Robert J. Keegan is a founding partner of a mid-sized law firm that is renowned for its expertise in all facets of administrative and regulatory law within industries such as public utilities, energy facilities siting, automobile insurance and telecommunications. He is an industry leader in representing electric generators and developers of energy storage and delivery infrastructure, as well as regulated and competitive retail energy providers and large energy users interested in exploring creative procurement strategies. Mr. Keegan advises clients on matters relating to a broad range of regulatory and administrative compliance matters including, regulatory approval of mergers and acquisitions, utility rate plans, energy-supply contracts, renewable resources, and load-management initiatives. He represents clients in adjudicatory and rulemaking proceedings involving rate-setting, pipeline safety, service quality and industry-restructuring issues. Mr. Keegan has also successfully represented several client in appeals from the administrative record before the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court.

Before founding the firm in 1988, Mr. Keegan was appointed by the Governor for two terms as a Commissioner at the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities from 1983 to 1988. Prior to his appointment as Commissioner, Mr. Keegan was Deputy Regional Counsel at the United States Department of Energy. Prior to receiving his Juris Doctor from Boston College Law School, Mr. Keegan completed his Bachelor of Science Degree in Finance from Boston College.

Mr. Keegan is admitted to practice before the bars of Massachusetts, Rhode Island, the U.S. District Court of Massachusetts and the First Circuit Court of Appeals. He is also a member of the Board of Directors of the Northeast Gas Association, past member of the Board of Directors of the New England Canada Business Council, member of the Board of Directors of the Energy Coalition in California, member of the Guild of Gas Managers, and the past President and current Treasurer of the Society of Gas Lighting.

AREAS OF PRACTICE
Administrative Law
Energy Law
Public Utilities
Telecommunications

BAR ADMISSIONS
Massachusetts, 1973
U.S. Court of Appeals 1st Circuit, 1975
U.S. District Court District of Massachusetts, 1975
Rhode Island, 2004

EDUCATION
Boston College Law School, Boston, Massachusetts, 1973
J.D.
Honors: Recipient, John F. Cremens, Esq. 1941 Award
Honors: Boston College Legal Assistance Bureau 1972-1973, (Student President)

Boston College, Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, 1968
B.S., Bachelor of Science
Honors: Cum Laude
Major: Finance

PUBLISHED WORKS
Options for Modifying Rate Base Regulation (Co-Author with Paul Levy) Public Utilities Papers, 1986

A Market-Based Approach to PURPA (Co-Author with Paul Levy) American Bar Association Natural Resources and Environment, Spring, 1987

Institutional Obstacles to ISDN Development International Council for Computer Communications, September, 1987

Competitive Bidding: The New England Experience Public Utilities Papers, 1987

CLASSES/SEMINARS TAUGHT
Faculty Member, Nat'l Ass'n of Regulatory Utility Commissioners Annual Regulatory Studies Program, Graduate School of Business Admin., MI State Univ., 1984

PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS AND MEMBERSHIPS

National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners, 1985 - 1988
Member, Gas Committee

National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners, Chair, 1987 - 1988
Subcommittee, Relations with the Federal Energy Regulation Committee

Gas Research Institute, 1985 - 1988
Member, Advisory Council

PAST EMPLOYMENT POSITIONS

Massachusetts Defenders Committee, Trial Attorney, 1973 - 1975
Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities, Senior Trial Counsel, 1976 - 1979
United States Department of Energy, Assistant Regional Counsel, 1979 - 1982
Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities and Energy Law Institute, Consultant, 1982 - 1983
Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities, Commissioner, 1983 - 1988
Massachusetts, Special Assistant Attorney General, 1990 - 1991

BIRTH INFORMATION

Boston, Massachusetts

Keegan Werlin LLP is the Massachusetts representative to the State Capital Group. State Capital Group is a seamless global network of more than 140 of the profession’s preeminent independent law firms. By uniting their skills, expertise and influence, the member firms help leading and growing companies in every industry navigate a complex and ever-changing legal landscape. With local and regional experts across the globe, the independent member firms capitalize on the strength and effectiveness of the State Capital Group network to help their clients solve today’s toughest business challenges.