Mindy McGrath

Mindy has built a hybrid transactional-regulatory practice across the gas and electric sectors, representing local distribution companies (LDCs), electric operating utilities affiliated with one of the nation’s largest electric power holding companies, generation owners, and one of the largest intrastate pipelines in Texas — many of which are increasingly serving large-load customers, including hyperscale data centers.

On the transactional side, Mindy negotiates wholesale power supply agreements, gas purchase and transportation contracts, pipeline and construction agreements, capacity release agreements, and precedent agreements — including M&A and harmonization work across combined utility operations. That breadth gives her a practical understanding of how utilities are regulated and operate and how to achieve their business goals. Mindy’s work also extends to advising on pipeline matters (inter- and intrastate). This experience, paired with Mindy’s background as a commercial litigator, shapes her end-to-end approach to clients’ energy regulatory and transactional needs.

Her regulatory practice covers the full range of FERC and state commission proceedings: ratemaking, certificate proceedings, administrative complaints and litigation, rulemaking, and compliance. She has extensive experience in FERC rate cases brought under the Natural Gas Act (NGA) and advises clients on matters involving the Natural Gas Policy Act (NGPA). Although her state rate case and regulatory work is concentrated in the Carolinas, she counsels clients across the U.S. and is consistently recognized by Chambers USA and Chambers Global across multiple energy categories.

Her litigation experience in state and federal courts, including circuit courts, informs how she advises clients on regulatory strategy: structuring compliance regimes, identifying strengths and weaknesses, and building persuasive arguments for clients facing complex, multifront issues. She frequently partners with the firm’s appellate team to defend challenges brought against energy infrastructure projects in court proceedings and before FERC.

Mindy’s current matters reflect where the energy industry is heading. She advises a multistate gas-only LDC on interstate and intrastate pipeline matters, including transportation agreements for one of the largest intrastate pipeline and storage systems in Texas. She also is supporting a large investor-owned electric utility in developing a form electric service agreement (ESA) for large-load customers and is actively negotiating wholesale power supply agreements for large-load customers. Hyperscale demand is reshaping both sides of her practice at once. On the electric side, it has become a central issue in North Carolina rate cases, where utilities and regulators are working through complex rate design and cost allocation issues associated with new transmission and generation infrastructure; on the gas side, the same demand is driving new interstate pipeline capacity requests and increased need to serve gas-fired generation.

Outside her energy practice, Mindy is an active volunteer with Safe Alliance, an organization focused on representing victims of domestic violence.

• Represented Duke Energy in a FERC proceeding under Federal Power Act (FPA) Section 205 and state proceedings involving its Carolinas 1U utility integration, including rate and tariff filings and related Commission orders associated with the combination of Duke Energy Carolinas, LLC and Duke Energy Progress, LLC into a single unified utility.
• Represented large investor-owned electric utilities in North Carolina, South Carolina, and Florida rate cases. Obtained successful outcomes in the first electric performance-based regulation (PBR) and multiyear rate plan (MYRP) cases in North Carolina under new legislation.
• Assists major investor-owned public utilities with negotiating a wide variety of energy-related agreements, including precedent agreements for interstate pipeline capacity, asset management agreements, NGPA Section 311 agreements, transportation and construction agreements, and wholesale power supply agreements.
• Represents and advises local distribution companies, electric utilities, and customer groups in FERC-regulated natural gas matters, including NGA Section 4 and Section 5 rate proceedings, Section 7(f) NGA issues, limited-jurisdiction blanket certificates, FERC complaint and rulemaking proceedings, policy changes, and transfers of jurisdictional assets. Representation involves counseling on all legal issues regarding both the settlement and litigation phases, including discovery, expert testimony, pre-trial hearings, and settlement negotiations.
• Represents the subsidiary of a major investor-owned public utility in annual gas cost recovery proceedings in South Carolina.
• Advised on various emerging issues in the electric vehicle charging industry, including energy suppliers, charge point owners, charge point operators, and e-mobility service providers.

• Legal 500 United States: Energy Regulation: Oil and Gas, Next Generation Partner (2023-2026); Energy: Renewable/Alternative Power (2023)
• Chambers Global USA, Energy: Oil & Gas (Regulatory & Litigation), Nationwide (2025-2026)
• Chambers USA: Energy & Natural Resources, North Carolina (2022-2026); Energy: Oil & Gas (Regulatory & Litigation) USA Nationwide (2024-2026)
• Best Lawyers in America®: Energy Law (2026-2027), Energy Regulatory Law (2026-2027)
• Recipient, Sally & Bill Van Allen Public Service Award for commitment to public service (2017)
• Named to “50 Most Influential Women,” Mecklenburg Times (2017)
• Recipient, Safe Alliance Commitment to Justice Award (2012-2016)
• Named to “North Carolina Rising Stars,” Super Lawyers, Thomson Reuters; Energy & Natural Resources (2013); Business Litigation (2014-2016)
• Named to “40 Under 40,” Charlotte Business Journal (2015)
• Nominee, Charlotte ATHENA Young Professional Leadership Award (2013)