John M. Zerwas, Jr. advises clients on both regulatory and transactional matters involving energy and electric utility issues. He frequently represents electric utilities, retail electric providers, generation companies and power marketers before various state and federal regulatory agencies. He has represented and advised clients in several utility rate cases; sale, transfer and merger proceedings; certification matters; transmission line need and siting proceedings; complaint cases; and enforcement matters. In addition, he often advises clients on issues related to registration and certification with independent system operators/regional transmission organizations, including the Electric Reliability Council of Texas.
John also represents and advises clients on legislative and policy matters. As a former policy adviser to the Governor of Texas, John offers a wealth of knowledge about the critical issues related to and affecting several state agencies, including the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT). His insider’s knowledge and extensive rulemaking and legislative experience enable him to guide clients on new developments in regulatory compliance.
John’s previous experience also includes serving as an attorney for the PUCT, where he represented the Commission staff in numerous contested cases and other proceedings. While at the PUCT, he also served as legal adviser to two Commissioners.
Awards and Rankings
Recognized by Chambers USA: Guide to Leading Business Lawyers in the area of energy: state regulatory and litigation (2020)
News
In the News
Sign of the Times: Law Firm Adds Energy Bankruptcy Partner in Houston (February 4, 2016)
Houston Chronicle
Sutherland is broadening its Texas energy practice by adding two experienced lawyers in Houston and an accomplished energy regulatory attorney in the firm’s Austin office, which added three new ...
Press Releases
24 Eversheds Sutherland Practice Areas, 63 Attorneys Named Among Nation’s Best in 2020 Chambers USA (April 23, 2020)
Eversheds Sutherland is pleased to announce that 24 practices and 63 attorneys have earned recognition in the 2020 edition of Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business. Chambers USA, a ...
Sutherland Grows Texas Energy Practice in Houston and Austin with Eight Recent Appointments and Moves (February 3, 2016)
AUSTIN and HOUSTON-Sutherland Asbill & Brennan LLP is broadening its Texas energy practice by adding two experienced lawyers in Houston and an accomplished energy regulatory attorney in the firm’s ...
Publications
Legal Alerts
New Texas law addresses transactions requiring approval by the Public Utility Commission of Texas (June 26, 2019)
On June 4, 2019, Texas Governor Greg Abbott signed into law Texas Senate Bill (SB) 1211, which amends 39.158 of the Texas Public Utility Regulatory Act (PURA) relating to prior approval of certain ...
White House Issues Guidance Advising Agencies to Assess Climate Change in NEPA Reviews (August 11, 2016)
On August 1, the White House Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) issued its final guidance for federal agencies on considering greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and the effects of climate change in ...
