Former FERC member lands at Akin Gump

Suedeen Kelly, a former member of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), is joining Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP as co-chairwoman of the law and lobbying giant’s energy practice.

Kelly, a Democrat, left FERC at the end of 2009 after two terms and is moving to Akin Gump from Patton Boggs.

“Akin Gump has shown a strong commitment to building a top-tier energy regulatory practice, which makes me very excited to be here,” Kelly said in a statement. “More importantly, my clients will have access to Akin Gump’s deep roster of talent across a vast array of areas that will help them address the full breadth of issues they may encounter.”

Kelly will not be lobbying, a spokesman for Akin Gump said. She’s joining Akin Gump along with two others from Patton Boggs: George D. “Chip” Cannon Jr. and Cynthia A. Marlette, a former general counsel to FERC.

Kelly, who was twice nominated to FERC under former President George W. Bush, declined President Obama’s nomination in 2009 to a third term on the commission.

Since entering private practice, Kelly has represented clients on FERC enforcement matters, electricity markets and transmission, shale gas development, pipelines, liquefied natural gas imports and exports, deepwater drilling and other matters, Akin Gump said in a news release about her arrival at the firm.

In 1999 she was an aide to Sen. Jeff Bingaman (N.M.) when he was the top Democrat on the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee. Bingaman, who is retiring from the Senate at the end of this congressional session, currently chairs the panel.

Kelly has also served as chairwoman and commissioner for the Public Service Commission of New Mexico, and as an attorney for the Natural Resources Defense Council.