Gordon Polozola

• Business & Corporate

• Project Development

• Utilities Regulation

Gordon Polozola brings decades of experience to representing the interests of public utilities and industrial clients in the areas of electric generation and project development, telecommunications, water and sewer services, gas and petroleum pipeline regulation, and trucking/transportation companies. In everything he does, Gordon brings proven skill to executing strategic business goals across diverse company business units through his solutions-oriented approach to problem-solving – all while mitigating inherent legal and regulatory risks.

Gordon’s experience is undeniably broad and deep. He advises on the legal issues associated with utility ratemaking, electric service agreements with incumbent utilities; wholesale power and commodity sale/purchase agreements, EPC agreements, independent system operator capacity and energy markets, NERC regulation, utility M&A and private infrastructure fund transactions, O&M contract negotiations, FERC wholesale transmission and interconnection agreements, and utility environmental regulation and compliance.

Gordon represents local, regional, national, and global utilities and large utility consumers in contract negotiations and regulatory proceedings before the array of public agencies. He brings extensive knowledge of federal and state regulations and decisions relating to the development and operation of independent power projects and on-site industrial generation projects.

He has successfully advocated client interests before the Louisiana Public Service Commission, Florida Public Service Commission, Tennessee Regulatory Authority, Arkansas Public Service Commission, Mississippi Public Service Commission, Federal Communications Commission, and Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. Gordon is a Certified Cogeneration Professional and Distributed Generation Professional, certified through the Association of Energy Engineers.

Gordon also represents local gas distribution, water and sewer, and pipeline companies in rate application cases and compliance filings before the Louisiana Public Service Commission.

In addition to his utility industry acumen, Gordon represents large private fund investors in selling or purchasing electric generating and pipeline assets, as well as in the participation of various industrial projects, such as the development of petrochemical facilities. His private equity clients include large insurance companies and domestic and foreign pension funds, for whom he serves as outside general counsel.

Gordon is among the first-tier lawyers of choice for many AmLaw 100 firms seeking local counsel on their Louisiana and Texas legal matters. He is dedicated to serving as the transaction quarterback – forming the appropriate legal team and shepherding the moving legal parts of the deal over the finish line to a successful closing. Gordon also serves as the firm’s subgroup leader for issues pertaining to renewable development and sustainability initiatives, such as carbon capture and sequestration.

Prior to rejoining Kean Miller in 2020, Gordon served as Vice President and Regional General Counsel for a major independent power producer in the Southeast, and as Executive Vice President and General Counsel to a private equity infrastructure firm located in Houston, Texas.

Having worked in-house, Gordon knows what businesses need to succeed and realize their full ROI potential while also mitigating legal risks. As a legal advisor, he is forthright about the legal options available to his clients, while also considering client business goals. Gordon is fearless in offering his views on which path forward reflects the best course of action from a legal and business perspective.

Gordon has experienced, firsthand, what drives business decisions. He knows the importance of conserving time, resources, and legal spend, having been responsible for in-house legal budgets himself. He believes in focusing on the continuous development of the longer-term relationship with business clients and in providing legal advice that is actionable and parallels their long- and short-term goals.

• Member, Louisiana State Bar Association (Secretary & Treasurer, Council Member Public Utility Section)

• Member, Texas State Bar Association

• Member, Louisiana Broadband Advisory Council

• Member, Association of Energy Engineers

• Assisted a national energy company in the structuring of and obtaining Louisiana Public Service Commission approval for an industrial on-site generation facility transaction.

• Represented a private investment fund in the legal diligence and acquisition process for an intrastate natural gas pipeline system in the Texas Delaware Basin.

• Advised and led the transaction legal team for a private infrastructure investment company relating to the development, construction, ownership, and operation of a downstream petrochemical manufacturing facility.

• Advised major private equity companies and solar development companies regarding applicable Louisiana regulatory laws and regulations and independent system operator interconnection requirements and processes for the development of renewable power generation projects.

• Represented large industrial companies in the negotiation of transmission studies, interconnection electric service agreements, and associated riders with the incumbent electric utility and transmission companies.

• Negotiated operations and maintenance, and supply chain agreements for electric power generation facilities in Louisiana.

• Defended and led the negotiation team in a Consent Decree Settlement with the U.S. Department of Justice and Environmental Protection Agency in major NSR litigation.

• Advised worldwide, national, and regional local and long-distance telecommunications carriers in certification proceedings, regulatory compliance, arbitrations, and rulemaking before the Louisiana Public Service Commission and other state commissions.

• Representation of water, sewer, and local distribution gas companies in ratemaking and M&A proceedings before the Louisiana Public Service Commission.

• Representation of intrastate and interstate common carrier pipelines in regulatory compliance and ratemaking proceedings before the Louisiana Department of Energy and Natural Resources and Louisiana Public Service Commission.

• Representation of intrastate/interstate common carriers in obtaining Louisiana Public Service Commission certificates to provide transportation services and in executing regulatory compliance filings.

Michaelle Pitard Wynne Professionalism Award

Louisiana State Bar Association

2006

Hall of Fame

LSU Law Center