Van Ness Feldman, P.C. is pleased to announce that Richard P. Bonnifield has joined the firm’s Washington, DC office as a Member.  He comes to the firm after serving as Vice President – Legal Services at a diversified investor-owned electric and gas utility company, Public Service Enterprise Group (PSEG), including Public Service Electric and Gas Company, PSEG Power LLC, PSEG Energy Holdings LLC and PSEG Services Corporation.  

Mr. Bonnifield has over 25 years of legal experience in both the private and public energy sectors.  During his tenure at PSEG, he was responsible for a broad array of issues including, regional transmission, corporate restructuring, rates, compliance, governance, project development, transactions, and litigation.  As General Counsel to the Long Island Power Authority, he negotiated a landmark settlement of complex federal litigation challenging the Authority's application to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission to decommission the Shoreham Nuclear Power Plant.  He began his career at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission as an Attorney Advisor in the Office of Administrative Law Judges, and in private legal practice. At Van Ness Feldman, his practice will focus on electricity, nuclear, and natural gas matters. 

He currently is the President-Elect of the Energy Bar Association, and he previously served as President of the Energy Bar Association's Charitable Foundation.  He also serves on the Board of the Foundation of the Energy Law Journal.

Commenting on Mr. Bonnifield’s arrival, Howard Feldman, Chairman of Van Ness Feldman, said, “We’re delighted to have Rich join our active energy practice.  I know our clients will benefit from his breadth of experience and perspective as a former in-house counsel to two major utilities.”

Mr. Bonnifield earned a J.D. from Gonzaga University School of Law and an M.B.A. from Gonzaga University Graduate School of Business.  He received his B.A. at Washington and Lee University.