Susan R. Schipper

Counsel
Susan Schipper

Susan Schipper has experience representing energy-sector clients in high-stakes and complex regulatory matters, trials, and appeals. Susan has authored and assisted in authoring numerous appellate briefs and dispositive motions in state and federal courts. She also has significant experience representing clients before state regulatory commissions and securing successful resolutions in litigation and regulatory proceedings regarding offshore wind project development, Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity (CPCN) applications, rate cases, and large utility mergers and acquisitions (M&A).

Prior to joining Venable, Susan served as a law clerk to the Honorable Stephanie A. Gallagher of the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland.

Experience

Representative Matters

Energy and Utility Litigation and Contested Regulatory Proceedings

  • Member of a team that successfully represented an offshore wind developer in its contested and competitive application to construct an 846-MW wind farm off the coast of Maryland and Delaware. Obtained necessary regulatory approvals for the development of the company’s offshore wind energy project
  • Assisted in representing multiple utility companies in the mid-Atlantic region in contested rate cases, including providing strategic advice, discovery support, trial preparation, and post-hearing briefing
  • Assisted in representing electric transmission and generation companies in the mid-Atlantic region in CPCN proceedings for the approval of a new transmission line
  • Member of a team that successfully represented AltaGas Ltd. in its contested application to obtain regulatory approval in Maryland and the District of Columbia for its $9 billion acquisition of WGL and Washington Gas Light Company. Assisted in obtaining approval of the transaction in both Maryland and the District of Columbia, creating a $17 billion North American energy company
  • Assisted in due diligence and environmental permitting document review for a large solar developer related to the development of a solar farm in the mid-Atlantic region

Commercial Litigation

  • Member of a team defending a regional bank in a securities class action case. Assisted with document production, depositions and deposition preparation, and settlement negotiations
  • Assisted in representation of an advanced technology vendor in a breach of contract and breach of warranty dispute, and assisted in securing a favorable settlement on behalf of client
  • Assisted in defense of a national landscaping company and the successful settlement of employment-related claims

Insights

Credentials
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Education

  • J.D. summa cum laude University of Maryland School of Law 2015
    • Order of the Coif
    • Salutatorian (John L. Thomas Prize)
    • Joseph Bernstein Award
    • Ward Kershaw Prize
    • Order of the Barristers
    • Executive symposium and articles editor, Maryland Law Review
    • Runner-Up Best Oralist, Morris B. Myerowitz Moot Court Competition
  • B.A. with distinction Queen's University, Ontario, Canada 2010

Bar Admissions

  • Maryland

Court Admissions

  • U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit

Clerk Experience

  • The Honorable Stephanie A. Gallagher U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland

Recognition
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  • The Best Lawyers in America, Ones to Watch, 2021 – 2025

Community
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Pro Bono

  • Assisted with briefing to the Maryland Court of Appeals in In re Adoption/Guardianship of Dustin R., 445 Md. 536 (2015) that successfully resulted in an opinion establishing judicial power to order state agencies to provide services to foster children, including life-sustaining services to a medically fragile child and for jurisdiction to continue past age 21 to enforce order
  • Assisted with briefing for appellants to the Maryland Court of Appeals in Powell v. Maryland Department of Health, 450 Md. 255 (2018) regarding due process violations for defendants found incompetent to stand trial and dangerous as a result of a mental disorder. Resulting opinion led to Maryland General Assembly changing the disputed law to support appellants’ position

Volunteerism

  • Board member, CASA of Baltimore County
  • Board member, Live Baltimore