Michael
C.
Krikava
Shareholder; Energy
Based in our Mineapolis office, Mike is chair of the firm’s Energy Section. He served on the firm’s board of directors from 2007 - 2009 and practices principally in the areas of:
- Public utility regulation
- Energy law
- Independent power project development
- Wind energy project development
- Administrative law and procedure
- Commercial litigation
Mike focuses his practice on energy law and related commercial transactions, regularly representing energy companies before a variety of regulatory bodies. He is a member of various energy sector groups and is active in the renewable energy sector. Mike’s practice includes significant experience with wind energy development and his participation in numerous projects in Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wisconsin, Texas, New Mexico and Colorado. His recent representative experience includes:
- representing transmission-owning utilities in state, federal and local permitting for major power line construction;
- negotiating power purchase agreements for more than 3,000 megawatt of wind energy generation, representing both developers and off-takers;
- representing clients in numerous contested regulatory proceedings;
- representing clients in the development, construction and acquisition of major infrastructure assets.
Prior to joining Briggs in 1988, Mike was a clerk for Chief Justice Douglas K. Amdahl of the Minnesota Supreme Court. During 1995 and 1996, he spent a year away from the firm handling international project development in the energy sector. He returned to Briggs to develop the current Energy Law Practice Group.
Mike is a member of the Minnesota State Bar Association and is the past chairman of the Public Utilities Section. Mike is admitted to practice in the U.S. Federal Court, U.S. Court of Appeals 8th Circuit, U.S. Court of Appeals Federal Circuit, Supreme Court of the United States, as well as Minnesota, Wisconsin and Colorado state courts.
In addition, Mike assists nonprofit clients with incorporation and tax exempt issues. He has worked with a variety of nonprofit clients including religious organizations, an adoption support service group and a music organization.
Mike has been named for several years in The Best Lawyers in America as a recognized Minnesota energy law practitioner and a top lawyer in energy law by Corporate Counsel Magazine. He also has been listed in Minnesota Super Lawyers.
He received his B.S. with distinction from the University of Minnesota and his J.D. summa cum laude from William Mitchell College of Law, where he was a member of the Law Review.