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About Carolyn
My name is Carolyn Elefant. I am the founder of the Law Offices of Carolyn Elefant, www.carolynelefant.com. To learn more about me, you can visit my website, www.carolynelefant.com or my blogs, www.fercfights.com and www.renewablesoffshore.com.
Practice areas
- Energy and utilities: 55%
I handle matters before FERC and state utility commissions, emerging renewable energy matters and federal siting cases as well as federal eminent domain. Also legal issues related to social media in regulated industries.
34 years, 100 cases
- Appeals: 20%
I've handled at least 30 appeals of FERC, energy and engineering malpractice cases in federal district courts
34 years, 45 cases
- Litigation: 15%
29 years, 30 cases
- Ethics and professional responsibility: 10%
I've written a book, Social Media for Lawyers and track legal issues related to lawyers and ethics of starting a law firm
Contact
No contact information available
Resume
| State | Status | Acquired | Updated |
|---|---|---|---|
| MD | Active | 2002 | 07/12/2022 |
| DC | Good Standing | 1990 | 06/08/2022 |
| NY | Currently registered | 1989 | 06/06/2022 |
| Legal answers | 0 |
| Legal guides | 0 |
| Award name | Grantor | Date Granted |
|---|---|---|
| Featured on cover of Washington Legal Times | Washington Legal Times/ALM publications | 2008 |
| Ocean Energy Pioneer Award | Energy Oceans Conference | 2007 |
| ABA Top 100 Law Blawg | American Bar Association | 2007 |
| Featured in Maryland Daily Record | Maryland Daily Record | 2007 |
| Featured in ABA Journal on small law practice | American Bar Association | 2004 |
| Featured on cover of Washington Legal Times | Washington Legal Times | 2003 |
| Washington Legal Clinic for the Homeless Volunteer Award | Washington Legal Clinic for the Homeless | 1994 |
| Title | Company name | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Principal Attorney | Law Office of Carolyn Elefant | 1993 - Present |
| Of Counsel | Law Offices of Scott Hempling | 1996 - 2006 |
| Association name | Position name | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| DC Bar | Law Practice Management Steering Committee | 2006 - 2008 |
| Ocean Renewable Energy Association | of counsel | 2005 - 2008 |
| Energy Bar Association | Member | 1994 - 2008 |
| Publication name | Title | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Solo by Choice: How to Be The Lawyer You Always Wanted To Be | Solo by Choice - book | 2008 |
| Small Firm Business | The Accidental Practice | 2006 |
| Legal Times Intellectual Property Magazine | Don't Copy That Brief (can legal briefs be copyrighted?) | 2001 |
| Washington Legal Times | How Much Privacy Do Litigants Deserve in E-Filing | 2000 |
| Washington Legal Times | Saved by the Web: How I Researched A Brief Online for Free | 2000 |
| Energy Law Journal | Ocean Energy Development in the 1990s | 1993 |
| Alabama Journal of the Legal Profession | Can Law Firms Do Pro Bono: A Skeptical View | 1991 |
| Georgetown Journal of Legal Ethics | When Helping Others Is A Crime: 18 USC 205's Restrictions on Federal Attorneys Seeking to Do Pro Bono | 1990 |
| School name | Degree | Graduated |
|---|---|---|
| Cornell Law School | JD | 1988 |
| Brandeis University | BA - Bachelor of Arts | 1985 |
| Conference name | Title | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Ocean Energy Update | update on marine renewables siting and permitting | 2008 |
| Los Angeles Solo and Small Firm Conference | How to Start A Business Networking Group to Build Referrals, Relationships and Reputation | 2008 |
| Hydrovision National Conference | Federal and State Benefits and Subsidies for Marine Renewable and Hydrokinetic Technlogies | 2008 |
| Global Marine Renewable Energy Conference | A Snapshot of Marine Renewable Energy Regulation in the United States | 2008 |
| From Biglaw to Yourlaw: Starting A Law Firm | How to start a law firm; webinar | 2008 |
| ABA Tech Show 2008 | Technology to Retain Clients, Technology for Start Up Firms | 2008 |
| Alterative Energy Symposium | The Third Wave: Marine Renewable Energy Development in the United States | 2007 |
| Ocean Energy in Oregon | Oceans Apart? Is National Ocean Energy Policy Consistent With Oregon's Goals? | 2006 |
| Capitol Hill Briefing on Marine Renewables | Obstacles to Marine Energy Development in the United States | 2004 |
| American Wind Energy Association National Conference | What Offshore Wind Developers Can Learn from the Hydroelectric Industry | 2004 |
| What Lawyers Can Learn About Blogging | why lawyers should blog | 2003 |
| Offshore Wind Consortium | National energy policy and offshore wind | 2003 |
| Ocean Energy Overview | Wave Energy Development in the United States and Regulatory Uncertainty | 2003 |
| Energy Resources on the World Wide Web | Energy resources on the web | 1996 |
Attorney Elefant Outstanding Attorney for a group of citizens struggling to protect our small Town from an Energy Company.
5.0 stars
Posted by Thelma
November 28, 2015
Fantastic
5.0 stars
Posted by Carolyn
November 13, 2012
Very knowledgeable, capable, hard working lawyer
5.0 stars
Posted by Deborah
September 13, 2012
Knowledgeable and thorough legal counsel!
5.0 stars
Posted by michaelmojica
September 1, 2012
Amazing Lawyer
5.0 stars
Posted by John
August 31, 2012
A Client's Dream Attorney
5.0 stars
Posted by Karen
August 30, 2012
Lynda Farrell, former client, Executive Director Pipeline Safety Coalition
5.0 stars
Posted by Lynda
August 29, 2012
Minisink Residents / Compressor Station
5.0 stars
Posted by Laurie
August 28, 2012
The Brandywine 5... Edward E. Kirkbride
5.0 stars
Posted by anonymous
July 15, 2009
Regulatory Advocate
5.0 stars
Posted by anonymous
February 16, 2008
Advertising
Attorney endorsements
(11)
Jonathan Katz, Energy and utilities Attorney on Jul 11, 2019
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
Carolyn exemplifies the best tradition of helping other lawyers excel for their clients. Anyone would be most fortunate to have her as their attorney.
Hovanes Margarian, Unknown Attorney on Mar 2, 2015
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
I endorse this lawyer.
Thomas Crane, Energy and utilities Attorney on Jun 4, 2013
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
I always enjoy Carolyn's comments on a listserv to which she and I belong. She displays a fine grasp of many attorney issues. I endorse this lawyer.
Rania Combs, Ethics and professional responsibility Attorney on Mar 25, 2013
Relationship: Other
Carolyn’s blog, My Shingle, is one I turned to when I started my solo practice. It provides a wealth of information and resources on issues affecting the solo practitioner. I have appreciated how generous she has been with sharing her time, knowledge and encouragement with me and so many others in the legal community. It’s my pleasure to endorse her.
Jeena Belil, Ethics and professional responsibility Attorney on Sep 2, 2012
Relationship: Other
I have gotten to know Carolyn through a solo-attorney listserve and through her myshingle.com website. She is a phenomenal resource for those who wish to embark on a solo legal career. Her book, Solo By Choice, is in my library, and I routinely use it as a reference.
John Page, Energy and utilities Attorney on Jul 23, 2008
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
I endorse this lawyer's work. Knowledgeable, responsible, energetic, and effective. A leader. Happy to endorse.
D. Smith, Appeals Attorney on Jul 23, 2008
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
I have followed Carolyn's work with interest for a few years now. Aside from a successful career handling FERC-related issues and federal appeals, she is a highly recognized leader in solo and small firm practice management. Anyone facing these sorts of issues would do well to have Carolyn's counsel.
Dennis Chen, Energy and utilities Attorney on Jul 22, 2008
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
I recommend Carolyn for any of your Energy Law needs and also for assistance in building your solo law practice.
Michael Wasylik, Environmental and natural resources Attorney on Jul 18, 2008
Relationship: Worked together on matter
Carolyn Elefant is widely recognized throughout the legal community as an expert in how to practice law to deliver the best possible services to clients, not just today, but over an entire career. She has been generous with her time, her knowledge, and her assistance to me and hundreds, if not thousands, of other lawyers. That has paid back, not only to her, but to her clients.
Robert Kraft, General practice Attorney on Jul 15, 2008
Relationship: Worked together on matter
Carolyn Elefant is a true pioneer. Her wonderful blog, MyShingle.com was among the very first attorney blogs, and years later it continues to be among the very best. Carolyn is a fine lawyer in the energy field, but she is more famous for her gift of inspiration to the many solo practitioners and small-firm lawyers throughout the country. From her award-winning blog to her new book, Solo By Choice, Carolyn has given more help to more lawyers than almost any other practicing attorney. I wholeheartedly endorse her work both as a lawyer and as a consultant.
Eugene Lee, Litigation Attorney on Apr 8, 2008
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
I know Carolyn from a lawyer discussion group. Carolyn is a pioneer in the legal blogging field and has been shining example and spokesperson for solo and small firm practitioners. Carolyn is also a veteran litigator who has fought the good fight in federal and state courts and is a fearsome advocate. I endorse this lawyer's work.