5/18/2020 Biography · Sheila Slocum Hollis · ABA Women Trailblazers Project
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BIOGRAPHY
Sheila Slocum Hollis is chair of the Washington, D.C. office, and
was the office’s founding managing partner, as well as the
founding practice group leader for the firm’s Energy,
Environment and Resources Practice Group. She served on the
firm’s Executive Committee for more than a decade and the
Partners Board for 20 years. Ms. Hollis practices in the areas of
energy transactional and regulatory law and international and
administrative law before government agencies, Congress, state
and Federal courts, and other entities. She focuses on domestic
and international energy, water and environmental matters,
representing governmental bodies, the power and natural gas
industries, and other entities.
Ms. Hollis has served twice in Federal government. In 1977, she
became the first director of the Office of Enforcement of the
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, establishing the office
and its policies and procedures, which remain in place today.
She began her energy law career as a trial lawyer at the Federal
Power Commission from 1974 to 1976, serving as lead counsel
on the Pennzoil-United spinoff case. Over the course of her
career, she has played a key role in the formation and
implementation of energy law and policy. As a Professorial
Lecturer in the Law at George Washington University School of
Law, she taught energy law for 20 years to over 600 students in the Environmental and Energy Law Program
and was recently recognized by the school for her teaching contribution. Ms. Hollis is widely published in
energy law and policy matters, having co-authored two energy law texts and numerous articles on energy
policy, enforcement, and regulation in the natural gas, independent power and cogeneration, nuclear, and
hydroelectric areas, along with related environmental topics.
With a long and venerable career representing clients in matters relating to infrastructure, natural gas and oil
development, transportation and distribution, energy reliability, enforcement and compliance, and international
SHEILA SLOCUM HOLLIS
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energy policy, Ms. Hollis has received many honors and recognitions from the energy and legal industries. She
has been recognized for many years by Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business for her work
in electric regulation. In 2018, she was once again named by Super Lawyers as one of Washington D.C.’s Top
100 Lawyers overall and one of the Top 50 Washington Women Lawyers. She is the first energy lawyer to be
named to this list. In addition, Ms. Hollis was recognized by the American Bar Association (“ABA”) as a
“Trailblazer,” an honor given to women in law who “changed society.” She was among only 100 women to be so
honored for breaking barriers for women in cutting-edge areas of the law. Her personal story is now at the
Library of Congress, Harvard Law and Stanford Law libraries. In 2012, Ms. Hollis was inducted as a Fellow into
the American College of Environmental Lawyers, an honor bestowed upon a select group of lawyers with
“distinguished experience and high standards.” Ms. Hollis was also named one of the “50 Key Women in
Energy Worldwide” and received the 2011 Lifetime Achievement in Energy in Platt’s Global Energy Awards. (She
is the first attorney in private practice to receive the Platt’s Award.) Ms. Hollis has also been ranked by The
National Law Journal as one of the United States’ top 20 energy lawyers and has received the highest possible
rating from Martindale-Hubbell’s Peer Review Ratings for over 30 years for professional excellence.
In addition, Ms. Hollis is listed in many biographical directories such as, Who’s Who in America, Who’s Who in
the World, The World’s Leading Oil and Gas Lawyers, and The World’s Leading Project Finance Lawyers. Ms.
Hollis was selected for inclusion in Who’s Who Legal Directory for Oil and Gas. (The attorneys included in this
publication were selected based upon comprehensive, independent survey work with both general counsel
and oil and gas lawyers in private practice worldwide. Only specialists who have met independent international
research criteria are listed.)
Ms. Hollis has served on a myriad of boards, committees, and professional associations over the course of her
career and has been extremely active in a leadership role in many of those organizations. Since 2015, she has
chaired the Standing Committee on the Law Library of Congress of the ABA. She was the first woman to serve
as President of the Energy Bar Association and holds the distinction of being the only person to serve as both
President of the Energy Bar Association and Chair of the ABA’s Section of Environment, Energy and Resources
(“SEER”), the leading forum for thousands of lawyers working in areas related to the environment, natural
resources, and energy. She now serves in the House of Delegates of the ABA as Senior Delegate from SEER
and is also a council member of the ABA’s Senior Lawyers Division. She also served as President of the
Women’s Council on Energy and the Environment for five years and served on the board of the Women’s Bar
Association of the District of Columbia.
In addition, Ms. Hollis is Treasurer and a board member of the United States Energy Association and chaired its
nominating committee. She also is a member of the Advisory Committee of the North American Energy
Standards Board. Ms. Hollis serves on the Board of Trustees of the Center for American and International Law
and was Vice Chair of its Institute for Energy Law. She also is a Trustee of Plimoth Plantation, a museum located
at the original site of the Plymouth Colony. With an extensive background in international energy law, Ms. Hollis
is admitted as an honorary, international member of the Commercial Bar of England and Wales. She serves on
the Board of the American Friends of the Royal Society, which is one of the oldest scientific bodies in the world.
Ms. Hollis was honored to be chosen as a delegate of the ABA to the United Nations Rio+20 Conference in
2012. Ms. Hollis also served a three-year term on the Standing Committee on the Federal Judiciary and in that
capacity was one of the two primary investigators in the nomination of Justice John Roberts to the Supreme
Court. She is a Life Fellow of the ABA and has been a member of the American Law Institute for 25 years.
Ms. Hollis is admitted to practice in the District of Columbia and Colorado. She is a Colorado native and a
graduate of the University of Denver College of Law as well as the University of Colorado at Boulder, cum
laude in general studies and with honors in journalism.
Education
University of Denver College of Law, J.D., 1973
University of Colorado, B.S., Journalism, cum laude and with honors in overall studies, 1971
University of Exeter, International Law semester, 1971-1972
Experience
Duane Morris LLP
Partner, 1997-present
Founding and Managing Partner, Washington Office and of the Duane Morris Energy,
Environment and Resources Practice Group, 1997-2005
Chair, Washington, D.C. Office, 2005-present
Member, Executive Committee, 2005-2016
Member, Partners Board, 1997-2016
Member, Diversity and Inclusion Committee (2005-present)
Metzger, Hollis, Gordon & Alprin, Washington, D.C.
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Senior Partner, 1992-1997 (merged into Duane Morris LLP in 1997)
Vinson & Elkins L.L.P., Washington, D.C.
Partner, 1987-1992
Head of Washington office Energy Practice
Broadhurst, Brook, Mangham and Hardy, Washington, D.C.
Partner, 1984-1987
Butler & Binion, Washington, D.C.
Partner, 1980-1984
Professorial Lecturer in the Law, “Energy Law,” The George Washington University School of Law, 1979-
1999
Office of Enforcement of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission,
Washington, D.C.
First Director, 1977-1980
Charter Member, Senior Executive Service, U.S. Government, 1979-1980
Wilner & Scheiner, Washington, D.C.
Associate, 1975-1977
Federal Power Commission, Washington, D.C.
Trial Attorney, 1974-1975
Admissions
Supreme Court of the United States
Colorado
Supreme Court of Colorado
District of Columbia
U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
Professional Organizations
American Bar Association
Delegate, World Justice Project (leader of a global movement to strengthen the rule of law for the
development of communities of opportunity and equity)
Delegate, Rio+20 Conference on behalf of ABA Section of Environment, Energy, and Resources
(2012)
Representative to the House of Delegates for Section of Environment, Energy, and Resources,
1995-present
Chair, Section of Environment, Energy, and Resources, 2000-2001
Chair, Standing Committee on Environmental Law, 1997-2000
Chair, Coordinating Group on Energy Law, 1990s
Chair, Council for the Fund for Justice and Education, 2006-2009
Chair, Standing Committee on Silver Gavel Awards, 2009-2012
Sustaining Life Fellow
American College of Environmental Lawyers,
Fellow, 2012-present
Federal Bar Association
Chair, Energy, Environment and Natural Resources Section, 2012-2016
Council, Washington, D.C. Chapter
Energy Bar Association
President, 1991-1992
EBA Representative to the ABA’s House of Delegates, 1992-1993
Commercial Bar Association of England and Wales
Honorary Overseas Member, 2005-present
International Bar Association, 1990-2015
American Law Institute
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Life Member, 1992-present
Women’s Bar Association of DC
Council, 3-year term
Women’s Council on Energy and Environment,
President, 1998-2001
International Women’s Forum
Member, 2014-present
The District of Columbia Bar, Environment, Energy and Natural Resources Section
Steering Committee, 1991-1992
Thomas More Society
Life Member
President, 2003-2005
Eastern Mineral Law Foundation
Trustee, 2000-2009
International Oil and Gas Law Center, Southwestern Legal Foundation/Center for American and
International Law
Trustee
Vice President, 1995-2011
American Law Institute Continuing Legal Education
Environmental Law Advisory Panel, 2013-present
Board Memberships
Center for American and International Law
Board of Trustees, 1990-present
Women’s Bar Association of DC
Board Member, 2007-2009
KB Homes,
National Sustainability Advisory Committee, 2008-present
Today’s General Counsel Magazine
Editorial Advisory Board, 2004-present
Law360
Energy Editorial Advisory Board, 2017-present
United States Energy Association
Board of Directors and Treasurer, 2000-present
American Friends of the Royal Society
Board Member, 2000-present
Public Utilities Fortnightly
Advisory Board, 2005-2010
Association of Women in Water, Energy and Environment
Board Member2005-2015
ABA Journal Board of Editors
Chair, Board of Editors, 2007-2010
Board Member, 2001-2007
Honors and Awards
Recognized in 2017 as ABA “Trailblazer” for Women in Law: one of 100 women who “changed society”
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Recipient, Cheryl Blackwell Bryson Leadership Award, Duane Morris Women’s Initiative, October 2012
Recipient of the Paul Nordstrom Service Award for contributions to the legal profession and the
community from the Energy Bar Association and the Charitable Foundation of the Energy Bar
Association, 2010
Recipient, American Lawyer, “Global Finance Deal of the Year in Project Finance,” Global Legal Awards,
New York, 2015 (LNG deals)
Recipient of Lawyer International’s Legal 100, Energy & Natural Resources, 2018
Recipient, Bar Register of Preeminent Women Lawyers, Martindale-Hubbell
Selected repeatedly as Top Rated Lawyer in Energy, Environmental, and Land Use Law by American
Lawyer Media and Martindale-Hubbell
Recipient, Outstanding International Alumni, University of Denver Sturm College of Law, 2012
Recipient, Lifetime Achievement in Energy Award, 13th Annual Platts Global Energy Awards, 2011
Recognized by the University of Denver College of Law in July 2007 as an outstanding International Law
graduate
Honored as one of the “Key Women in Energy-Americas” for 2003. This award identifies, recognizes and
honors excellence in individual performance in the energy industry for North, South and Central America
Honored as one of the “50 Key Women in Energy in the World” for 2002. Ms. Hollis was named in the
Legal Excellence category for her leadership on behalf of peers and clients in the energy community.
Honorees were selected by a global panel of energy industry experts
Named “Woman of the Year” by the Women’s Council on Energy and the Environment (“WCEE”) for
2003. Honorees are selected each year by the Board of Directors of WCEE in the energy and/or
environment field and honored for their exemplary leadership and special contributions to the
advancement of women
Recipient, Offshore Excellence Award, Acquisition International, 2016
Appointed by People to People to head delegation of women judges and attorneys to China, South and
Central America and by Center for American and International Law to lead delegation of senior energy
executives and general counsels to former Soviet Union (1991-1992)
Ranked by The National Law Journal as one of the United States’ top 20 energy lawyers
AV Preeminent® Peer Review Rated by Martindale-Hubbell®, 1998-present
AV®, AV Preeminent®, Martindale-Hubbell Distinguished℠ and Martindale-Hubbell Notable℠ are Certification
Marks used under license in accordance with the Martindale-Hubbell® certification procedures, standards and
policies.
Recognized In
Super Lawyers, Top 100 Lawyers in Washington, D.C. and Top 50 Women
Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business
Who’s Who Legal: Energy,
Who’s Who in America
Who’s Who in American Law
Who’s Who in American Women
Who’s Who in Business and Finance
Who’s Who Legal Directory for Oil and Gas
The International Who’s Who of Oil & Gas Lawyers, Business Lawyers, and Energy Lawyers
Guide to the World’s Leading Banking Finance and Transactional Lawyers in the Project Finance section
Guide to the World’s Leading Project Finance Lawyers
Guide to the World’s Leading Women in Business Law
InterContinental Finance Magazine’s Leading Lawyers 500
Recent Selected Publications and Media Quotes
Featured in, “IAALS Advances Justice with Duane Morris LLP’s Sheila Hollis,” Institute for the
Advancement of the American Legal System, IAALS Online, Issues Blog, October 25, 2017
Featured in “Sheila Hollis: Energy Law Career,” Public Utilities Fortnightly, July 15, 2017
Featured, “Will US LNG Make a Splash in China?” KNect 365, June 4, 2017
Editor, Oil and Gas Reporter, 1990-2017 (when publication ceased)
Quoted in, “Will the US Lead the LNG Pack? 10 Energy Thought Leaders Weigh In,” KNect 365 Energy,
March 5, 2017
Quoted in, “Another Fracking Pipeline Is Rejected,” CNN Money, April 25, 2016
Quoted, “Why Coal Jobs Aren’t Coming Back, Despite Trump’s Actions,” CNN Money, January 24, 2017
Quoted in ”Is It Time to Bail Out the U.S. Oil Industry?“ CNN Money, January 14, 2016
Quoted in “Keeping Online Legal Material Authentic and Accessible with UELMA,” ABA News, January 6,
2016
Featured in “Vacations of the Overworked,” Bisnow, September 17, 2015
Co-author, “LNG Export Project Developments at FERC,” Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation
Newsletter, Volume 32, No. 3, 2015
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Co-author, “EPA Proposes New Emission Rules Affecting the Oil and Natural Gas Industries,” Duane
Morris Alert, August 19, 2015
Co-author, “FERC Green-lights Puerto Rico Offshore LNG Import Terminal; Project’s Ocean-Going
Regasification Unit Is First of Its Kind Before the FERC,” Duane Morris Alert, July 28, 2015
Author, “Don’t Snatch Defeat from the Jaws of Victory,” The Hill, June 23, 2015
Co-author, “Possible Shift of Perspectives on Breadth of NEPA Review; CEQ’s Draft Greenhouse Gas
Guidance,” Duane Morris Alert, May 4, 2015
Co-author, “D.C. Circuit Ruling Upholds New Ground Rules in Development of Electric Transmission
Infrastructure,” Duane Morris Alert, August 27, 2014
Co-author, “FERC Continues Its Enforcement of Hydropower Safety Regulations with Approval of
Stipulation and Consent Agreement,” Duane Morris Alert, February 20, 2014
Recent Selected Speaking Engagements
Moderator, “How to Conduct Free Legal Research Online,” American Bar Association Webinar, March 19,
2018
Moderator, “Applications of the Public Trust Doctrine: Part I,” 2018 Shapiro Environmental Law
Symposium: The Public Trust Doctrine in the 21st Century, George Washington University Law School,
March 16, 2018
Speaker, “#PressforProgress in Energy-An International Perspective,” Women in Energy Asia, Singapore,
March 1, 2018
Presenter, “Cybersecurity: What Every In-House Counsel Needs to Know (and Outside Counsel Should
Tell Them),” Federal Bar Association, January 24, 2018
Speaker, tips for success for women in leadership capacities in the law firm setting as well as in
government service, Women’s Bar Association of DC, December 8, 2017
Speaker, “New Surge of Energy in the Americas: Renewables Developments, Deals and Disputes,” ABA
Section of International Law Fall Conference, Miami, Florida, October 25, 2017
Presentation on behalf of the U.S. Energy Association on U.S. energy policy as it is evolving in the North
American context, World Energy Conference, Mexico City, September 11, 2017
Presenter, “Emerging Energy Regulatory and Political Perspectives,” Annual Meeting of the North
American Energy Standards Board (NAESB), Houston, September 6, 2017
Speaker, “How to Conduct Free Legal Research Online,” ABA Standing Committee on the Law Library of
Congress, New York, August 11, 2017
Presenter, “Energy Structure and Resources of USA – Big, Political, Rich, Consequential, and Smothered
by Law and Regulation,” U.S. Energy Association, July 17, 2017
Presenter, “U.S. Shale and Deep Offshore Oil and Gas Production: What is the Future of the American
Energy Market?,” 3rd Washington Oil & Gas Forum, Washington D.C., June 7, 2017
Speaker, “Cyber Security: What Every In-House Counsel Needs to Know (And Outside Counsel Should
Tell Them),” Federal Bar Association, Washington, May 4, 2017
Speaker, “Providing Predictability and Trust Along with Legal Knowledge,” Legal Women’s Forum, New
York, February 2, 2017
Panelist, “I Wish Someone Had Told Me!,” ACI Conference on Women Leaders in Environmental and
Energy Law, New Orleans, January 20, 2017
Advisory Board Participant, University of Texas Center for Energy Economics, FDIC regional
headquarters, Houston, December 7, 2016
Featured in Section Member Spotlight Podcast, American Bar Association Section of Environment,
Energy and Resources, December 2, 2016
Speaker, American Bar Association Section of Environment, Energy and Resources Special Committee
for Young Lawyers, Podcast, November 29, 2016
Speaker, “Clean Power Plan, the Paris Agreement on Climate, and the Impact of the U.S. Election on the
Climate Change Agenda of the United States and Signers of the Paris Agreement,” World Bank
International Legislative Legal Meeting, Washington, November 18, 2016
Speaker, “Evolution of Energy Policy and Programs in Response to Sustainability and Clean Power
Goals,” Chairing Session, American Bar Association Environmental Energy & Resources Law Fall
Conference, Denver, October 6, 2016
Speaker, “Energy Policy and International Legal Concerns and Questions,” TerraLex Global Meeting, New
York City, September 24, 2016
Speaker, “Uncertain Times in Energy and Implications for Insolvency,” Annual Conference of the
International Bar Association, Washington, D.C., September 21, 2016
Speaker, “Energy Policy, Clean Power Questions and Politics in 2016,” Federal Bar Association Annual
Meeting, Cleveland, September 15, 2016
Panelist, “Current Legal Challenges in Energy and Water Infrastructure Development,” Webinar, August
11, 2016
Speaker, Women’s Council on Energy and Environment, Electric Power Research Institute, Washington,
D.C., November 6, 2015
Speaker, “Careers in Energy Law,” Women’s Bar Association (WBA), September 17, 2015
Panelist, “Mexico’s Energy Reform is Rolling, Albeit with Training Wheels,” America’s Voice for Energy
Podcast, July 23, 2015
Speaker, “Mexico’s Energy Reforms — A Developing Destination for Investment,” Women’s Council on
Energy and the Environment (“WCEE”), July 22, 2015
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Presenter, ABA Women’s Day on the Hill, American Bar Association, Washington, D.C., June 23-25, 2015
Keynote Speaker, Commercial Bar of England and Wales (“COMBAR”) Spring Meeting at the United
States Supreme Court, Washington, D.C., April 10, 2015
Speaker, “Hydraulic Fracturing Environmental Issues,” Tulane University Law School 20th Environmental
Law Conference, New Orleans, February 27, 2015
Moderator, “Supreme Court Roundup: Land, Air, Water and Jurisdiction” Panel, 44th ABA Super
Conference on Environmental Law, San Francisco, March 26, 2015
Speaker, “Canadian and Cross-Border Oversight of the Canadian and U.S. Energy Markets,” Canadian Oil
Sands Summit, Calgary, AB, February 11, 2015
Speaker, Women Leaders in Environmental and Energy Law Conference, American Conference Institute,
New Orleans, January 21, 2015
Speaker, “Small-to-Mid-Size Market Participants: Effectively Using Limited Resources While Complying
with Constantly Evolving Regulations,” American Conference Institute’s 10th National Forum on Energy
Trading Compliance & Regulation Enforcement, Washington D.C., November 21, 2014
Moderator, “A Time for Action: The Cost and Impact of Energy Infrastructure Delays on the Northeast
Economy”, New England Canada Business Conference Annual Energy Program, Boston, November 13,
2014
Speaker, “Federal Energy Trends” and Chair, “Moving Forward with Co-Generation Projects,” Fifth Annual
Federal Energy Workshop and Defense Energy Partnership Forum, Washington, D.C., September 16,
2014
Panelist, “Energy Policy and Strategy,” NAESB Board of Directors Meeting, Meeting of the Members &
Strategic Session, Houston, September 11, 2014
Moderator, “Environment and War,” Federal Bar Association’s Annual Meeting and Convention,
Providence, September 5, 2014
Panelist, “Ethical Considerations in Responding to FERC Investigations,” Energy Bar Association,
Houston, July 22, 2014
Speaker, “111(d) in Context: Broader Energy and Policy Implications,” Environmental Law Institute’s
Workshop on EPA’s Proposed Clean Power/CAA Section 111(d) Rules, Washington D.C., July 14, 2014
Biography from Duane Morris LLP, https://perma.cc/3967-JG2C.
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