Biography
Meghan Griffiths serves as an advisor and advocate in complex project development, commercial, litigation, and regulatory matters, most often to clients in the energy and electric power sector or to clients with significant energy and infrastructure needs. Her power industry clients span the sector, including developers and owners of renewable and thermal generation, electric utilities, utility investors, and retail electric providers. She also represents large power users in varied industries such as data centers, manufacturers, refineries, oil and gas companies, and commercial developers.
Meghan represents clients in matters that require a deep understanding of energy markets and regulation. She advises on commercial matters related to the power industry, including generation project development and finance, infrastructure development, private use networks and behind-the-meter electric supply arrangements, mergers and acquisitions involving utility assets, wholesale power purchase and retail power supply agreements, and utility interconnection and extension agreements. Meghan is a strong advocate for her clients, and has been recognized by Chambers as a leading Texas electric regulatory lawyer. In addition to advising on commercial matters, she acts as lead counsel in contested cases, rulemakings and administrative appeals involving the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT), other state utility commissions, and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). She represents her clients in state and federal court on related matters. She also counsels and advocates for clients on state regulatory and wholesale power market rules and protocols involving independent system operators (ISOs) and regional transmission organizations (RTOs) such as the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT), Southwest Power Pool (SPP), and Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO).
Meghan also has broad administrative law experience and advises clients on open government, open records, government contracting, and legislative matters.
Education
B.A., cum laude, Plan II Honors and Russian Literature, University of Texas at Austin
J.D., cum laude, University of Texas School of Law
Bar Admissions
Texas
Court Admissions
U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas
Electric Regulatory
- Represented a leading owner of a retail electric provider and power generation companies in the negotiation and successful settlement of ERCOT applications before the PUCT to obtain a debt financing order to securitize $2.1 billion in extraordinary wholesale power market costs and $800 million in retail electric provider debt related to Winter Storm Uri
- Represented a leading owner of an owner of a retail electric provider and power generation companies in the settlement of a multi-party unanimous settlement of a $1.8 billion bankruptcy claim by ERCOT on behalf of short paid market participants as a result of Brazos Electric Power Cooperative’s bankruptcy following extreme wholesale market high prices during Winter Storm Uri in February 2021, which resulted in insulating market participants from market uplift charges related to the claim payment shortfall
- Represented a leading owner of an owner of a retail electric provider and power generation companies in judicial appeals of PUCT order issued during Winter Storm Uri that, among other things, changed the monthly $2.5 million ERCOT market cap for default uplift
- Represented power generation and cogeneration defendants in multi-district tort litigation in In re: Winter Storm Uri Litigation, Master Cause No. 2021-41903, Harris County District Court 281st District Court
- Represented leading provider of oil and gas midstream services in PUCT rate case
- Represented power generation company in obtaining a favorable judgement from the PUCT regarding the routing of a transmission line
- Represented the conflicts committee of the board of directors of a transmission and distribution utility on electric regulatory matters at the PUCT related to a $400 million asset swap, sale transfer merger proceeding, rate case, and a $1.275 billion sale and merger of the utility
- Represented an independent power producer with more than 3,000 MW of generation capacity in the ERCOT power market, on PUCT, ERCOT, and legislative matters related to the company’s switchable generation units
- Represented a chemical manufacturer on retail electric supply and cogeneration self supply agreements for a private use network and related electric regulatory matters involving the PUC, FERC and ERCOT and issues related to Qualifying Facilities (QF) and the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act (PURPA)
- Represented a retail electric provider in PUCT complaint and enforcement proceedings and Deceptive Trade Practices Act claims related to market price spikes
- Represented a retail electric service provider in a multi-jurisdictional breach of contract claim in district court and at the PUCT that resulted in successful settlement of class action claim
- Represented a leading U.S. gas pipeline and terminal operator in a transmission line certificate of convenience and necessity (CCN) proceeding that successfully resulted in rerouting of the utility’s proposed routing to avoid adverse pipeline impacts
- Represented a turbine manufacturer on electric regulatory matters related to PUCT approval of a certificate of convenience and necessity for a 478 MW wind farm in Hale County, Texas
- Represented a commercial real estate developer in transmission line routing and CCN proceedings before the PUCT
- Represented a trade association of large power users in contested cases and agency rulemakings before the PUCT, FERC, and ERCOT and in related judicial appeals before state and federal courts on matters such as rate cases, electric market design, sale/transfer/merger and CCN proceedings
- Represented an association of consumers before the Colorado Public Service Commission on matters related to integrated resource plans and plant retirements
- Represented a Fortune 100 international petrochemical company in consumer complaint at the PUCT and successful settlement of a multi-million billing disputed between the company and its utility provider
- Represented a landowner in a PUCT reliability complaint and related district court litigation claims against an electric cooperative
- Represented large manufacturers in matters related to cogeneration facilities, asset sales, private use networks, net metering, electric market regulation, shared facilities, transmission routing and retail rate issues
- Represented investor on electric regulatory matters related to distributed generation and related PUCT and ERCOT market treatment
Renewable Energy
- Represented developer of a 150 MW solar project in San Patricio County in the negotiation of a wholesale purchase power agreement for the sale of behind-the-meter generation
- Represented a river authority in the negotiation of a 141 megawatt (MW) wholesale solar purchase power agreement in Borden County
- Represented industrial offtaker of an 80 MW solar project in Ellis County in electric regulatory matters related to the purchase of behind-the-meter generation
- Represented a municipally-owned utility in the negotiation of a long term purchase power agreement for a 200 MW wind facility and a retail tariff sleeving renewable power for a commercial and industrial customer
- Represented equity investor in local diligence matters related to the acquisition of a 70 MW solar project in Brazoria County, including state electric regulatory, environmental, real estate, mineral lease, and tax abatement matters
- Represented a tax equity and construction lender on local due diligence on electric regulatory, utility interconnection, shared facilities, environmental, real estate, minerals, and tax abatement matters for tax equity investment in and construction loans for a number of renewable projects in the ERCOT market, including a 200 MW wind farm in Schleicher County; a 62 MW wind farm in Glasscock County; a 200 MW wind farm in Hardeman County; a 255 MW solar farm in Pecos County; a 307 MW wind farm in San Patricio County; a 198 MW solar farm in Lamar County; a 201 MW wind farm in Starr County; and a 151 MW wind farm in Matagorda County.
- Represented a battery storage developer in the sale of 300 MW of battery storage projects on interconnection and electric regulatory matters involving treatment of battery storage in the ERCOT market
- Represented a utility scale solar developer on electric regulatory matters related to net metering, private use networks and power purchase agreement and negotiations with a Fortune 100 industrial power user
- Represented a gas pipeline company on negotiations related a retail electric supply agreement for renewable energy and renewable energy credits (RECs)
Data Centers
- Represented a Fortune 100 company in the development of an $800 million data center in Central Texas and advised on matters related to electricity infrastructure, facilities extension agreements and real estate
- Represented a Fortune 100 tech company in the development of two $500 million data centers in North Texas and advised on matters related to electricity and water supply and infrastructure, facilities extension agreements, tax abatement, real estate and land use, litigation, and open records matters
- Represented Fortune 100 company owning and operating data centers in Texas in utility rate case
- Represented a data center involving a public private partnership with a major university and advised on electricity supply and colocation agreement matters
- Represented a Fortune 100 tech company developing a data center on electric supply and infrastructure matters and renewable energy supply options
- Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business, Ranked for Energy: State Regulatory & Litigation (Electricity) – Texas, 2017-2023
- The Best Lawyers in America (Woodward/White Inc.), 2019-2024
- Energy Regulatory Law, 2019-2024
- Administrative / Regulatory Law, 2024
- Energy Law, 2024
- Texas Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers by Thomson Reuters, 2021-2023
- Lawdragon 500 Leading Energy Lawyers, Energy & Electricity, 2023
- Lawdragon 500 Leading Environmental & Energy Lawyers – Energy & Electricity, 2021
- “Austin’s Top Attorneys” List – Energy, Oil, and Gas, Austin Monthly, 2021
- Profiled as one of the leading Energy Regulatory lawyers in the United States, The Legal 500: United States, 2016
- Judge Suzanne Covington Pro Bono Service Award Honoree, Volunteer Legal Services of Central Texas, 2013, 2016
- Fellow, Texas Bar Foundation
Publications
- “Virtual Currency Businesses: An Analysis of the Evolving Regulatory Landscape,” Texas Tech Administrative Law Journal, Vol. 16:303 (2015)
Speeches
- “Practical and Policy Implications of ERCOT’s New Large Load Interconnection Process,” University of Texas School of Law Gas and Power Institute (October 2023)
- “Texas Energy Market Primer: An Overview of the Texas Power Grid and the ERCOT Market,” University of Texas School of Law Gas and Power Institute (October 2021)
- “Texas Electric & Gas Regulatory Overview: A Summary of Public Utility Commission of Texas and Railroad Commission Administrative and Judicial Proceedings for the Year 2020”, University of Texas School of Law Hot Topics in Gas and Power CLE (December 2020)
- “Retail Electric Supply Agreements: How Companies Meet Their Power Supply Needs in the Texas Market,” University of Texas School of Law Gas and Power Institute (September 2019)
- “Emerging Technologies in the Retail and Wholesale Electric Power Markets,” University of Texas School of Law Gas and Power Institute (September 2018)
- “Meeting the Electricity Needs of Industrial, Large Commercial Customers, and Municipalities,” University of Texas School of Law Gas and Power Institute (October 2017)
- “Regulatory Due Diligence Issues in Energy Financing,” Renewable Energy Law Conference, University of Texas School of Law and The Oil, Gas and Energy Resources Law Section of the State Bar of Texas (January 2017)
- “Virtual Current Use, Regulation & Litigation: The Evolving Legal Landscape,” Austin Bar Association – Administrative Law Section (February 2016)
In the News
- “Texas Cases to Watch in 2021: Scope of Immunity for Electric Grid Operator Will Be Decided,” Law360 (January 2021)
- “Kamala Harris VP Selection Spurs Conversation About Women in Leadership Roles From Women Legal Leaders Across Texas,” Texas Lawyer (August 2020)
- Gulf Coast Power Association
- Volunteer Legal Services
- Association of Women in Energy
- Austin Bar Association
- Travis County Women Lawyers’ Association
- State Bar of Texas
- The University of Texas School of Law Continuing Legal Education (UT Law CLE)
- Gas and Power Institute, Planning Committee, 2017-2020
October 27, 2023
Speaking EngagementsMike Nasi, Meghan Griffiths, and Brandon Durrett Present on ERCOT and EPA at 2023 Gas and Power Institute
September 19, 2023
Attorney NewsJackson Walker Congratulates Its “Texas Super Lawyers” of 2023
Each year, less than 5% of attorneys in Texas are named to the list. Selection is based off of peer nominations that are then reviewed by a research team. Each nominee is evaluated on his or her professional accomplishments, peer recognition, and community involvement.
August 24, 2023
NewslettersJW Diversity & Inclusion Newsletter – August 2023
View Jackson Walker’s August 2023 Diversity & Inclusion Newsletter, Perspectives.
August 17, 2023
Attorney News‘The Best Lawyers in America’ Honors 287 Jackson Walker Attorneys in 2024 Edition, Including 12 “Lawyers of the Year” and 80 “Ones to Watch”
The Best Lawyers in America has recognized 287 Jackson Walker attorneys across 5 offices and 82 specialty practice areas in its 2024 edition, including 12 Lawyers of the Year and 80 Ones to Watch. In this year’s guide, Jackson Walker saw the largest number of attorneys in the areas of Commercial Litigation (66 attorneys) and Real Estate Law (60 attorneys) and the addition of 35 attorneys as Best Lawyers.
June 1, 2023
SpotlightChambers and Partners Recognizes Jackson Walker Attorneys and Practices in 2023 USA and Global Guides
Jackson Walker is pleased to announce that Chambers and Partners has selected 51 attorneys and 17 departments for inclusion in the 2023 edition of the Global and USA guides. Attorneys recognized in the guides were ranked in 19 practice areas, with 4 attorneys listed among multiple areas and 6 named among the top attorneys nationwide in their respective areas.
April 24, 2023
NewslettersJW Diversity & Inclusion Newsletter – April 2023
View Jackson Walker’s April 2023 Diversity & Inclusion Newsletter, Perspectives.
March 22, 2023
Attorney NewsLawdragon Lists Six Jackson Walker Attorneys Among Leading Energy Lawyers of 2023
Jackson Walker partners Leonard Dougal, Meghan Griffiths, Peter Hosey, Jesse Lotay, Michael Nasi, and Michael Pearson have been selected to “The 2023 Lawdragon 500 Leading Energy Lawyers” list. Selection is limited to those who have been in practice for at least 10 years and is based on the publication’s individual research, submissions from firms and companies, and vetting with experienced lawyers in their respective areas.
November 17, 2022
NewslettersJW Diversity & Inclusion Newsletter – November 2022
View Jackson Walker’s November 2022 Diversity & Inclusion Newsletter, Perspectives.
September 21, 2022
Attorney NewsJackson Walker Congratulates Its 64 “Texas Super Lawyers” of 2022
Each year, less than 5% of attorneys in Texas are named to the list. Selection is based off of peer nominations that are then reviewed by a research team. Each nominee is evaluated on his or her professional accomplishments, peer recognition, and community involvement.
August 18, 2022
Attorney News‘The Best Lawyers in America’ Honors 214 Jackson Walker Attorneys in 2023 Edition, Including 11 “Lawyers of the Year” and 41 “Ones to Watch”
The Best Lawyers in America has recognized 214 Jackson Walker attorneys across 6 offices and 79 specialty practice areas in its 2023 edition, including 11 Lawyers of the Year and 41 Ones to Watch. Best Lawyers listings are based on an exhaustive peer review survey of thousands of attorneys who vote on the legal abilities of others in their practice areas.