At what dollar threshold do you typically bring in legal counsel for utility disputes? I've got an Xcel Energy case potentially worth $180K but their legal team is now involved and pushing back hard. Client is willing to pay attorney fees but I want to make sure it's worth it.
When to hire an attorney for utility disputes
For anything over $100K I usually recommend legal, especially if the utility brings in their lawyers. The threat alone sometimes gets them to settle. Plus attorneys know the procedural stuff that can trip us up in formal proceedings. $180K is definitely worth the investment.
I'd hire counsel immediately. When utilities lawyer up, they're usually trying to intimidate you into backing down. A good utility attorney can navigate the PUC process much better than we can, and often gets faster results. The fees are typically 25-30% of recovery, so still profitable for your client.
Thanks for the input. Client is comfortable with attorney fees and frankly I'm getting in over my head with their legal department. Better to bring in someone who deals with this level of dispute regularly.
Smart move Warren. I learned the hard way that trying to go toe-to-toe with utility legal departments is a losing proposition. Let the lawyers handle the legal stuff while you focus on the technical analysis. Much better division of labor.