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ASSOCIATE | skylar@mrg-law.com | 503 290 3624

SKYLAR SUMNER

Skylar’s practice focuses on energy and environmental law. He provides regulatory, transactional, and litigation advice to clients throughout the Pacific Northwest.

LEGAL EXPERIENCE

Prior to joining McDowell Rackner Gibson in 2020, Skylar clerked for Judge Rex Armstrong of the Oregon Court of Appeals. During law school, he worked at the Oregon Department of Justice in the Civil Litigation Section and completed a legal externship for Chief Justice Martha Walters of the Supreme Court of Oregon.

REPRESENTATIVE WORK

  • Represented electric utility company in every phase of a contested case—from discovery through issuance of a favorable final order—before the Energy Facility Siting Council to secure a site certificate for a 300-mile transmission line addressing issues raised by over thirty intervening parties.

  • Assisted investor-owned utility in implementing reforms to interconnection study process.

  • Advised telecommunications companies seeking designation as an Eligible Telecommunications Carrier in Washington and Oregon.

  • Advised utilities regarding requests under the federal Freedom of Information Act and Oregon’s Public Records Law.

  • Represented utility clients in investigatory docket relating to Oregon’s adoption of Distribution System Planning.

  • Advised energy and telecommunications utilities in rulemaking proceedings before the Public Utility Commission of Oregon.

  • Developed and helped draft testimony for investor-owned utility on necessity of system upgrades and the allocation of costs for those upgrades under Oregon’s Qualifying Facility Large Generator Interconnection Procedures.

  • Advised utility client regarding provider-of-last-resort obligations under Oregon’s direct-access laws and represented client in related rulemaking docket.

  • Assisted in litigating service territory dispute between two neighboring electric cooperatives.

PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES

  • Member of the Oregon State Bar.

  • Member of the Oregon State Bar Energy, Telecom & Utility Law Section.

  • Member of the Oregon State Bar Environmental and Natural Resource Section.

  • Member of the Oregon State Bar Sustainable Future Section.

EDUCATION

Skylar graduated from Western Washington University with dual degrees in Economics and Environmental Policy. At Western, he was a member of Students for Renewable Energy and completed internships in environmental policy at RE-Sources for Sustainable Communities and in public planning at Sustainable Ithaca.

Skylar graduated magna cum laude from Lewis & Clark Law School in 2018 with a focus in environmental and business law. During law school, Skylar was an associate editor on Environmental Law Review, received the Dean’s Scholarship, and represented the Student Bar Association on the school’s Environmental & Natural Resources Committee.

COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES

Skylar is active in various public interest organizations. His work has included assisting pro bono clients, volunteering in community improvement projects, and participating in youth mentorship programs.