Regardless of the client or difficulty of the challenge before her, Teresa’s depth in the law, agility and endless stamina allow her to focus on efficiently and effectively helping clients. Notably, Teresa co-chairs a practice which was the only Indiana commercial law practice ranked Tier 1 on the U.S. News-Best Lawyers Best Law Firms list in 2017 for energy law in Indianapolis. In 2020, Teresa celebrates 20 years of being rated AV Preeminent from Martindale-Hubbell.
Teresa’s practice is extensive and includes litigation, transactional, legislative and appellate advice. She counsels clients on such issues as utility rate making, including large contested general rate cases and rate investigations. She works extensively with other aspects of public utility regulation, access to public records, competition, construction of new facilities, customer-specific contracts, alternative regulation and deregulation, energy efficiency, demand side management, energy policy, renewable energy and advises on energy storage and utility of the future strategies.
Teresa also offers comprehensive counsel pertaining to environmental compliance, excess earnings, fair value, fuel cost adjustments, purchased power, and mergers and acquisitions. In addition, she advises on nuclear energy cost recovery issues, pole attachments, regional transmission organizations, renewables, reverse rate cases, Smart Grid, tariff changes, regulatory compliance, the Telecommunications Act of 1996, and other regulatory matters.
Prior to joining the firm, Teresa worked for more than four years in the radio broadcasting and communications industry. Drawing on this experience, she advises clients on crisis communications, media interviews and cross-examination for hearings.
Teresa remains dedicated to delivering the right mix of litigation skill and regulatory savvy needed to guide clients through this constantly evolving industry. Notably, she has negotiated comprehensive settlements in two recent major general rate cases. When helping clients by applying her honed people skills and productive negotiation approach to legislation and regulatory compliance, litigation, appellate counsel, and transactional matters, Teresa provides answers to complex questions that are on-point in terms of the law and regulatory climate, yet practical for those she serves.
She has been a frequent speaker and author on regulatory law, communications, diversity and law firm marketing.
Professional and Community Involvement
Former chair, Barnes & Thornburg Client and Community Relations Committee
Former chair, Barnes & Thornburg Diversity Committee
Former member, Barnes & Thornburg Recruiting Committee
Former member, Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission Practice and Procedures Committee
Former chair, Indiana State Bar Association Utility Law Section
Former member, Indiana State Bar Association Certification of Specialties Committee
Member, United Way of Central Indiana Tocqueville Society
Former Member, West Liberty State College President’s Club
Member, Daughters of the American Revolution
Former board member, Women’s Fund of Central Indiana
Former board member, Eiteljorg Museum
Former advisory board member, Indianapolis Woman
Former advisory board member, International Violin Competition
Honors
Chambers USA Leading Lawyer, 2023
Martindale-Hubbell, AV Preeminent
The Best Lawyers in America, 2003-2020, 2022-2024; Lawyer of the Year, 2017; Women in the Law, 2017
Indiana Super Lawyers, 2004-2010
Super Lawyers Corporate Counsel Edition, 2009
Profiled for her dedication to diversity by MultiCultural Law Magazine, 2007