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Lino Mendiola III

Partner
Co-Head of Global Energy
Gittings Global - NE110952

Lino advises clients on matters involving energy policy and regulatory issues. Lino represents electric utilities, electric cooperatives, private equity investors, project developers and other clients in state and federal courts and before public agencies. Lino has been lead counsel in approximately fifty utility rate cases and related trials and appeals. He has been involved in many of the largest disputes involving the electric industry in Texas for three decades. Lino also advises on the regulatory aspects of complex energy transactions, including the development of regulated and unregulated assets, asset sales, behind-the-meter arrangements, facility interconnections and joint ownership agreements.

With a deep and broad knowledge of electricity markets, Lino advises clients in navigating complex regulatory requirements in developing energy infrastructure assets including traditional and renewable generation, regulated and competitive transmission lines and distributed energy resources such as battery energy storage systems (BESS). In disputes, Lino combines technical regulatory knowledge involving energy policy, energy markets and transactions with serious litigation skills.

Top ranked in Chambers for more than a decade, his clients and peers have said "He is in the very top-tier in the field of electric utility regulation. He can effectively explain the crux of an issue and looks for creative solutions.” (Chambers 2022) and “Lino is very talented and knows the energy space very well. He is an excellent litigator." (Chambers 2023). Lino is ranked in Chambers Band 1 in in Energy: State regulatory and litigation (electricity).

Lino also counsels clients on issues related to DBE/HUB/MBE/WBE regulatory compliance, supplier diversity program development and DEI issues generally.

Lino is Co-Head of the Eversheds Sutherland Global Energy Group, which includes more than 200 lawyers throughout Africa, the Americas, Asia, Europe and the Middle East.

  • Assisted the acquirer in securing Texas regulatory approval of El Paso Electric Company acquisition.
  • Represented a Texas electric utility in 2016 rate case.
  • Represented a Texas electric utility in a base rate proceeding and successfully negotiated a settlement.
  • Obtained state certification to construct large CCGT plant in MISO.
  • Defending constitutionality of state certification statute against Commerce Clause and Contracts Clause challenges.
  • Obtained Texas regulatory approvals for an exchange of regulated utility assets among utilities.
  • Obtained Texas regulatory approval for a series of transactions involving an exchange of assets and changes in ownership of electric utilities.
  • Guiding newly-formed national retail electric provider through state regulatory and ISO certification and regulatory compliance.
  • Advised a Texas electric utility on generation cost recovery rider.
  • Guided NRG Energy through DOE and NETL approvals for modifications to a cooperative agreement and provided regulatory advice related to the $1 billion Petra Nova Carbon Capture project, the world’s largest retrofit post-combustion carbon capture system.
  • Represented a private equity firm in connection with its acquisition of a residential gas distribution company.
  • Transacting electric utility assets in Texas: Legal framework and regulatory considerations, August 11, 2020
  • Recognized by The Legal 500 United States in the area of energy regulatory: conventional power (2020-2022) and energy regulatory: electric power (2023)
  • Recognized by The Legal 500 United States as a “Leading Lawyer” in energy regulatory: electric power (2023)
  • Recognized by Chambers USA: Guide to Leading Business Lawyers in the area of state regulatory and litigation (2011-2023)
  • Named to The Best Lawyers in America in the area of energy law (2007-2024) and administrative/regulatory law (2009-2024)
  • Recognized as “Lawyer of the Year” by The Best Lawyers in America in the area of energy law (2017) and administrative/regulatory law (2022)
  • Selected for inclusion in Texas Super Lawyers (2008-2011, 2013-2020)
  • Recipient, Texas Diversity Council’s Multicultural Leadership Award (2010)

     
  • Member, Texas Bar Foundation
  • Member, Hispanic Bar Association of Austin
  • Member, Austin Bar Foundation
  • Member, State Bar of Texas
  • Member, American Bar Association
  • Member, Hispanic National Bar Association
  • Board Member, The General Counsel Forum
  • Board Member, Child Inc.
  • Texas
  • U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas
  • U.S. Supreme Court
  • U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas
  • U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas
  • B.A., Brigham Young University
  • J.D., cum laude, Harvard Law School,

    Executive Editor, Civil Rights Liberties Law Review

Gittings Global - NE110952
Lino Mendiola

Partner

Co-Head of Global Energy

Gittings Global - NE110952
Lino Mendiola

Partner

Co-Head of Global Energy

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