Vidhya Prabhakaran

Clients call me when they need a guide through the regulatory complexities that have arisen as California attempts to transition to economically viable greener power sources.

To that end, I regularly advocate on behalf of my clients throughout the energy sector who envision an efficient and reliable energy marketplace and seek to successfully invest in California's energy future. Specifically, I focus on directing client successes before California regulatory bodies, especially the California Public Utilities Commission, and getting to an acceptable outcome when trying to work with or around the large California investor-owned utilities.

As the former president of the California Conference of Public Utilities Counsel, the Bar Association of San Francisco, the South Asian Bar Association of Northern California, and the Yale Club of Northern California, and the current president of the Energy Bar Association – Western Chapter, I regularly leverage the relationships I develop in these roles to benefit my clients because too often a deep understanding of the law is simply not enough.

If it touches on energy in California, I can either help or find you someone who can find a practical solution to the problem you need solved.

My experience before the CPUC has also allowed me to effectively and proudly represent clients in the regulated transportation, telecommunications, and water sectors as well.

At the firm, I currently serve as the partner-in-charge of the San Francisco office. I previously served as chair of the Energy, Natural Resources, and Environmental practice group and the firmwide Sustainability Committee.

Board member, Bar Association of San Francisco; 2010-2011, 2015-2017, 2020-2023; President, 2023

Board member, Justice & Diversity Center, Bar Association of San Francisco; 2012-2014; President, 2023

President, Energy Bar Association, Western Chapter

President, Conference of California Public Utilities Counsel, 2017-2018; Co-Chair and Co-Founder, Young Utility Lawyers Committee, 2010-2012

Board member, South Asian Bar Association of Northern California, 2007-2009 and 2014-2016; President, 2015-2016

Board member, South Asian American Justice Collaborative

Board member, South Asian Americans Leading Together, 2011-2015, Treasurer, 2014-2015

Co-chair, Minority Bar Coalition of Northern California, 2010-2012

Board member, Kearny Street Workshop, 2008-2010; President, 2010

Board member, Yale Club of San Francisco, 2008-2010; President, 2009-2010

Board member, Yale Alumni Nonprofit Alliance, 2015-2017

Board member, Randall Museum, 2016-2018

Bay Area Advisory Council member, Tahirih Justice Center, 2019-2022