Stephen represents clients on a wide range of public utility and energy issues, including federal and state regulation of the rates, service and facilities of electrical and natural gas utilities and non-utility generation (NUG) projects. Before joining McGuireWoods in 1981, he was vice president and general counsel of an intrastate natural gas transmission and distribution company. He has practiced energy regulatory law at the federal and state level since 1975, and has been listed in Woodward/White, Inc.'s The Best Lawyers in America since 1993.

His practice focuses on electric transmission line siting and on multi-state energy regulatory aspects of energy transactions and projects, including mergers and acquisitions and the development, financing, construction and operation of energy facilities.

Stephen has practiced before the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (and its predecessor, the Federal Power Commission), State Corporation Commission of Virginia, North Carolina Utilities Commission, Public Service Commission of West Virginia, Connecticut Department of Public Utility Control, Minnesota Public Utilities Commission, Michigan Public Service Commission, Wisconsin Public Service Commission and Kentucky State Board on Electric Generation and Transmission Siting.

Stephen also has spoken on energy regulatory issues at seminars and conferences sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy, American Gas Association, Electric Power Research Institute, NARUC's Natural Conference of Regulatory Attorneys, Eastern Mineral Law Foundation, National Regulatory Conference, McGraw-Hill's Independent Power Report and Electrical World, Infocast, Center for Business Intelligence, Institute for International Research, EXNET, SNL Energy, Public Utilities Fortnightly, Urban Land Institute and the University of Richmond School of Law. He was also author of the chapter on "Distributor Gas Supply" in Matthew Bender's treatise Regulation of the Gas Industry and has lectured at the University of Virginia Law School and University of Richmond School of Law on federal energy regulation under the Natural Gas Act and Federal Power Act.