Gwenneth O’Hara is Chair of the Energy and Natural Resources Practice Group and a member of the Firm’s Corporate Practice Group. With over 25 years of experience in the energy industry, Ms. O’Hara advises public and private entities with large infrastructure projects, and advises on all aspects of traditional energy, gas, and renewable portfolios. Ms. O’Hara counsels clients on renewable contracting and development of form RFPs and PPAs incorporating recent utility standards and regulatory changes, including CAISO market changes. She advises clients on negotiation and drafting of interconnection, transmission, energy, gas and related contracts, including ISDA, EEI,WSPP, NAESB, GISB and custom bilateral arrangements. Ms. O’Hara also advises clients on clean energy and climate change aspects of the Inflation Reduction Act and its impact on transactions, regulatory ramifications and tax credit benefits, including ITC, PTC and the newly added credits for storage and other technologies. In addition, Ms. O’Hara represents clients at the CPUC, CAISO, FERC, CARB, and CEC.
Prior to joining Buchalter, Ms. O’Hara was the founding member of a boutique energy law firm with three offices in California.
Ms. O’Hara has been recognized as a 2026 Best Lawyer in America in the area of Natural Resources Law. Ms. O’Hara has been recognized as one of Sacramento Magazine’s Top Lawyer in the field of Energy & Natural Resources since 2021.