Leading California Energy and Environmental Lawyer Joins Covington
August 1, 2018
SAN FRANCISCO— Kevin Poloncarz has joined Covington as a partner in its Energy Industry Group in San Francisco.
Mr. Poloncarz represents electric power, petroleum, and chemicals companies, financial institutions, and project developers on federal and state air quality regulation and carbon markets matters. He has been deeply involved in legal and regulatory developments to reduce carbon emissions under the federal Clean Air Act and California law. Mr. Poloncarz played a key role in defense of the Obama Administration's signature climate policy, the Clean Power Plan, arguing on behalf of a coalition of nine major utilities in an en banc proceeding in the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals. He also has extensive experience with California's Cap-and-Trade Program and carbon pricing in other jurisdictions.
“Kevin is a recognized leader on California’s air quality and climate programs,” said Andrew Jack, co-chair of Covington’s Energy Industry Group. “Over the past decade, he has built a prominent, multifaceted practice advising clients on a range of pivotal air quality and climate issues that are driving the transformation of the electric power industry and the promotion of electric and other advanced vehicles, and his practice complements the firm’s strengths in environmental and energy regulation, litigation and policy matters.”
“I was drawn to Covington’s deep energy and regulatory expertise and its culture of collaboration and team work,” Mr. Poloncarz said. “I look forward to helping the firm’s Energy Industry Group expand its work with utilities, independent power producers, and disruptive technology companies that are remaking the rules and business models that have long governed the electric grid.”
Mr. Poloncarz graduated from University of Chicago Law School and received his undergraduate degree from Hobart College. He is a member of the boards of the Environmental Law Institute and the Center for Applied Environmental Law and Policy and a fellow of the American College of Environmental Lawyers.