Author archives

Owner & Principal Attorney - Law Offices of Carolyn Elefant, Nov 1993 – Present. Washington D.C. Metro Area I am the principal attorney in Law Offices of Carolyn Elefant PLLC, a small law firm in Washington D.C. and Bethesda, Maryland serving energy companies, landowners and municipalities in electric and gas cases before the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, state regulatory commissions, state and federal trial and appellate courts. The firm thrives on energy cases of first impression and last resort- meaning either cases involving novel issues that have never before been litigated, or matters where other lawyers have been unsuccessful. In this regard, we have, collectively, saved or earned our clients millions of dollars through our work in seeking refunds, vacating or reducing civil penalties, recovering attorneys fees and negotiating agreements. The Firm has strong energy regulatory capabilities, and has hundreds of hours of experience representing clients in administrative and paper hearings before the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) and state utility commissions. Unique to an energy regulatory practice, the Firm has state and federal jury trial experience - most recently, winning three six-figure verdicts in a 7-day jury trial in federal court. The Firm has served as lead counsel, briefing and arguing approximately 20 appeals at state and federal court, and has been involved in briefing in an additional 20+ appellate matters. Although the Firm has broad experience in the electric industry on matters under the Federal Power Act,the Firm is recognized for its unique expertise under PURPA where it has been involved in several avoided cost and rulemaking proceedings at different state commissions. The Firm is also known for its work in representing renewable energy interests -- MHK, hydroelectric, wind and solar - and has successfully procured CPCNs and permits for clients, negotiated power purchase agreements, filed for approval for market-based rates and aided with compliance matters.

Why Do Experienced Women Lawyers Leave Biglaw? Why Do We Care?

Carolyn Elefant, Energy Law Entrepreneur, Eminent Domain Lawyer and Data Scientist, offers insights in response to the ABA’s November 2019 report on gender equality at biglaw. Among other issues, Elefant focuses on the ABA’s persistent failure to recognize the role of women-owned law firms to advancing gender equality and diversity in the profession.

Subjects: KM, Law Firm Marketing, Leadership, Legal Marketing, Legal Profession, Management

Law Librarians: The Missing Link As Solo & Small Firm Lawyers Adapt to Artificial Intelligence – Part 1

In her three part article on AI in Legal Research and Law Practice, Carolyn Elefant, attorney, tech guru, and legal blogger, shares actionable information, knowledge and topical resources that were the foundation of her presentation at the AALL 2019 Annual Meeting in Washington, D.C. Elefant’s mission has always been to ensure that solo and small firms have current information, not just on new technology developments, but also on how these new tools can be applied in practice. AI is a fast-moving target that presents significant challenges to professionals in many roles – lawyers, law librarians, KM, CI/BI, competitive intelligence, marketing, and research analysts to name but a few. Elefant’s primer illuminates the critical role law librarians play in the effective implementation of AI within their organizations. See also Part II and Part III.

Subjects: AI, American Association of Law Libraries, Competitive Intelligence, Continuing Legal Education, KM, Law Librarians, Legal Profession, Legal Research, Legal Research Training, Legal Technology

Law Librarians: The Missing Link As Solo & Small Firm Lawyers Adapt to Artificial Intelligence – Part 2

In her three part article on AI in Legal Research and Law Practice, Carolyn Elefant, attorney, tech guru, and legal blogger, shares actionable information, knowledge and topical resources that were the foundation of her presentation at the AALL 2019 Annual Meeting in Washington, D.C. Elefant’s mission has always been to ensure that solo and small firms have current information, not just on new technology developments, but also on how these new tools can be applied in practice. AI is a fast-moving target that presents significant challenges to professionals in many roles – lawyers, law librarians, KM, CI/BI, competitive intelligence, marketing, and research analysts to name but a few. Elefant’s primer illuminates the critical role law librarians play in the effective implementation of AI within their organizations. See also Part I and Part III.

Subjects: AI, KM, Law Firm Marketing, Law Librarians, Legal Marketing, Legal Profession, Legal Research, Legal Technology

Law Librarians: The Missing Link As Solo & Small Firm Lawyers Adapt to Artificial Intelligence – Part 3

In her three part article on AI in Legal Research and Law Practice, Carolyn Elefant, attorney, tech guru, and legal blogger, shares actionable information, knowledge and topical resources that were the foundation of her presentation at the AALL 2019 Annual Meeting in Washington, D.C. Elefant’s mission has always been to ensure that solo and small firms have current information, not just on new technology developments, but also on how these new tools can be applied in practice. AI is a fast-moving target that presents significant challenges to professionals in many roles – lawyers, law librarians, KM, CI/BI, competitive intelligence, marketing, and research analysts to name but a few. Elefant’s primer illuminates the critical role law librarians play in the effective implementation of AI within their organizations. See also Part 1 and Part 2.

Subjects: AI, KM, Law Librarians, Legal Education, Legal Research, Legal Technology