Dennis offers creative, practical solutions to advance and protect clients’ business interests in the constantly evolving regulatory arena.

Overview

Building on decades of experience in federal administrative law, Dennis defends regulated entities in the energy, environmental, and communications industries before federal agencies and courts. Focused on federal energy regulatory and environmental protection law, Dennis provides practical and efficient counsel to protect his clients’ interests and resolve disputes in rulemaking proceedings or in agency and court litigation.

A former solicitor of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Dennis managed over 150 cases with published opinions during his five-year tenure. Well-versed in the day-to-day working of federal agencies and the courts, Dennis navigates complex legal issues including novel and newly developing areas of law arising in FERC, EPA, FCC, the Copyright Office and other administrative agency proceedings and court litigation.

Experience

Dennis represents public and private companies in EPA Clean Air Act rulemaking proceedings, including Clean Power Plan, Cross State Air Pollution, Utility MATS, Regional Haze, and Lead Smelter MATS and related appellate litigation.

He represents a state utility commission in a series of contested FERC and court cases addressing rate and refund issues arising from the break-up of an  integrated energy system.

Dennis regularly counsels clients regarding electric transmission and generation projects, environmental issues, and licensing requirements for television program delivery systems.

Dennis represents a shipper in FERC oil pipeline litigated rate proceedings involving a broad array of tariff and rate issues.

He negotiated on behalf of television program producers with the cable and satellite industries and congressional staff to formulate a new royalty payment system, and submitted comments  in Copyright Office proceedings implementing the new plan including its impacts on  Internet and streaming program  delivery systems. He regularly counsels clients on the copyright royalty impact of such changes.

For his strong commitment to pro bono work representing indigent clients in child custody cases, the District of Columbia Bar named Dennis 2015 Pro Bono Lawyer of the Year. Dennis also received Multicultural Media, Telecom and Internet Council's (MMTC) 2019 Distinguished Pro Bono Service Award for his representation of minority- and women-owned broadcasters in an appellate challenge to the FCC's station ownership rules.

News & Insights

Recognitions

Recognitions

Listed in Best Lawyers in America© for Energy Law

Professional & Civic Activities

Professional & Civic Activities

Energy Bar Association

District of Columbia Bar, Pro Bono Center

Admissions

  • District of Columbia
  • U.S. Courts of Appeals for the First, Second, Third, Fourth, Fifth, Seventh, Ninth, Tenth, Eleventh, District of Columbia, and Federal Circuits
  • U.S. Supreme Court

Education

Northeastern University, J.D., 1975

College of the Holy Cross, A.B., 1970

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