GC Influencers
Most Influential GCs - USA
John Simon of PG&E Corporation
John Simon’s history of legal excellence as general counsel to Pacific Gas & Electric saw him promoted in January 2019 to the role as interim chief executive officer of the embattled utilities company, a position he held until the appointment of William Johnson in April 2019.
Simon, who currently serves as an executive vice president of PG&E, played a key role in defending the company against a storm of legal and regulatory issues arising out of catastrophic wildfires which occurred in Northern California in 2017 and 2019, including a slew of high-profile lawsuits alleging PG&E equipment was responsible for the devastating conflagrations. Simon and the legal team also find themselves advising on the company’s entry into Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings, partly as a result of potential financial liabilities associated with the ongoing dispute.
Simon’s stewardship of the legal department and his leadership in defending the company wins him the admiration of a number of legal commentators. Sources report that “he is a very effective leader because he can stay calm in the midst of a crisis” and commend his ability to “calm the waters and empower his team.”