BRG recently announced Dr. Hans Leonard, a former economist at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, has joined the firm as a director in its Energy & Climate practice, based in Washington, DC.
BRG said Leonard will help build the group’s energy regulatory practice and advise clients on disputes involving market design, anticompetitive behavior, pricing, tariff interpretation, cost allocation, and damages. Christopher Goncalves, a managing director and chair of BRG’s Energy & Climate practice, said Leonard’s experience comes at a time of significant regulatory change in the U.S. energy sector.
Leonard previously spent six years as an economist in FERC’s Office of Administrative Litigation, where he directed interdisciplinary case teams across data analysis, economic modeling, expert testimony preparation, and live cross-examination. BRG said he has submitted expert testimony before FERC on topics including cost allocation, customer termination fees, damages, and price effects, and has supported settlements among utilities, customers, and regulators.
BRG described Leonard’s technical focus as spanning industrial organization, applied microeconomics, econometrics and statistics, and causal inference across the electric, gas, and oil sectors. The firm said his work has included developing models to analyze market behavior, evaluate costs and benefits, and estimate damages across disputes tied to issues such as alleged illicit bidding, dispatch and pricing algorithm malfunctions, early infrastructure retirements, imprudent utility management, transmission investment decisions, tariff compliance, and rate design. Prior to FERC, Leonard worked as a data scientist.
Leonard earned a PhD in political science from the University of Rochester and a BA in economics from the College of William & Mary.
KEY QUOTES
“Hans’ ability to provide expert analysis and testimony that translate the most complicated data into accessible insights will benefit both our clients and our firm. Amid substantial, impactful regulatory changes in the US, his extensive experience in competitive wholesale energy markets and regulated utilities makes him an ideal contributor to the buildout of our regulatory practice.”
Christopher Goncalves, a managing director and chair of BRG’s Energy & Climate practice
“I’m excited to be joining BRG’s team of industry leaders. At this dynamic time in US energy policy, I’m looking forward to taking this next step in my career and helping grow this group’s regulatory offering.”
Dr. Leonard
