Kurt is a partner in the firm's Corporate Transactions & Securities, and Energy, practice groups. He focuses his practice on the representation of electric cooperatives in transactional and corporate matters, acting as outside general counsel for a generation and transmission cooperative, and statewide trade association of electric cooperatives .

Education

  • The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law, J.D., 1997, with honors, Order of the Coif
  • University of Virginia, B.A., 1992

Representative Matters

  • Representation of electric generation and transmission cooperative (G&T) in connection with secured (under an indenture of mortgage) and unsecured financings from the Rural Utilities Service (RUS) of the USDA and private lenders, such as CoBank, ACB (CoBank) and the National Rural Utilities Cooperative Finance Corporation (CFC); fuel supply (coal and natural gas), including NAESB contracts; wholesale rate schedules; electric transmission service from and energy market transactions with the Regional Transmission Organizations (RTOs) PJM Interconnection, LLC (PJM) and the Midwest Independent Transmission System Operator, Inc. (MISO); corporate governance and fiduciary duties; sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides emission allowance transactions; construction, financing, operation, maintenance, fuel supply, site acquisition, permitting and interconnection of peaking natural gas-fired electric generating facility; acquisition and financing of partial interest in baseload coal-fired electric generating facility in stock purchase and contract assignment transaction; acquisition and financing of peaking natural gas-fired electric generating facility and associated intrastate natural gas pipeline in asset purchase transaction, and negotiation of related operation and maintenance agreement; compliance with applicable state and federal laws, rules and regulations, including those of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) and the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO); contract negotiation, drafting and interpretation; greencertificates; PURPA Qualifying Facilities (QFs); and other matters.
  • Representation of electric distribution cooperatives in connection with financings from the RUS, CoBank and CFC; large power contracts with retail customers; distributed generation; PURPA QFs; retail rate schedules; corporate governance and fiduciary duties; territorial law matters, including litigation regarding such matters before the PUCO; and other matters.
  • Representation of statewide trade association of electric cooperatives in connection with corporate governance and fiduciary duties; contract negotiation, drafting and interpretation; state and federal legislative matters; and other matters.

Professional & Civic Involvement

Professional Associations

American Bar Association (Business Law and Public Utility Sections)
Ohio State Bar Association (Public Utilities Section)
Columbus Bar Association
Electric Cooperative Bar Association
Energy Bar Association

Awards & Honors

  • 1996-97 Judge William M. Drennen Award, and CALI Awards, from The Ohio State University College of Law