Nevadan Appointed to Federal Energy Post; Prominent Nevada Energy Attorney and Public Servant to Serve as General Counsel of Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
Las Vegas – (Business Wire) Thom Sheets, a partner in the statewide Nevada law firm, McDonald Carano Wilson LLP , has been selected to serve as General Counsel for the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). John Wellinghoff, FERC Chairman, appointed Mr. Sheets to the independent agency, which regulates the interstate transmission of electricity, natural gas and oil. He will replace Cynthia A. Marlette as of October 2009.
In his new position, Mr. Sheets will oversee FERC's Office of the General Counsel, which is responsible for providing legal and policy advice concerning all areas of the Commission's regulation. Comprised of approximately 170 employees and five sub-organizations, the Office is also responsible for representing the Commission before the courts.
"Thom is an excellent appointment," said George F. Ogilvie III, Managing Partner of McDonald Carano Wilson's Las Vegas Office. "While our energy team will miss his experience and expertise, we commend FERC for its acknowledgment of Thom's qualifications, and we are honored that a member of our energy practice group has been named to such an important position."
Mr. Sheets was selected for his 32 years' experience in energy law and administrative and regulatory practice. In addition to his position on the Firm's Energy, Environment & Natural Resources Practice Group, he previously served as Senior Vice President and General Counsel to Southwest Gas Corp , as Senior Attorney with Texas Eastern Corporation , as Staff Counsel with the Public Service Commission of Nevada, as well as Senior Attorney positions with Sierra Pacific Resources and Toledo Edison Company .
Mr. Sheets has long been a public servant to the state of Nevada, having long served as Chairman of the Nevada Tax Commission, which oversees the fair administration of taxes on all Nevada citizens and businesses. Upon his appointment to FERC, he resigned his position with the Tax Commission.
Mr. Sheets is also the former chairman of the Nevada Commission on Ethics, which administers and enforces Nevada's ethics in government law.
A statewide Nevada law firm, McDonald Carano Wilson LLP was established in 1949 by former United States Senator Alan Bible and Robert L. McDonald. The firm has offices in Reno and Las Vegas, with more than 50 lawyers statewide. The firm offers a wide range of legal services in the areas of complex litigation, business entities and governance, commercial transactions, securities, bankruptcy, gaming, tax, probate, estate planning, energy, environmental and natural resources, real property, construction, labor and employment, intellectual property and governmental relations.