Marie Durrant
Legal - Energy
Salt Lake City,UT
Summary
Dedicated legal professional offering expertise in energy, corporate and environmental law. Proven success in resolving complex matters and building trust with clients through sound legal advice in clear and understandable terms. Hardworking, energetic and dedicated to client advocacy.
Overview
15
15
years of professional experience
Work History
Assistant General Counsel
PacifiCorp
07.2019 - Current
- Enhance company's legal standing by advising executive leadership on policies and strategy, regulatory and environmental compliance, energy transition, decarbonization, and reliability, reducing risks and liabilities
- Collaborate with cross-functional teams to develop and advance projects with evolving technologies including renewables (wind and solar), advanced nuclear, carbon capture, pumped storage, transmission expansion, and storage projects
- Litigation and legal advocacy including numerous successful litigation outcomes in federal circuit courts in 2023; negotiate compliance plans and legal orders, defend third party suits
- Negotiate and draft complex commercial contracts to protect company's interests and promote growth; manage agreements and relationships with co-owners of generating assets
- Advise on SEC reporting, asset management, acquisitions, and procurement policies
- Lead counsel for energy generation, environmental compliance, water rights and leasing, waste management, fuels and mining, and emergency response and site remediation; legal consulting on transmission and distribution, energy supply management, public service commissions, property transactions, power purchases, nuclear asset development
- Assist in developing crisis management plans, ensuring appropriate response measures to protect company interests
- Manage million-dollar budget for outside legal counsel services
Shareholder
Ray Quinney & Nebeker
07.2016 - 07.2019
- Lead and co-counsel for litigation in numerous federal and state courts and before administrative agencies
- Lead counsel for air, water and landfill permitting actions, legislative matters, and local land use proceedings
- Lead successful nationwide update of environmental and historic preservation laws for telecommunications projects with Federal Communications Commission and Native American tribes
- Established and led ozone working group, bringing oil and gas stakeholders, federal and state agencies, tribal representatives, and environmental advocates together to explore ozone non-attainment solutions
Of Counsel
Holland & Hart
02.2011 - 07.2016
- Lead counsel for industry trade association litigation on air quality issue in the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals
- Litigated land use, air quality, waste, NEPA and other issues for energy and natural resource companies, including Fortune 100 companies
- Counsel for several national companies on federal enforcement actions and information requests
- Consulted with two international governments (Rwanda and Fiji) to update mining laws and create model mining contracts
- Enhanced client satisfaction by providing comprehensive legal counsel and addressing individual concerns
- Developed strong relationships with clients, leading to increased customer loyalty and repeat business
Legal Fellow, Institute for Clean and Secure Energy
University Of Utah
08.2010 - 02.2011
- Analyzed federal and 50-state energy production laws and policy for the U.S. Department of Energy
- Analyzed new legislation and regulatory developments across the U.S. with potential impacts on carbon reduction
- Authored reports and two academic papers on regulation of carbon dioxide and climate change for energy development
Summer Associate
Vinson & Elkins
04.2009 - 08.2009
- Composed briefs for FERC rate cases; analyzed validity of criminal charges for a pipeline spill in Alaska; analyzed effect of property laws on siting of renewable energy projects
- Conducted due diligence on potential investments, identifying risks and opportunities for clients
- Awarded public interest sponsorship
Education
JD -
J. Reuben Clark Law School, Brigham Young University
Provo, UTPhD Rural and Community Sociology -
Brigham Young University
Provo, UTMSW School of Social Work -
University of Utah
Salt Lake City, UTBA English Literature -
University of Utah
Salt Lake City, UTSkills
- Electricity and energy law
- Policy development
- Litigation, commercial and environmental
- Legal risk assessment
- Contract negotiations and drafting
- Corporate and business law
- Expert legal writing and research
- Regulatory compliance
- Working independently and collaboratively in team environment
- Self-motivated, with strong sense of personal responsibility
- Proven ability to learn new and complex information quickly
Languages
French
French
Timeline
Assistant General Counsel
PacifiCorp
07.2019 - Current
Shareholder
Ray Quinney & Nebeker
07.2016 - 07.2019
Of Counsel
Holland & Hart
02.2011 - 07.2016
Legal Fellow, Institute for Clean and Secure Energy
University Of Utah
08.2010 - 02.2011
Summer Associate
Vinson & Elkins
04.2009 - 08.2009
JD -
J. Reuben Clark Law School, Brigham Young University
PhD Rural and Community Sociology -
Brigham Young University
MSW School of Social Work -
University of Utah
BA English Literature -
University of Utah
Selected Publications
- Preparing for Regional Haze Phase II, ROCKY MOUNTAIN MINERAL LAW FOUNDATION, Special Institute: Air Quality Issues Affecting Oil, Gas, and Mining (speaker and program committee member) (February 2018).
- Legal Basics of CO2 Enhanced Oil Recovery, JOURNAL OF OIL AND GAS (March 2014).
- How the Increasing Focus on Methane Emissions in President Obama’s Climate Plan May Impact Your Energy Operations, HOLLAND & HART NEWS UPDATE (July 2013)
- Preparing for the Flood: CO2 Enhanced Oil Recovery, ROCKY MOUNTAIN MINERAL LAW FOUNDATION ANNUAL INSTITUTE (Summer 2013).
- State Control of Carbon Capture and Sequestration (2-part series), co-authored with Arnold Reitze, ENVIRONMENTAL LAW INSTITUTE (2011).
- Nine peer-reviewed publications on conservation, community, and sociological theory in national and international journals (2003–2008).
Interests And Involvement
- President, Women’s Energy Network, Utah Chapter, 2021-2022; current service on board of directors
- Board member, Empower Mali Foundation, 2014-Present
- Running; Mountain Climbing; River Running; Horseback Riding; Motorcycles; Search Dog Handler; Snowboard Instructor; Scuba Diver; African Safaris.
- Speak French, German, beginning Swahili; lived and worked in Austria, Germany, Chad, Tanzania, Mali, Kazakhstan; travel to 70+ countries.
Additional Work Experience
- Baker & McKenzie, Almaty, Legal Internship, Major focus on uranium mining
- U.S. Department of Interior, Salt Lake City, UT, Legal Internship
- Holme, Roberts, & Owen, Salt Lake City, UT, Legal Internship
- Holland & Hart, Salt Lake City, UT, Legal Internship
- Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, Adjunct Faculty; International Programs Coordinator; Women’s Research Institute Research Associate, 1998, 2007
- State of Hawaii and Utah, Social Worker, 1996, 1998
Interests
· President, Women’s Energy Network, Utah Chapter, 2021-2022; current service on board of directors
· Board member, Empower Mali Foundation, 2014-Present
· Running; Mountain Climbing; River Running; Horseback Riding; Motorcycles; Search Dog Handler; Snowboard Instructor; Scuba Diver; African Safaris.
· Speak French, German, beginning Swahili; lived and worked in Austria, Germany, Chad, Tanzania, Mali, Kazakhstan; travel to 70+ countries.
Interests And Involvement
Women's Energy Network, Utah Chapter, 2021-2022; current service on board of directors, Empower Mali Foundation, 2014-Present, Running, Mountain Climbing, River Running, Horseback Riding, Motorcycles, Search Dog Handler, Snowboard Instructor, Scuba Diver, African Safaris, French, German, beginning Swahili, lived and worked in Austria, Germany, Chad, Tanzania, Mali, Kazakhstan; travel to 70+ countries.
Additional Work Experience
- Baker & McKenzie, Almaty, Legal Internship, focus on uranium mining
- U.S. Department of Interior, Salt Lake City, UT, Legal Internship
- Holme, Roberts, & Owen, Salt Lake City, UT, Legal Internship
- Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, Adjunct Faculty; International Programs Coordinator; Women's Research Institute
- State of Hawaii & Utah, Social Worker
- U.S. Peace Corp, Chad, Africa
Selected Publications
- Preparing for Regional Haze Phase II, ROCKY MOUNTAIN MINERAL LAW FOUNDATION (February 2018).
- Legal Basics of CO2 Enhanced Oil Recovery, JOURNAL OF OIL AND GAS (March 2014).
- How the Increasing Focus on Methane Emissions May Impact Your Energy Operations, HOLLAND & HART NEWS UPDATE (July 2013)
- Preparing for the Flood: CO2 Enhanced Oil Recovery, ROCKY MOUNTAIN MINERAL LAW FOUNDATION ANNUAL INSTITUTE (Summer 2013).
- State Control of Carbon Capture and Sequestration (2-part series), co-authored with Arnold Reitze, ENVIRONMENTAL LAW INST. (2011).
- Nine peer-reviewed publications on conservation, community, and sociological theory in national and international journals (2003–2008).
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