Jessica Spuhler

Jessica Spuhler has extensive experience in natural resources, environmental, public utility, oil and gas and administrative law, assisting utilities, municipal governments, native corporations, and private entities to navigate complex federal, state, and local and regulatory requirements and laws. Ms. Spuhler regularly takes the lead in projects in the Firm's municipal and public utility law practice groups and assists clients with regulatory compliance and matters, government contracting, interconnection and power purchase agreements, and utility and pipeline tariff filings. She has assisted clients in resolving issues raised in developing efficient power generation and transmission arrangements in the Homer - Fairbanks Railbelt grid including related to incorporating renewable energy and generation from independent power producers. In addition to the assistance Ms. Spuhler provides clients in public and private transactions, she advocates for her clients interests in federal and state court and before federal, state, and local administrative agencies, including the Regulatory Commission of Alaska. She has also filed amicus briefs on behalf of clients in the Ninth Circuit and the U.S. Supreme Court on environmental and constitutional matters.

Ms. Spuhler began her career assisting clients in the oil and gas industry where she served her clients interests both in court and the board room. In addition to her tenure at Shell Oil during its most recent Alaska offshore exploration efforts, Ms. Spuhler served as a petroleum land manager for the Alaska Department of Natural Resources and as an Attorney-Advisor in the Department of Interior's Solicitor's Office where she advised the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement, the Bureau of Land Management, and the National Park Service. Ms. Spuhler's breadth of experience provides her clients unique insight on the interplay of local, state, and federal law and regulation. She prides herself on seeking practical and proactive solutions for her clients and believes relationships are best built through clear and honest communication and responsiveness.

Ms. Spuhler in an active volunteer with YMCA Sports and currently serves on the Board of Directors for Challenge Alaska. She devoted time to the Alaska Small Business/Nonprofit Virtual Law Clinic, which connected small organizations with pro bono legal assistance for COVID-related matters in 2020. She previously served on the Anchorage Montessori School's Board of Directors as a member and Chair.