Chicago Office
Tel: (312) 715-5206

Sherina Maye Edwards

Partner

As a member of the firm's Energy, Environment & Natural Resources Practice Group, Sherina Maye Edwards focuses her practice on electric reliability, water, natural gas and critical infrastructure issues. An energy professional with solid regulatory experience which includes analyzing, formulating, and implementing public policy at the state level, she brings a wealth of knowledge on issues affecting the energy and public utility industry including grid modernization, natural gas infrastructure, cybersecurity, reliability and supplier and workforce diversity.

Prior to joining the firm, Edwards served a five year term on the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC), making her the youngest commissioner ever appointed in the state of Illinois. While she served as commissioner, she was involved with the National Association for Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC), serving as the Chair of the Subcommittee on Pipeline Safety as well as Chair of the Subcommittee on Supplier and Workforce Diversity and as a member of the Committee on Gas, with previous service on the Water Committee.

In 2016, Edwards was appointed by President Barack Obama and U.S. Secretary of Transportation, Anthony Foxx as Co-Chair of the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Voluntary Information-Sharing System Working Group, which was created in accordance with the Pipelines Hazardous and Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) guidelines, where she provided recommendations to the Secretary of Transportation on information-sharing matters and best practices for the protection of proprietary and security-sensitive information.

Having founded both the Women’s Energy Summit and the Women’s Energy Network of Chicago as well as having strong influence over the creation of the Illinois Utilities Business Diversity Council and the ICC’s Office of Diversity and Community Affairs, Edwards is nationally recognized for being a champion for diversity and inclusion within the utility and energy space.

Edwards was recently selected as a 2017 Eisenhower Fellow, where she served as an ambassador for the United States in South Africa and Australia, met with leading experts in the energy industry, and learned more about the shift to renewable energy. In additional to several civic boards, Edwards sits on the Board of Directors for Intren, LLC, a national construction company that primarily services the electric and gas industries.

Legal Services

  • Energy, Environment & Natural Resources
  • Electric Power & Gas Distribution
  • Energy Development & Transactions
  • Government Relations for Energy
  • Litigation & Appeals
  • Strategic Counseling
  • Data Privacy & Security

Education and Honors

  • Howard University School of Law (J.D., 2008)
  • Merit Scholar
  • Spelman College (B.A., cum laude, 2005)

Bar Admissions

  • Illinois

Professional and Civic Activities

  • Intren, LLC (Board of Directors)
  • Women's Energy Network Chicago (Founding Member and Immediate Past President)
  • Women’s Energy Summit, Inc. (Founder and Chairperson)
  • Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. (Member, National Executive Board)
  • Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana (Member, Board of Directors and 3rd Vice President)
  • Lake Shore Chapter of the Links, Inc. (Member)
  • Leadership Greater Chicago Fellows Class of 2015 (Member)
  • American Association of Blacks in Energy (AABE) (Member)
  • National Utilities Diversity Council (Member)
  • Black Women’s Lawyers Association (Member)

Professional Recognition

  • Eisenhower Fellowship Recipient (2017)
  • Chicago Sky WNBA Woman of the Year (July 2016)
  • Chicago 106.3 Radio “Distinguished Woman” Spotlight (June 2016)
  • National Utilities Diversity Council Annual Meeting, Honorary Chair (May 2016)
  • Ariel Community Academy Commencement Speaker (May 2016)
  • DuSable Museum Women’s Empowerment Award (March 2016)
  • Cliff Dwellers Arts Club International Women’s Day Speaker and Honoree (March 2016)
  • Leadership Greater Chicago Fellow (July 2015)
  • Claremont Academy Commencement Speaker and Community Servant Honoree (June 2015)
  • Black Women’s Lawyers Association “Rising Star” Award (April 2015)
  • Chicago Urban League Service and Empowerment Leader Award (July 2013)
  • Rhema Word Christian Academy Commencement Speaker (June 2013)

Publications and Presentations

08/21/18
"Fireside Chat: The Future of Gas and the Diversity of the Future"
Women's Energy Summit, Chicago, Illinois

07/23/18
"When the #MeToo Movement meets the #NotMe movement"
American Gas Association Legal Forum

06/01/18
"Executive Women in Energy"
USA Today

11/16/17
"Grid of the Future,"
C3 Annual Conference, Boston, Massachusetts

11/12/17
"Reflecting on the Past, Strategizing for the Future,"
National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners Sub Committee on Supplier and Workforce Diversity Meeting, Baltimore, Maryland

10/20/17
"Keynote Speaker, "Women in Energy Law and Regulation,"
University of Colorado Law School, Boulder, Colorado

09/25/17
"Utility of the Future,"
Next Grid Illinois, Chicago, Illinois

09/02/17
"U.S. Growth Strategies in Renewable Energy,"
National Energy Regulator of South Africa Executive Meeting, Johannesburg, South Africa

08/25/17
"U.S. Growth Strategies in Renewable Energy,"
South African Department of Energy Executive Meeting, Cape Town, South Africa

06/21/17
Ariel Academy Community Academy Graduation

06/21/17
"Frameworks for Grid Transformation: Illinois and Other States,"
Mid-America Regulatory Conference (MARC) Smart Electric Power Alliance Breakfast, Chicago, Illinois

06/19/17
"The Evolving Role of the Regulator in the Age of Advancing Cyber Threats,"
Mid-America Regulatory Conference (MARC), Chicago, Illinois

06/06/17
"The Success Cycle: Constructive Regulatory Outcomes,"
Executive Women in Energy

05/01/17
"Planning Distribution System Investments Given DER Growth,"
Electricity Dialogue at Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois

04/15/17
"U.S. Growth Strategies in Renewable Energy,"
Australian Energy Renewable Agency Executive Meeting, Melbourne, Australia

04/13/17
"U.S. Growth Strategies in Renewable Energy,"
Australian Energy Regulatory Executive Meeting, Sydney, Australia

03/24/17
"Cybersecurity Progress in the United States,"
Cybersecurity Initiative for Black Sea Electric Utility Regulators, Tallin, Estonia

03/02/17
"Critical Infrastructure and Microgrids,"
Chicago Advanced Energy Stakeholder Breakfast, Chicago, Illinois

03/01/17
"Cybersecurity, Part 2: Opportunities and Challenges for State Utility Regulators"
Public Utilities Fortnightly

02/13/17
"Roundtable Discussion on Pipeline Safety,"
National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC) Winter Committee Meetings, Washington, D.C.

02/12/17
"How Safe is Too Safe: Cybersecurity Cost Recovery in a New Era of Risk,"
National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC) Winter Committee Meetings, Washington, D.C.

02/01/17
"Cybersecurity, Part 1: Opportunities and Challenges for State Utility Regulators"
Public Utilities Fortnightly

01/27/17
Ameren Leadership Summit

11/14/16
"The Future of Gas: Synergies Between Natural Gas and Renewable Generation"
National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC) Annual Meeting, La Quinta, California

11/13/16
"The 2016 DOE-sponsored Commissioners' Mission to China: Major Lessons"
National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC) Annual Meeting, La Quinta, California

11/10/16
"Grid Modernization in Illinois,"
Solar PV Conference and Expo, Chicago, Illinois

10/09/16
Welcome Reception
American Gas Association, Chicago, Illinois

10/06/16
Ameren Diverse Supplier Showcase Summit
Collinsville, Illinois

10/03/16
"Water, Communication, and Energy Utility Integration,"
National Association of Water Companies (NAWC) Water Summit Panel, San Diego, California

09/29/16
"Cybersecurity Panel"
Institute for Regulatory Policy Studies (IRPS) Fall Conference, Springfield, Illinois

09/28/16
"Public Utlility Commissioners' Panel Discussion"
Midwest Energy Association (MEA) Fall Executive Summit & Board Meeting

09/20/16
"Women's Energy Summit" (WES)
Chicago, Illinois

07/28/16
After School Matters Illionois Commerce Commission (ICC)

07/26/16
"To Acquire or Not to Acquire? That is the Question,"
National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC) Summer Committee Meetings, Committee on Water, Nashville, Tennessee

07/26/16
"Transform the Energy Industry with New Gas-Fueled Technologies,"
National Association Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC) Summer Committee Meetings, Committee on Gas, Nashville, Tennessee

07/24/16
"Demonstrating Value and Leveraging Power through employee Resource Groups,"
National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC) Summer Committee Meetings, Subcommittee on Utility Marketplace Access, Nashville, Tennessee

05/26/16
"Defining a Diverse Workforce"
National Utilities Diverse Council Annual Symposium, Brooklyn, New York

05/13/16
"Inclusion Accountability: From Words to Action,"
Human Resource Management Association Meeting, Chicago, Illinois

04/22/16
"Women in POWER"
American Association of Blacks in Energy Annual Conference, Chicago, Illinois

04/17/16
Nicor Gas Employee Resource Group
Naperville, Illinois

04/14/16
"A Nation in Digital Combat: Regulator's Perspective on Defending our Critical Infrastructure form Cyber Attacks"
Chicago Bar Association Meeting, Chicago, Illinois

03/18/16
Quad County Urban League Women's Empowerment Summit

03/15/16
"Grid Modernization and Data Driven Decisions,"
New Mexico Center for Public Utilities Critical Issues Forum, New Mexico State University

03/10/16
CliffDwellers Annual Women's Month Symposium
Chicago, Illinois

03/10/16
Dusable Museum Women's Month Symposium
Chicago, Illinois

02/01/16
"Accelerated Infrastructure Replacement and Maintenance in Illinois"
National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC) Winter Meeting, Washington, D.C.

01/01/16
"A Refreshing Color of Change"
Chicago Defender Newspaper

10/05/15
"Accelerated Infrastructure Replacement and Maintenance Update"
American Gas Association State Affairs Fall Meeting, San Diego, California

09/30/15
"Public Utility Commissioners' Panel Discussion"
Midwest Energy Association (MEA) Fall Executive Summit & Board Meeting, Denver, Colorado

09/30/15
"Water-Energy Nexus"
Midwest Energy Association (MEA) Fall Executive Summit & Board Meeting, Denver, Colorado

09/02/15
Women's Energy Summit (WES)
Chicago, Illinois

06/09/15
"Water — Changing Demand Patterns: Rate-Setting & Other Implications"
Mid-America Regulatory Conference (MARC), Milwaukee, Wisconsin

06/04/15
"Water and Energy: Cooling Water Withdrawals and Long-Term Pollution from Fossil Fuel Extraction and Combustion"
ABA 33rd Annual Water Law Conference, Denver, Colorado

05/25/15
"Workforce Diversity"
National Utilities Diversity Council Annual Symposium, Brooklyn, New York

04/10/15
"Power Up: Fueling Our Rise in the Energy Landscape"
Black Women Lawyers Association (BWLA), Chicago, Illinois

03/31/15
"Physical and Cybersecurity in Today's Utility"
Energy Bar Association Midwest Energy Conference

10/23/14
"Declining Water Usage"
Institute for Regulatory Policy Studies (IRPS) Fall Conference, Springfield, Illinois

10/23/14
"Innovation, Conservation and Customer Participation: Declining Water Usage"
Institute for Regulatory Policy Studies (IRPS) Conference, Springfield, Illinois

10/07/14
"It's Not Just a "Nexus" — Energizing Water-Energy Integration,"
National Association of Water Companies (NAWC) Water Summit, Fort Lauderdale, Florida

09/09/14
Women's Energy Summit (WES)
Chicago, Illinois

09/01/14
"Start the Conversation: A Regulator's Role in a World Divided by Distributed Generation"
Public Utilities Fortnightly

05/12/14
"Transmission and Generation Reliability"
NARC/Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Partnership, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

10/10/13
"Effective Regulation"
Chicago Bar Association Energy Committee, Chicago, Illinois

05/22/13
Rhema Academy Commencement
Fort Lauderdale, Florida