Patrick J. McCormick

Patrick J McCormick III is a senior energy policy lawyer with more than 30 years of experience in federal energy regulation, utility law, and U.S. energy policy. Most recently, he served as Republican Chief Counsel for the U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, where he advised on legislation and oversight regarding the security, reliability, and affordability of the nation's energy supply. He most often guided issues on electricity markets, energy infrastructure, and federal regulatory frameworks.

Before joining the Senate committee, McCormick started his early energy career as Deputy Assistant General Counsel at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) and held other legal roles at Potomac Electric Power Company. He then spent more than 20 years in private practice, specializing in regulated energy markets and infrastructure, leading the Regulated Markets and Energy Infrastructure practice as a partner at Hunton & Williams LLP, and later worked as managing partner of the D.C office of Balch & Bingham LLP.

McCormick earned his J.D. from the Catholic University of America, Columbus School of Law and holds an undergraduate degree from Wheeling Jesuit University.

Interview Topics

• Grids, FERC, NERC, and utilities
• Congressional/federal governance and energy experience
• Affordable energy