Troutman Pepper Locke announced that Lara Nichols and Rakhee Patel have joined the firm as partners in separate practices.
Nichols, a former senior vice president at Duke Energy Corporation, joined the firm’s Energy Regulatory Practice Group in Charlotte. Patel joined the firm’s Bankruptcy and Restructuring Practice in Dallas from Sidley Austin.
Nichols brings more than 30 years of industry experience. She most recently served in Duke Energy’s office of general counsel as senior vice president of state and federal regulatory legal support.
In that role, Nichols led Duke Energy’s utility regulatory work across its state jurisdictions, including North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Kentucky, Tennessee, Ohio, and Indiana. She also handled matters before the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.
Troutman Pepper Locke said Nichols strengthens the firm’s work in high-stakes power and utility matters and will support clients facing complex state, federal, and market issues across the energy sector.
The firm’s energy practices advise clients across electric power, oil and gas, and emerging technologies.
Patel brings more than three decades of experience handling high-value and complex restructurings and bankruptcy matters.
Her experience includes company, sponsor, and lender-side representations, as well as related litigation and transactional work.
Troutman Pepper Locke said Patel’s arrival strengthens the firm’s national restructuring platform and expands its capabilities in Texas and across capital-intensive industries.
Patel advises clients across energy, private equity and private credit, transportation, financial products, retail, distribution, health care and life sciences, manufacturing, emerging companies, and venture capital.
She has represented debtors, sponsors, lenders, and other stakeholders in large, multiparty restructurings and bankruptcy cases nationwide.
The firm said Patel strengthens its debtor-side capabilities in Texas and will collaborate with the broader restructuring team across its national platform.
Her addition follows the firm’s recent restructuring hires of Chris Fernandez, Michael Cecka, David Fialkow, and Melissa Kato.
Troutman Pepper Locke has more than 1,600 attorneys across more than 30 offices and serves clients across sectors including energy, financial services, health care and life sciences, insurance and reinsurance, private equity, and real estate.
KEY QUOTES:
“Lara is a seasoned and well-respected energy lawyer who will add immediate value to the firm. She has been at the forefront of many of the industry’s most pressing issues and brings an insider’s view into how utilities and regulators tackle those challenges. Her track record will help us both deepen and expand our work in this space while further strengthening our bench for clients facing complex state, federal, and market issues.”
Chris Jones, Leader of Troutman Pepper Locke’s Energy Regulatory Practice Group
“Lara brings a rare combination of deep industry knowledge and extensive regulatory experience that extends well beyond the Charlotte market. We have worked with her for years in her role at Duke Energy, a longstanding client of the firm, and our lawyers have seen firsthand the strength of her judgment and advocacy. She is an outstanding addition to our team.”
Jason Evans, Managing Partner of Troutman Pepper Locke’s Charlotte Office
“I’m excited to join Troutman Pepper Locke, a firm long respected in the energy space, and to work with clients and colleagues I’ve admired for many years. This role is a chance to focus on the issues that matter most to utilities and their customers — keeping the grid reliable and resilient, planning for modernization, adapting to changing market structures, and managing the pressures that come with unprecedented large load growth. I look forward to putting my experience to work to help clients navigate these challenges and move their strategies forward.”
Lara Nichols, Partner at Troutman Pepper Locke
“Rakhee is a terrific lawyer with strong technical skill, deep market knowledge, and a stellar reputation in the bankruptcy and restructuring space — especially in key sectors like hospitality, energy, and manufacturing. Her arrival, alongside the additions last summer of Chris Fernandez, Michael Cecka, David Fialkow, and Melissa Kato, underscores our momentum in building a deep and talented restructuring team that represents clients across the entire capital stack in a diverse range of industries and verticals. We are excited to have her join our team.”
Jonathan Young, Chair of Troutman Pepper Locke’s Bankruptcy and Restructuring Practice
“Rakhee immediately strengthens our debtor-side capabilities in Texas and will have multiple opportunities to collaborate with our larger restructuring team across the firm’s national platform. By bringing on a seasoned, well-known debtor-side partner with longstanding roots in Texas, strong ties to New York, and a national network in key industries, we are better positioned to capture additional restructuring opportunities and to drive cross-practice collaboration and growth across the firm.”
Paul Nason, Managing Partner of Troutman Pepper Locke’s Dallas Office
“Troutman Pepper Locke offers the kind of integrated, multidisciplinary national platform that complex restructurings demand. The firm’s commitment to representing stakeholders across the capital stack, its collaborative culture, and its investment in the Texas market make this an ideal place to grow my practice and I am excited to join the team.”
Rakhee Patel, Partner at Troutman Pepper Locke
