Overview
Mike Reed is a partner in Chapman's Corporate and Securities Department. Mike focuses his practice on projects and project finance transactions, with a focus on gas and electric utility companies and renewable energy providers.
Mike’s projects experience includes large-scale generation facility construction and retrofit projects, the purchase and sale of electric generation and gas and electric distribution and transmission assets, and development and financing of solar, wind, and hydroelectric facilities. His work also encompasses a wide range of operational matters including power purchase agreements, fuel purchase and sale agreements, pole attachment agreements, agreements governed by utility tariffs, and procurement agreements, including large consulting and contracting arrangements and technology purchases.
Outside of the energy industry, Mike also has experience representing investors, lenders, and sponsors in infrastructure development, commercial real estate, data centers, and a variety of other industries and asset classes. He has handled purchase and sale transactions, leasing, and a variety of debt and equity financing structures, as well as operative development and construction agreements and related due diligence evaluation for investors.
Prior to rejoining Chapman in 2018, Mike spent several years practicing in the banking, finance and major projects group of a large global law firm. Before entering private practice, Mike served as in-house counsel at a Fortune 500 Midwest utility holding company, where he focused on corporate transactions, real estate, and general corporate matters.
Representative Matters
- The sale of a FERC-regulated hydroelectric generation project to an independent power producer, and accompanying PPA for the seller to purchase output and environmental credits.
- The purchase of an environmentally contaminated 17-acre parcel of industrial-use real estate in southwest Chicago.
- Development and negotiation of engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) agreements and other forms of construction and OEM procurement agreements for a large scale coal-fired generation plant upgrade and environmental retro-fit projects.
- Development and negotiation of agreements sourcing production of "refined coal" for purposes of Section 45 tax credit qualification.
- Development and negotiation of ground lease agreements for construction of compressed natural gas fueling stations and negotiation of related fuel purchase agreements for large compressed natural gas fleets.
Practice Focus
Memberships
Edison Electric Institute (EEI)
Chicago Bar Association, Telecommunications, Water, and Utilities Committee
- Past Chair
Admitted
Illinois
U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois
Wisconsin
Education
DePaul University College of Law, J.D., 2008
- Dean's List
University of Michigan, B.A., Economics and History, cum laude, 2002
Community
DePaul University Alumni Relations Board