Hallie M. Meushaw

Counsel

404.885.3660

More ways to contact Hallie M. Meushaw

Hallie is adept at helping utility and other clients realize opportunities in the dynamic hydropower sector. With practiced efficiency, she guides clients on FERC licensing, regulatory, and compliance matters. Hallie also advises on complex hydropower project development and transactions.

Firm News

582 Troutman Pepper Locke Attorneys Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® and Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America 2026 Editions
Overview
Representative Matters
Insights
Awards

With a comprehensive knowledge of the hydropower sector, Hallie represents electric utility and other clients doing business in the renewable energy arena. She understands the changing aspects of federal, state, and local regulatory schemes, and helps clients navigate the full range of compliance matters, including permitting and rulemaking. Hallie leads clients through FERC hydropower amendment and relicensing proceedings in the most streamlined way possible, helping them to procure favorable license terms without losing ground. Her ability to gain consensus among multiple agencies and stakeholders allows her clients to structure and negotiate the right terms at the right time, enabling her clients to obtain new FERC license orders, often without litigation or rehearing. Hallie is a recognized leader in this area. In fact, she represented the first utility to use FERC’s Integrated Licensing Process. She also advised a client on the license surrender and decommissioning of the largest dam removal project in history.

Hallie counsels clients on a range of issues arising under the Federal Power Act as well as the National Environmental Policy Act, the Clean Water Act, the Endangered Species Act, and other federal and state environmental requirements. She has extensive licensing experience with large and complex hydroelectric projects and helps clients manage every aspect of their projects, including by advising them on license compliance matters relating to natural resources, recreation, dam safety and other regulatory issues. Clients also turn to Hallie for guidance on hydropower project development and transactions.

  • Advised utility on all FERC, hydro, and environmental issues for the largest dam removal project in history.
  • Represents numerous applicants in FERC hydropower amendment and relicensing proceedings resulting in favorable license terms with little loss of generation.
  • Helps applicants obtain new FERC license orders, often without litigation or rehearing by building consensus with agencies and stakeholders throughout the licensing process.
  • Advised the first license applicant to use FERC’s Integrated Licensing Process.
  • Provides day-to-day FERC counseling regarding all aspects of hydropower license compliance.
  • Served as counsel to large utility on water resource and water supply issues, including development of the Georgia Statewide Water Plan.
  • Best Lawyers in America®: “Lawyer of the Year” in Energy Regulatory Law (2024, 2026)
  • Best Lawyers in America®: Energy Law (2024), Energy Regulatory Law (2022-2025), Environmental Law (2023-2024), and Natural Resources Law (2023-2024)
  • Institute for Georgia Environmental Leadership (IGEL) Class of 2020
  • Women with Hydro Vision 2019
Overview

With a comprehensive knowledge of the hydropower sector, Hallie represents electric utility and other clients doing business in the renewable energy arena. She understands the changing aspects of federal, state, and local regulatory schemes, and helps clients navigate the full range of compliance matters, including permitting and rulemaking. Hallie leads clients through FERC hydropower amendment and relicensing proceedings in the most streamlined way possible, helping them to procure favorable license terms without losing ground. Her ability to gain consensus among multiple agencies and stakeholders allows her clients to structure and negotiate the right terms at the right time, enabling her clients to obtain new FERC license orders, often without litigation or rehearing. Hallie is a recognized leader in this area. In fact, she represented the first utility to use FERC’s Integrated Licensing Process. She also advised a client on the license surrender and decommissioning of the largest dam removal project in history.

Hallie counsels clients on a range of issues arising under the Federal Power Act as well as the National Environmental Policy Act, the Clean Water Act, the Endangered Species Act, and other federal and state environmental requirements. She has extensive licensing experience with large and complex hydroelectric projects and helps clients manage every aspect of their projects, including by advising them on license compliance matters relating to natural resources, recreation, dam safety and other regulatory issues. Clients also turn to Hallie for guidance on hydropower project development and transactions.

Representation Matters
  • Advised utility on all FERC, hydro, and environmental issues for the largest dam removal project in history.
  • Represents numerous applicants in FERC hydropower amendment and relicensing proceedings resulting in favorable license terms with little loss of generation.
  • Helps applicants obtain new FERC license orders, often without litigation or rehearing by building consensus with agencies and stakeholders throughout the licensing process.
  • Advised the first license applicant to use FERC’s Integrated Licensing Process.
  • Provides day-to-day FERC counseling regarding all aspects of hydropower license compliance.
  • Served as counsel to large utility on water resource and water supply issues, including development of the Georgia Statewide Water Plan.
Insights

Firm News

582 Troutman Pepper Locke Attorneys Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® and Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America 2026 Editions

Speaking Engagements

Waterpower Week

Articles + Publications

Hydropower Report

Articles + Publications

Hydropower Report – October 2022

See all insights from Hallie M. Meushaw

Awards
  • Best Lawyers in America®: “Lawyer of the Year” in Energy Regulatory Law (2024, 2026)
  • Best Lawyers in America®: Energy Law (2024), Energy Regulatory Law (2022-2025), Environmental Law (2023-2024), and Natural Resources Law (2023-2024)
  • Institute for Georgia Environmental Leadership (IGEL) Class of 2020
  • Women with Hydro Vision 2019

Top areas of focus

  • Environmental Policy research assistant, the RAND Corporation, Washington, D.C., 1998-1999
  • Project coordinator, Science & Policy Associates Inc., Washington, D.C., 1997-1998
  • Paralegal, Land and Water Fund, Boise, ID, 1997

Education

  • University of Virginia School of Law, J.D., 2003, editorial board, Virginia Environmental Law Journal
  • James Madison University, B.S., with distinction, summa cum laude, political science

Bar Admissions

  • Georgia
  • Speaker, “The Art of Decommissioning,” National Hydropower Association Southeast Regional Conference, 2022.
  • Speaker, “FERC License Surrender Process,” HydroVision International, 2022.
  • Speaker, “Finding Certainty in Uncertain Times,” Troutman Pepper Webinar, February 24, 2021.
  • Speaker, “Changes in the Hydro Playing Field,” Northwest Hydroelectric Association Annual Conference, 2020.
  • Speaker, “Hydro Legal & Regulatory Developments,” National Hydropower Association Southeast Regional Conference, 2020.
  • Speaker, “Evolving Interpretations of Clean Water Act Section 401 Water Quality Certifications,” North Carolina Chamber of Commerce Environmental Compliance Conference, 2020.
  • Speaker, “Hot Topics and Trends in U.S. Licensing,” HydroVision International, 2019.
  • Speaker, “Ocmulgee Candidate Conservation Agreement with Assurances,” Northwest Hydroelectric Association Annual Conference, 2019.
  • Speaker, “Regulatory Developments in the Southeast,” National Hydropower Association Southeast Regional Conference, 2019.
  • Speaker, “Liability Associated With Recreation at Hydropower Projects,” Outdoor Recreation Workshop, 2018.
  • Speaker, “Hydro Hot Topics,” National Hydropower Association Southeast Regional Conference, 2017.
  • Speaker, “Settlements in Hydropower Licensing…Getting to ‘YES’,” Waterpower Annual Conference, 2016.
  • Speaker, “Georgia’s Water Management Plan: Regional Water Planning Process,” Environmental Compliance Conference, North Carolina Chamber of Commerce, 2015.
  • Speaker, “Transitioning from Hydro Licensing to Compliance,” National Hydropower Association Southeast Regional Conference, 2012.
  • Speaker, “Water Supply Planning,” Annual Membership Meeting, Georgia Industry Environmental Coalition Inc., 2011.
  • Co-author, “State Water Quality Certification: EPA Issues State Water Quality Certification (CWA § 401) Final Rule,” The Water Report, July 15, 2020.