Former Senior U.S. Department of Energy and Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Lawyers Launch Energy Law Firm, Roselle LLP
Washington, D.C.
June 3, 2025
Washington D.C.—Roselle LLP, a boutique energy law firm founded by four seasoned energy and regulatory lawyers from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), publicly launched today to take on matters and clients shaping the quickly growing energy sector. The new firm, with operations in Washington D.C. and New York, supports, advises, and advocates for companies developing, buying, and investing in energy infrastructure as they navigate the rapidly-changing legal, regulatory, and policy environment. Existing and prospective clients also include NGOs and trade associations, and states.
The founders of Roselle LLP collectively bring decades of experience in complex energy regulatory and policy matters, litigation, and at the highest levels of government. They include Avi Zevin, most recently Special Assistant to the President for Clean Energy Implementation at the White House and Deputy General Counsel at the Department of Energy; Miles Farmer, a former legal advisor to FERC Commissioner Allison Clements; Kim Smaczniak, previously Special Counsel at FERC; and Sam Walsh, former General Counsel of the Department of Energy.
“The energy sector, already in a period of transition, now faces unprecedented levels of uncertainty arising from the legal and regulatory environment. We at Roselle have built a team that is ideally suited to help our clients navigate what lies ahead across multiple energy technology and infrastructure sectors,” said Sam Walsh, Partner at Roselle LLP.
“We stand ready to take on the high stakes legal matters that shape the energy transition. Starting our own firm gives us the freedom to take on cutting edge issues, without constraint,” explained Kim Smaczniak, Partner at Roselle LLP.
“Clean energy remains the fastest and lowest cost opportunity to serve growing demand for grid operators across the country,” said Miles Farmer, Partner at Roselle LLP. “We are working with clients to seize this continued opportunity, whether it be identifying mechanisms to bypass or reform clogged interconnection queues, and development of new grid services tailored to the pressing needs that electricity markets currently face.”
“Whatever energy-related issue you are facing—a DOE grant amendment, a complex FERC proceeding, proposed new IRS guidance on an energy tax credit, or potential new permitting legislation in Congress—the Roselle LLP team will be your counsel, strategist, thought partner, and advocate,” said Avi Zevin, Partner at Roselle LLP.
More on the Roselle founding partners
Zevin advanced policies under the Inflation Reduction Act and Bipartisan Infrastructure Law as Special Assistant to the President for Clean Energy Implementation at the White House and as Deputy General Counsel at the Department of Energy. Before that, he was an advisor on policy to advance 24/7 clean electricity procurement for a major tech company, was at a regulation-focused academic center, and was in private practice at a boutique energy and environmental law firm.
Farmer joins Roselle with experience as legal advisor to FERC Commissioner Clements on consequential energy reforms, and as a senior policy advisor on the New York State governor’s energy team and private sector consultant with corporate, trade association, foundation, and non-profit clients.
Smaczniak brings deep knowledge of FERC, where she was Special Counsel in the Office of General Counsel, specializing in high-profile transmission, interconnection, and energy market reforms, and litigation chops, with prior roles running the clean energy litigation program at Earthjustice and as a trial attorney at the U.S. Department of Justice.
Walsh has extensive private and public sector legal experience advising clients on complex energy matters. Serving two administrations and most recently as General Counsel, the agency’s top lawyer, at the Department of Energy, Sam was responsible for overseeing the agency’s wide-ranging work including clean energy permitting and the grant, loan and tax credit programs under the Bipartisan Infrastructure and the Inflation Reduction Act, and in his prior role as law firm partner.
The firm’s name is inspired by Thomas Edison and his groundbreaking innovation in Roselle, New Jersey. In 1883, Roselle became the first community in the world to be illuminated by an interlinked system of overhead wires connected to a single generator. Just as Roselle, New Jersey pioneered the electric age, Roselle LLP helps clients lead the energy transition today.