Energy Industry Leader Joins Davis Wright

AUGUST 3, 2016 – Eric (Ric) Redman, a veteran energy industry lawyer, entrepreneur, and consultant, has joined Davis Wright Tremaine, where he will serve as Senior Policy Adviser on energy and climate. Redman will advise clients on significant transactional, regulatory, and policy matters.
 
“Over his 40+-year career, Ric has built an extraordinary reputation for his ahead-of-the-curve thinking about the energy industry,” said Jeff Gray, managing partner at Davis Wright Tremaine, who practices in the firm’s energy group in San Francisco.  “He’s developed a unique perspective having spent time on both the business and legal sides of the industry that will be invaluable to our clients.”
 
Mr. Redman’s many accomplishments include serving as a key drafter of the Northwest Power Act of 1980; directing the first and largest privatization of a federal hydroelectric facility; leading the drafting of Alaska laws and power sales agreements for five new hydroelectric projects now supplying power to 11 Alaska utilities; founding an international carbon capture business; and helping pioneer the “build-own-transfer” model of power plant development for electric utilities. He has been especially recognized for his insight into the opportunities and challenges presented by climate change.
 
“Ric brings to the firm an incomparable depth of experience in the energy and climate fields,” said Craig Gannett, co-chair of Davis Wright Tremaine’s energy group. “He’s counseled leading energy companies on their most significant matters. He’s personally spearheaded the development of billion-dollar projects. He’s developed a network of industry and government relationships across the U.S., China, and the U.K. We’re delighted to have the opportunity to put his knowledge and skills to work on behalf of our clients.”
 
“Davis Wright’s energy team has been my own outside counsel,” said Mr. Redman, “so I know they bring more than just legal service to clients—they bring tremendous strategic insight. It’s a privilege to team up with them to help companies across the energy sector navigate this defining transitional period in the industry’s history.”
 
Mr. Redman began his legal career at Preston Gates (now K&L Gates) and later joined Heller Ehrman, serving as chair of the firm’s energy and clean energy technologies practice groups. During his three-plus decades in private practice, he was a key adviser and primary outside counsel to boards and CEOs regarding their most important challenges, including regulatory, transactional, legislative, and policy matters at all levels—state, regional, and federal. 
 
Mr. Redman later joined Summit Power Group LLC, a Seattle-based developer of climate-friendly power plants. As Summit Power’s CEO and president, he managed the development of a multi-billion dollar portfolio of natural gas, solar, wind, and carbon capture projects in the U.S. and abroad.  
 
Most recently, as CEO of Thunderbolt Clean Energy, LLC, Mr. Redman has advised technology companies and others on electric power and climate matters, as well as on the development, commercialization, and deployment of climate-friendly products, systems, and processes.
 
“Ric has developed a global network within the energy and technology industries,” said Scott MacCormack, co-chair of the energy practice at Davis Wright. “He’s been a strong proponent for managing energy-related carbon emissions, and enjoys very good relations with both traditional oil and gas interests as well as many environmental constituencies.”
 
Mr. Redman is a longtime friend of Gary Locke, the former U.S. ambassador to China, Secretary of Commerce, and governor of Washington state, who rejoined Davis Wright last year as a Senior Adviser and Consultant.
 
“Ric has built a reputation as an energy professional in China and we look forward to having him partner with Gary to assist clients with China-related work,” said Jeff Gray. 
 
Like Gov. Locke, Mr. Redman will be serving Davis Wright Tremaine clients strictly in an advisory and consulting capacity and will not be practicing law.
 
Mr. Redman’s many professional activities include serving as Senior Policy Fellow for energy system decarbonization at the University of California San Diego’s graduate School of Global Policy & Strategy. He also serves on the advisory boards of Scottish Carbon Capture & Storage (the leading U.K. carbon capture and storage research organization) and the Methow Conservancy (a North Cascades land trust).
 
Mr. Redman graduated from Harvard College, Oxford University (as a Rhodes Scholar), and Harvard Law School. He is a board member of Phillips Academy, Andover, and of the Northwest African American Museum.  
 
Early in his career, Mr. Redman worked was an aide to the late U.S. Senator Warren G. Magnuson (D-WA) and wrote a best-seller about Congress, “The Dance of Legislation.” He has also written numerous articles for the New York Times, Washington Post, Open Spaces magazine, and Legal Affairs magazine, as well as articles on statutory construction for the University of Washington Law Review and the Environmental Law Review.
 
About Davis Wright Tremaine
Davis Wright Tremaine LLP is a national law firm with nine offices and over 550 lawyers representing clients based throughout the United States and around the world. For more information, visit www.dwt.com.