Balch & Bingham Expands Nuclear Energy Practice with Addition of Grant W. Eskelsen in Washington

Balch & Bingham is pleased to announce that Grant W. Eskelsen has joined our Washington, D.C. office, expanding the firm’s globally ranked Nuclear Energy Practice. Grant brings a decade of experience counseling clients in the nuclear industry on transactional and regulatory approvals and day-to-day regulatory compliance issues.

Grant is a trusted advisor to electric utility companies, particularly owners and operators of nuclear power plants on commercial and regulatory issues. He regularly counsels clients through the complexities of the purchase and sale of a nuclear assets and in aspects of nuclear-related procurement. A key focus of his practice concentrates on issues before the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), the U.S. Department of Energy, and agreement state regulators. Grant has deep experience advising on nuclear export and import regulations, including 10 CFR Part 810 and 10 CFR Part 110. He also advises clients on recovering damages in litigation and settlement for the U.S. Department of Energy for failure to remove spent nuclear fuel from reactor sites.

“Grant is a great addition to our Nuclear Energy Practice,” said Stan Blanton, Managing Partner and chair of the firm’s Nuclear Energy Practice. “I have witnessed Grant’s talent, diligence, and responsiveness supporting the nuclear industry in both regulatory and transactional approvals. We are happy to welcome him to our team and look forward to the value his experience will bring our clients.”

After receiving his J.D. from Wake Forest University School of Law, Grant worked at the United States Court of Federal Claims, where he advised judges on complex civil litigation, including takings cases, tax refund suits, government contracts under the FAR, and bid protests. 

“The opportunity to join Balch’s Nuclear Energy Practice is exciting,” said Grant. “The firm is uniquely positioned to support the energy transition we are seeing in this nation and the rebirth of nuclear energy. I have tremendous respect for the team and look forward to collaborating with my new colleagues to support clients navigating the complexities of the nuclear regulatory environment and advancing their strategic objectives.”

Grant has been recognized for the past two consecutive years as a Rising Star by the Legal 500 in the Energy regulation: electric power category.

Balch is widely-recognized as one of the leading firms in the U.S. in the nuclear arena, and is included by Chambers Global & Chambers USA in its list of leading firms for Energy: Nuclear (Regulatory & Litigation). With a dedicated team of attorneys who are at the forefront of nuclear energy law, the firm provides counsel to nuclear plant owners, developers, operators, and nuclear industry vendors on operating plant and post-shutdown regulatory and licensing compliance, supply chain and contract negotiation and administration, new plant financing, nuclear mergers and acquisitions, dispute avoidance and resolution, decommissioning and waste management and disposal strategy, and other regulatory agency compliance matters. Further, Balch attorneys have extensive experience providing counsel and representation to licensees and individuals in connection with NRC enforcement proceedings, investigations by NRC, the Department of Labor and state agencies, particularly proceedings initiated pursuant to the provisions of the Atomic Energy Act and the Energy Reorganization Act.