Former American Clean Power Association Vice President for Offshore Wind Josh Kaplowitz Joins Locke Lord

(WASHINGTON, D.C.) January 25, 2024 – Josh Kaplowitz, who most recently served as Vice President for Offshore Wind at the American Clean Power Association (ACP), has joined Locke Lord’s Washington, D.C., office in the Firm’s Energy and Infrastructure Practice Group and Renewable Energy Section. His practical experience in regulatory, policy, contractual and litigation matters related to offshore wind and other forms of renewable energy will continue to strengthen and expand the Firm’s renewable energy capabilities.

Kaplowitz led ACP’s offshore wind advocacy efforts, working to advance the organization’s policy, legislative and regulatory priorities for offshore wind, with a particular emphasis on its engagement with the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM), other key federal agencies and Capitol Hill. He also facilitated ACP’s collaboration with state and local governments, stakeholders and the public.

“Josh brings to Locke Lord years of experience on a wide range of strategic renewable energy legal and policy issues in both the private and public sectors,” said Ben Cowan, Chair of Locke Lord’s Renewable Energy Section. “Despite some recent challenges, the case for offshore wind in the United States remains strong, and our Firm is bullish on the long-term prospects for the industry. Josh’s addition will benefit our existing offshore wind clients as they navigate the complex permitting and commercial issues their projects face, and will enable us to further enhance and expand our administrative law and policy capabilities to better serve our full range of renewable energy and energy transition clients in an increasingly complex political and regulatory environment.”

Kaplowitz further bolsters Locke Lord’s robust offshore wind capabilities, building on other recent additions, including Emily Huggins Jones, a Partner in the Firm’s Washington, D.C., office focusing her practice in maritime and port development issues, such as the Jones Act, vessel solutions and subsea cable installation; Shane Early, a lawyer in the Firm’s Boston office, who helped shape Massachusetts’ offshore wind strategy as general counsel of the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities; and Toyja Kelley, a litigation Partner in the Firm’s Washington, D.C., office representing offshore wind developers, who recently obtained a jury verdict in favor of US Wind in a trial involving breach of contract and tortious interference against the installation contractor for its Maryland offshore wind project.

After working in private practice as an environmental, toxic tort and commercial litigator, Kaplowitz served for five years in the Office of the Solicitor at the U.S. Department of the Interior as legal counsel for BOEM’s Office of Renewable Energy Programs and the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement. During his tenure, Kaplowitz helped revise BOEM’s offshore wind regulations and defend BOEM against legal challenges to its permits and leases. Kaplowitz then moved to an in-house position with GE’s offshore wind business unit.

“Having worked closely with Locke Lord lawyers during my time leading ACP’s offshore wind advocacy, I have a high regard for the Firm, and I am grateful for this opportunity,” said Kaplowitz. “It’s an exciting time in the offshore wind energy space as the first major projects are built and states continue to progress toward their clean energy goals, and I am confident Locke Lord’s national platform and broad capabilities in the renewable energy space afford me the best opportunity to build my practice and provide our clients the highest level of service.”

Kaplowitz is a frequent speaker and writer on offshore wind law and policy. He also serves as an Adjunct Professor at the George Washington University College of Law where he teaches offshore wind law to second- and third-year law students.

Locke Lord is one of the world’s preeminent energy law firms. The Firm has built one of ‎the ‎nation’s leading practices representing developers, investors and lenders ‎in the development, ‎sale, ‎purchase, financing and operation of renewable energy projects of all ‎types across North ‎America. In addition, the Firm regularly represents major and independent oil and gas ‎companies, midstream and pipeline companies, power generation companies, ‎refineries and petrochemical operations, oil and gas service companies and other energy-related ‎companies, both domestically and internationally.‎

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About Locke Lord LLP
Locke Lord is a full-service law firm with global reach and 20 offices designed to meet clients’ needs in the United States and around the world. The Firm has a history that spans more than 135 years and is a leader in the middle market arena. Locke Lord focuses on providing the highest levels of commitment, quality and service to clients across its five Key Sectors: Energy and Infrastructure; Finance and Financial Services; Insurance and Reinsurance; Pharmaceutical; and Private Equity. In addition, the Firm advises clients across a broad spectrum of other industries, including fund formation, venture capital, health care, public finance, real estate, technology, cybersecurity and white collar, while providing a wealth of experience through its complex litigation, intellectual property, tax, regulatory and transactional teams.