M. Lisanne Crowley

Lisanne is a Pepper Center Fellow focused on assisting and empowering low-income women entering the workplace and immigrant women seeking a new and better life in the U.S. She serves as a volunteer attorney for a nonprofit legal services organization that advocates for immigrant women and girls fleeing violence, representing clients in VAWA, asylum, U-visa, and related proceedings. Lisanne also serves as a volunteer at an organization that provides various services to women seeking a better life for themselves and their families through employment. As a top-ranked energy attorney, Lisanne also helps clients navigate the federal regulation of natural gas, both in litigation and transactional matters.

Throughout the years, as an energy attorney, Lisanne has focused on the federal regulation of natural gas. Lisanne has extensive litigation experience before the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) and the U.S. Courts of Appeals, and has represented clients in administrative proceedings including ratemaking, certificates, complaints, restructuring/unbundling, rulemaking and enforcement matters. Lisanne also counsels clients on energy regulatory issues that arise in commercial, strategic planning and transactional matters and guides clients in the development of energy regulatory compliance and training programs.

Chambers Global ranks Lisanne as a top attorney for oil and gas regulatory litigation, quoting a client who says of Lisanne: “As far as experience, perspective and thoughtfulness go, she is at the top of the game. Her writing is wonderful; she explains very complicated subjects in a digestible way.”

• Represented a pro bono client in successful pursuit of asylum after he fled persecution based on his LGBTQ status and various related application proceedings (EAD, green card, derivative asylum).
• Represented a pro bono client in the successful pursuit of asylum based on history of severe domestic violence and derivative asylum for (and reunification with) minor child, including various associated application proceedings (EAD, green card, travel parole).
• Represented pro bono clients in successful prosecution of applications for deferred status under Violence Against Women Act, U-visa, and associated application proceedings (EAD, green card).
• Served as FERC counsel for a northeast U.S. interstate natural gas pipeline company on various rate, certificate, policy, and regulatory compliance matters.
• Represented natural gas gathering/processing, intrastate pipeline, and gas storage companies in matters involving jurisdiction, certificate authority, and FERC compliance.
• Represented natural gas utilities in matters pertaining to FERC regulation, including NGA Section 7(f) and limited jurisdiction blanket certificates; pipeline rate proceedings; FERC complaint proceedings; rulemakings; and asset management arrangements.
• Represented gas-fired electric generators, energy marketing and trading companies, and other natural gas end users with respect to natural gas regulatory and transactional issues.
• Represented clients in self-report, audit, investigation, and other FERC Office of Enforcement matters.
• Advises LNG developers on FERC and Department of Energy permitting, regulatory policy, and compliance matters.

• High Honors, Capital Pro Bono Honor Roll, D.C. Access to Justice Commission and the D.C. Bar Pro Bono Center (2024)
• Thomson Reuters Stand-out Lawyer (2021-2022) – independently rated lawyers
• Best Lawyers in America^®: Energy Law and Oil & Gas Law, Washington, D.C. (2007-2020)
• Chambers USA: Energy: Oil & Gas (Regulatory & Litigation) USA Nationwide (2004-2020)
• Chambers Global: Energy: Oil & Gas (Regulatory Litigation) (2010-2021)
• Best Lawyers in America^®: “Lawyer of the Year” in Energy Law (2019)
• Super Lawyers Magazine: “Top Attorney” in Energy and Natural Resources Law  (2008-2019)
• Troutman Sanders LLP’s Harold E. Masback III Outstanding Achievement in Pro Bono Award (2012)
• Achieved Martindale-Hubbell’s highest rating for legal ability and ethical standards