Seeking to broaden its footprint in regional regulatory and infrastructure sectors, regional law firm Norris McLaughlin, P.A. announced on Monday the strategic expansion of its Public Utilities, Telecommunications, and Energy practice group. Industry veterans Martin Rothfelder and Bradford Stern have joined the firm’s headquarters in Bridgewater, deepening its bench during a critical period of market modernization.
Rothfelder joins the firm as a Member, while Stern boards the practice group as Of Counsel.
The arrival of the lateral partners signals an aggressive push by Norris McLaughlin to capture a larger share of the complex compliance, litigation, and transaction workflows across the mid-Atlantic energy and telecommunications sectors.
“I’ve known Marty and Brad for years, and I’ve had the opportunity to work closely with them on matters throughout our careers,” James Laskey, a senior attorney within the firm’s practice group. “They are exceptional public utilities, telecom, and energy lawyers. Smart, practical, and deeply respected in the industry.”
Both attorneys arrive with multi-decade track records navigating the high-stakes friction between private commercial interests and state and federal oversight bodies:
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Martin Rothfelder brings more than 30 years of private sector experience, augmented by a combined 12 years spent directly within public utility commissions and a major utility corporation. Having managed over 100 utility base rate cases, Rothfelder’s practice spans 16 state utility commissions, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). Notably, he has spearheaded legal and lobbying strategies for monumental utility infrastructure rollouts, including PSE&G’s multi-billion-dollar Energy Strong and Gas System Modernization programs.
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Bradford Stern blends a 35-year legal career with a foundational background as a licensing engineer for United Engineers & Constructors. His technical background provides unique insight into the environmental, financial, and socio-economic complexities of siting large-scale power plants and electric transmission lines. Stern regularly counsels public and private entities on solar energy developments, renewable portfolio strategies, broadband deployments, and municipal wastewater infrastructure.
The legal additions will immediately absorb transactional and regulatory casework before the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (BPU) and adjacent federal agencies, expanding Norris McLaughlin’s capacities at a time when renewable energy initiatives and broadband infrastructure investments are peaking regionally.
