Practice Focus
John Marshall, who has just finished his last term as the managing partner and chief executive officer of the firm, has represented clients before the Vermont Public Service Board in a variety of energy, telecommunications and environmental matters regularly for nearly three decades.
In addition to Public Service Board work, John’s public utility practice has included appearances before the Department of Energy and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.
John was a member of DRM’s cross-practice ARRA-Stimulus team, which monitored and interpreted federal and state developments related to the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act. He has extensively reviewed the energy and telecommunications provisions within the Act and is prepared to assist clients with the legal aspects of energy efficiency, renewable energy and broadband projects, as well as related opportunities and potential pitfalls that may be associated with ARRA.
Significant Matters
John has appeared before the Vermont Public Service Board to petition for its approval of the acquisition by a Gaz Metro subsidiary of Green Mountain Power Corporation, sale of the Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Station, siting of a 52-mile, high-voltage, direct-current transmission line, a natural-gas pipeline in Vermont's Northeast Kingdom and hydroelectric projects. He represented Comcast Corporation in connection with its petition to the Board for authority to acquire Vermont’s largest cable franchise. He represented Vermont Gas Systems, Inc., in connection with its petition to the Board for approval of Vermont's first alternative-regulation plan.
Professional Activities
John serves on the board of directors of the Vermont Business Roundtable, a non-profit, public-interest organization whose membership is comprised of 120 CEOs of Vermont's most active and committed businesses and employers. He chairs the Roundtable’s Infrastructure Working Group.
John served for six years as chair of the Vermont Bar Association Environmental Law Committee and three years as the chair of its Health Law Committee. He served as a member of the Governor’s Blue Ribbon Commission on Health and the Vermont Health Care Authority’s Advisory Committee on Universal Access.
John is listed in The Best Lawyers in America 2010, having been continuously recognized by that organization for more than a decade. He is ranked among the top five percent of attorneys in Vermont by Super Lawyers® magazine. The listed attorneys were identified by their peers and through the independent research of Law & Politics® magazine. He receives Martindale-Hubbell’s AV® Preeminent™ Peer Rating, the highest rating attainable.
Community Involvement
John is active in local and regional organizations, providing his services pro bono to the Town of Peacham and other organizations in Peacham such as the library and church. He has served as chair of the board of directors for Vermont Community Foundation, Inc., and Vermont Public Television and on the board of directors of Smart-Growth Vermont, the St. Johnsbury Railroad Heritage Society and Northeast Kingdom Habitat for Humanity, Inc.
Publications/Presentations
John wrote an essay on regulation of industry for a book published by the Snelling Center for Government and the University of Vermont, entitled Vermont State Government and Administration. He has twice lectured in Karelia (a republic in the Russian Federation and Vermont’s sister state) on environmental and commercial law as part of the Rule of Law project.
Reported Cases
In re Adelphia Business Solutions of Vermont, Inc., 2004 Vt. 82
In re Petition of Twenty-four Vt. Utilities, 159 Vt. 339 (1992)
State v. Shop and Save Food Markets, Inc., 138 Vt. 332 (1980)
Brattleboro Auto Sales v. Subaru of New Eng., 633 F.2d 649 (2nd Cir. 1980)
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