APRIL 1, 2025 – Davis Wright Tremaine LLP has added Merrill Kramer as a partner in its Washington, D.C., office, continuing the expansion of its national energy practice with the announcement of two partners focused on energy infrastructure development in the past month. A top-ranked transactional attorney, Kramer specializes in the development and financing of energy projects across the U.S. and internationally.
With more than four decades of experience, Kramer represents many key players in the energy industry, including project developers, private equity companies, and institutional lenders, on the development, financing, sale, acquisition, and investment in energy projects and portfolios. He has represented Fortune 200 and other companies in more than 80 energy and infrastructure projects, representing more than $30 billion in invested capital. Additionally, he represents large commercial and industrial energy users, including colleges and universities, on energy procurement and development matters.
"Merrill's arrival advances our focus on the expansion of our energy practice by providing project finance experience that deepens the firm's energy transactions bench," said Sean Atkins, co-chair of the energy, environmental, and natural resources practice group at DWT. "His expertise will allow us to offer clients a more robust range of energy infrastructure development services to help energy clients take advantage of market opportunities. This growing area of practice complements DWT's ongoing efforts to assist clients with their future energy needs and sustainability goals."
"Throughout his career, Merrill has been well known and respected in the energy transactions space, both in the D.C. area and nationally," added Brian Hurh, DWT's Washington, D.C., partner-in-charge. "In addition to his focus on energy transactions work, he will be able to unlock new opportunities for our corporate, tax, and real estate practices, among others."
Kramer joins the firm from Pierce Atwood LLP, where he was a partner for nearly eight years. He was previously a member of the project finance practice at Chadbourne & Parke (now Norton Rose) and served as chair of the electric utility practice at Akin Gump earlier in his career. He began his career at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, where he served as senior trial attorney and member of the FERC's task force on cogeneration and small power production.
"I'm excited to be part of the growth of DWT's strong national energy practice and am eager to help broaden the firm's project finance experience while simultaneously benefitting from the firm's national platform," said Kramer. "Part of what made this so attractive is the clear, existing synergies between us and I look forward to working with my new colleagues to enhance those relationships."
Kramer joins a growing DWT energy team that last month added Shab Puri, a leading counselor on engineering, procurement, and construction contracting work, as a partner in San Francisco.
About Davis Wright Tremaine
Davis Wright Tremaine LLP is an AmLaw 100 law firm with more than 600 lawyers representing clients based throughout the United States and around the world and is recognized by Chambers USA as a nationwide leader in energy law. Learn more at www.dwt.com.