Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP today announced that former Chairman (and Director of the Office of Enforcement) of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) Norman C. Bay and former Acting General Counsel and Deputy General Counsel for the Department of the Treasury Priya R. Aiyar have joined the firm as partners in the Washington office.
“These newest additions continue the accelerated growth of the firm’s Washington office, which
has become a top destination for some of the most talented senior government officials seeking a
successful platform to maximize their skills and experience,” said Matthew Feldman, Willkie’s
partner in charge of the Washington office. “Norman and Priya join notable officials from the
SEC, FCC, DOC, CFTC, ITC, DOJ and NTIA, as well as the White House and State
Department, who have built successful practices at Willkie after concluding their government
service, and have depth and expertise for our clients.”
Mr. Bay will serve as Head of the firm’s Energy Regulatory and Enforcement Group. Mr. Bay
and Ms. Aiyar each bring to the firm extensive regulatory experience at the highest levels of
practice.
“Norman’s comprehensive understanding of FERC’s regulatory and enforcement priorities will
benefit clients seeking to navigate FERC-regulated transaction and enforcement issues,” stated
Washington-based energy and commodities partner Paul Pantano, who is a former trial attorney
for the CFTC’s Division of Enforcement. “As a former U.S. Attorney, Norman is also a valuable
addition to the firm’s white-collar defense practice, particularly in parallel investigations
involving FERC or CFTC and DOJ.”
“Willkie has a premier energy practice with offices in New York, Houston and Washington that
provide a peerless ability to represent clients across a broad spectrum of complex regulatory
matters, transactions and enforcement defense before the CFTC, FERC and DOJ,” stated Mr.
Bay. “I am deeply honored to join Willkie as the Head of its Energy Regulatory and
Enforcement Group and to work with its extraordinary lawyers, including leaders like Paul
Pantano and Bruce Herzog.”
“Priya is an exceptional attorney whose government experience has spanned the financial
services, energy, technology and communications sectors,” added Mr. Feldman. “Her broad
experience as a litigation partner in private practice as well as at Treasury, DOE and FCC will
serve clients facing a spectrum of litigation and regulatory challenges.”
“I am thrilled to join a firm of Willkie’s caliber and a litigation department of extraordinary
breadth and depth,” said Ms. Aiyar. “I look forward to working with my new colleagues and
helping clients navigate an ever-changing regulatory environment.”
Norman C. Bay
As the former Chairman of FERC, Mr. Bay led the independent federal agency in its jurisdiction
over the U.S. wholesale natural gas and electricity markets, as well as interstate natural gas and
oil pipelines. As both FERC Chairman and in his earlier tenure as the agency’s Director of
Enforcement, he presided over the most active period in the history of FERC’s enforcement
program. Additionally, as a former Commissioner of FERC, he was integral in shaping agency policy and conducting stakeholder outreach. Mr. Bay also previously served as the United States
Attorney for the District of New Mexico, where he was responsible for overseeing federal
criminal prosecutions and civil litigation involving the United States, and developing and
implementing enforcement policy, priorities and practices. Mr. Bay brings a unique blend of
strengths to Willkie with his background in energy markets, regulation and policy coupled with
extensive litigation experience developed as a former federal prosecutor and U.S. Attorney.
Priya R. Aiyar
At Treasury, Ms. Aiyar was the chief legal officer overseeing approximately 2,000 lawyers. She
advised the Secretary and other senior department officials on a wide range of issues relating to
domestic finance, international economic affairs, tax policy, terrorism finance and financial
crimes enforcement. Prior to Treasury, Ms. Aiyar served as the Department of Energy’s Deputy
General Counsel for Environmental and Nuclear Programs, where she led five offices covering
environmental, nuclear, international and security issues, and as Legal Adviser to the Chairman
of the Federal Communications Commission, supervising the regulatory and policy work of
more than 250 staff. She also previously served as Deputy Chief Counsel for the National
Commission on the BP Deepwater Oil Spill and Offshore Drilling. Additionally, Ms. Aiyar was
a partner at Kellogg, Huber, Hansen, Todd, Roberts & Figel, and was a law clerk to the Honorable
Stephen G. Breyer, U.S. Supreme Court and the Honorable Merrick B. Garland, U.S. Court of
Appeals for the D.C. Circuit.
Mr. Bay will practice in Willkie’s Corporate & Financial Services Department and Ms. Aiyar
will practice in the Litigation Department and Government Relations Practice Group.
