig, LLP