John Ratnaswamy

Practice Areas

John Ratnaswamy founded his own law firm, the Law Office of John Ratnaswamy, LLC, in April 2019, after having served as a Co-Founder and Partner at an energy boutique law firm recognized nationally in the United States. John has spent more than 25 years counseling and representing electric and natural gas industry clients, including before utility commissions and on appeal.

Career

John Ratnaswamy founded his own law firm, the Law Office of John Ratnaswamy, LLC, in April 2019, after having served as a Co-Founder and Partner at an energy boutique law firm recognized nationally in the United States.

He was a co-founder and Partner at the widely recognized energy boutique law firm Rooney Rippie & Ratnaswamy LLP from March 2010 to February 2019.

John was a Partner in the energy and litigation practices at Foley & Lardner LLP from February 2001 to February 2010.

John served as a law clerk to the late Hon. Francis D. Murnaghan, Jr., of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, and the late Hon. Norma L. Shapiro, of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.

Publications

John has served as a columnist on legal ethics for The Bencher, the national magazine of the American Inns of Court, since 1997. He has written 95 columns for The Bencher.

Work Highlights

John has served as counsel in the preparation and litigation of over 20 natural gas and electric utility rate cases since 1999, and he has also served as counsel in related appeals. He served as lead outside counsel for five of those rate cases.

John also has served as counsel in numerous other natural gas and electricity regulation matters. His experience includes, among other things: integrated resource planning and major procurements; performance metrics; investigations and audits, including reviews of prudence, costs, reliability, program and project management, accounting, tariffs, business processes, and compliance; and code of conduct and ethics matters; reorganization approval and affiliate transactions; sector restructuring and open access implementation, the “smart grid”, and microgrids; and, rulemakings and legislation.

Industry Sector Expertise

John Ratnaswamy has been selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America© from 2010-2024 and was named its 2014 Chicago “Lawyer of the Year” in the field of Energy Law. John also has been recognized in Chambers USA from 2007-2018 and in 2024, the Leading Lawyers Network from 2012-2024, and by Super Lawyers® from 2010-2024 as an Illinois lawyer in the field of energy and natural resources law.*

*The Supreme Court of Illinois does not recognize certifications of specialties in the practice of law and certificates, awards, and recognitions are not a requirement to practice law in Illinois.

Expert in these Jurisdictions

John Ratnaswamy is licensed to practice law in Illinois, Colorado, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. He also is a member of the bar of the U.S. District Courts for the Northern and Central Districts of Illinois; the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth, Fifth, and Seventh Circuits; and the Supreme Court of the United States.

Experience

John has served as counsel in the preparation and litigation of over 20 natural gas and electric utility rate cases since 1999, and he has also served as counsel in related appeals. He served as lead outside counsel for five of those rate cases.

John also has served as counsel in numerous other natural gas and electricity regulation matters. His experience includes, among other things: integrated resource planning and major procurements;

tariffs, business processes, and compliance; investigations and audits, including reviews of prudence, costs, reliability, program and project management, accounting, and code of conduct and ethics matters; reorganization approval and affiliate transactions; sector restructuring and open access implementation, the “smart grid”, and microgrids; performance metrics; and,

rulemakings and legislation.

Education