Michael advises, counsels, and represents clients on energy and utility regulatory and policy issues in a wide variety of utility and energy-related regulatory proceedings, including with respect to reliability issues, regulatory audits, regulatory complaint proceedings, utility base rates and rate clauses, affiliate-interests, and tariff matters. He has represented utility interests in connection with administrative rule makings, including with respect to customer service, reliability, vegetation management, main extensions, affiliate standards, pole attachments, renewable energy, and distributed generation regulations. He has also represented utility clients in substation and transmission siting matters, reliability-related investigations, border disputes, storm cost recovery, utility property transfers, infrastructure and utility easement acquisitions, class actions, pooled-inventory arrangements, and management and other regulatory audits. Michael has extensive experience in advising clients regarding public utility holding company, service company, and affiliate interest compliance matters. He has assisted utility clients in the development and/or implementation of innovative programs such as the SREC-based financing program and a pre-construction utility clearance review process for municipal permitting. He has also practiced and appeared before the Appellate Division of the New Jersey Superior Court and has advised non-utility clients in connection with contractual and transactional issues associated with renewable and clean energy projects.
Prior to private practice, Michael served as vice president-law at GPU Service, Inc. and for its energy company affiliates — Jersey Central Power & Light Company, Metropolitan Edison Company, and Pennsylvania Electric Company before GPU Service, Inc. merged with FirstEnergy Corp. In that capacity, he served as the chief legal officer leading the Legal and Claims Departments of those companies. His 18-year tenure as an in-house attorney, assistant general counsel, and vice president of law encompassed a period of major state and federal regulatory and industry-related policy changes and initiatives, including electric industry restructuring, generation divestiture, and Public Utility Holding Company Act repeal initiatives, with which Michael was involved in various advising and management capacities.
Michael is a former member of the Edison Electric Institute's Legal Committee, the American Corporate Counsel Association, the American Bar Association, and a current member of the New Jersey Bar Association and the Public Utility Law Section thereof. He has participated in the Aspen Institute's Energy Policy Forum. Michael was also a former member and past chairperson of the Legal Advisory Committee of Nuclear Electric Insurance, Ltd., and the former editor of the Berks County Law Journal. He has participated in a variety of executive management programs and has written and presented on a variety of energy and other issues. He has been published in Pratt’s Energy Law Report (2021). In addition, Michael was ranked by Chambers & Partners USA in 2021, 2022, and 2023.
Michael earned his bachelor’s degree from Cathedral College. Michael earned his M.Ed. from the University of Pittsburgh School of Education and his law degree from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law.