Former Chair of the North Carolina Utilities Commission, Karen is a committed advocate and creative problem solver. She focuses her practice in the areas of energy, utilities, water and wastewater, and administrative law.

Karen has represented numerous independent power producers, solar and renewable energy companies, privately owned and municipal water and wastewater companies, natural gas companies, and telecommunications companies in regulatory matters as well as in the permitting, purchase, sale, and construction of facilities.

She has also regularly represented solar developers, telecommunications companies, and various project developers before state governmental agencies, permitting officials, and local zoning boards, as well as in appeals in state and federal courts. She has appeared before boards of commissioners and city and town councils to obtain rezonings, special use and conditional permits, ordinance interpretations, and variances.