In four decades of representing regulated businesses, Rick has individually or jointly represented electric and gas utilities and telephone companies in numerous state and federal regulatory matters, including rulemakings, contested cases, earnings and service investigations and applications, sale and acquisition approvals, and over 30 rate cases, along with appeals and litigation of rate-related disputes. His experience includes strategic planning and negotiation as well as documentation of joint ventures, mergers, sales, and acquisitions.

Rick’s services include:

Regulatory Matters

  • Numerous presentations of return on equity (ROE) for electric and gas utilities
  • Demonstrations of capital structures, including divisional and stand-alone subsidiaries
  • Defense of debt allocations of utility following formation of holding company
  • Defense of stand-alone income taxes against proposed consolidated tax adjustments
  • Defenses of costs of employee compensation, including incentive compensation
  • Approvals of sales and acquisitions of regulated entities without adjustment for good will
  • Representations of service providers in service area and service rights disputes
  • Representation of utilities in PURPA disputes
  • Defense of wind generation facility against operating complaints
  • Defenses of service quality investigations
  • Applications for certification of statewide service networks
  • Defenses of challenged ETC certifications
  • Representations of service providers in numerous federal and state rulemakings

Appeals and Litigation

  • Appeals of rate case decisions
  • Federal litigation of rate related matters

Joint Ventures, Mergers, and Acquisitions

  • Evaluation, negotiation, and documentation of acquisitions and sales of multiple telecommunication companies
  • Formation of multiple joint ventures, including fiber networks and telco/electric broadband joint ventures

Credentials

Education

Harvard Law School, J.D.

University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, B.S., Business Administration

Admissions

  • Minnesota

Honors & Recognitions

The Best Lawyers in America (1995-present)

The Best Lawyers in America,  "Lawyer of the Year," Administrative/Regulatory Law, Minneapolis (2012)

News & Insights

Speaking Engagements

Affiliations

Professional Associations

  • Federal Communications Bar Association
  • American Bar Association
  • Minnesota State Bar Association
  • Hennepin County Bar Association
  • Minnesota Telecom Alliance
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