Cozen O’Connor opens Newark office; expands energy practice

Listen to this article

Philadelphia firm Cozen O’Connor opened a Newark office Monday to be led by two energy law vets.

Gregory Eisenstark and Michael Connolly, formerly of Windels Marx, join the firm as member and counsel to the firm’s utility, environmental and energy group. Newark is the firm’s 29th office across two continents.

Eisenstark served as associate general regulation counsel for New Jersey’s Public Service Enterprise Group, and managing attorney, electric, for the New Jersey Division of Ratepayer Advocate and Deputy Attorney General of New Jersey. He was also the primary author of state legislation that permits electric utilities to own renewable generation, implement energy efficiency measures and earn a full return on the investments.

Connolly led the legal and claims departments at GPU Service Inc. and its energy company affiliates, namely Jersey Central Power & Light, Metropolitan Edison Co. and Pennsylvania Electric Co.

“In a regulated field as complex as the utility industry, experience is the difference between success and failure,” said Cozen O’Connor Chief Executive Officer Michael Heller in a statement. “Greg and Mike bring executive-level experience to clients on rate making, acquisition approvals, and rule makings and are ideally suited to spearhead our Newark office.”

JCP&L and NJR will come along with Einsenstark and Connolly as clients. Other local clients boasted by the firm include New Jersey-American Water, South Jersey Gas, Elizabethtown Gas, Atlantic City Sewerage Company, Talen Energy and Orsted.