Overview
Karen Bruni focuses her energy practice on the regulation of electric utilities by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), particularly matters involving enforcement, compliance, and investigations, including matters concerning energy offers and trading in PJM and the California ISO (CAISO). She also assists electric utilities before FERC in proceedings related to transmission and interconnection issues, electric utility mergers and asset acquisitions, and rate and cost allocation. Additionally, Karen counsels electric utilities before federal courts in litigations related to enforcement and antitrust matters.
As a complement to her work in the energy industry, Karen advises traders, financial market utilities, and other financial services clients on enforcement and regulatory compliance matters, including before the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC).
Before entering private practice with Steptoe, Karen served as a legal fellow for the US Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Additionally, she worked on energy market issues in both for-profit and nonprofit settings, including at The Brattle Group, and with US businesses on investment opportunities for Germany Trade & Invest (GTAI), the economic development agency of the Federal Republic of Germany.
Karen is also committed to Steptoe's pro bono efforts and especially dedicated to helping kids in the Washington, DC area secure appropriate public education services. Through her work with the Children's Law Center, she provides advocacy for DC's at risk children both in school meetings and administrative hearings.
- California
- District of Columbia
- J.D., Harvard Law School, 2016
- B.A., American University, 2012, magna cum laude
Areas of Work
News & Publications
Press Releases
Rye Development Selected to Receive $81 Million for Lewis Ridge Pumped Storage Project
March 22, 2024
Client Alerts
November 27, 2023
Press Releases
Steptoe Receives 28 Practice Rankings, 34 Individual Awards in Legal 500 US 2023
June 14, 2023
Client Alerts
FERC May Face Uphill Battle for Top Enforcement Priorities in 2023
November 29, 2022
By: Daniel A. Mullen, Karen Bruni, Michelle Castaline, Thomas Donadio
Press Releases
Steptoe Receives 27 Practice Rankings, 26 Individual Awards in Legal 500 US 2022
June 16, 2022
Press Releases
Steptoe Receives 27 Practice Rankings, 31 Individual Awards in Legal 500 US 2021
September 13, 2021
Client Alerts
What's Theirs is Yours and What's Yours is Mine: FERC's Brady Obligations in Joint Investigations
March 18, 2021
Events
Webinars
The Intersection of Antitrust and Regulation
April 18, 2018
Speakers: Douglas G. Green, Anthony J. LaRocca
Noteworthy
- Best Lawyers in America, "One to Watch," Energy Law (2021-2022)
- Legal 500 US, Rising Stars, Energy Litigation: Electric Power (2023)
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Legal 500 US, Rising Stars, Energy Litigation: Conventional Power (2019-2022)
Professional Affiliations
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Chair, Disputes & Resolution Steering Committee, Energy Bar Association