Christine Soares is an experienced energy attorney who advises data center developers, large industrial users and other mega-load customers on the power, utility and regulatory strategies that drive complex infrastructure development. Her practice focuses on helping clients secure and structure reliable, scalable power solutions for energy-intensive projects, including grid-connected service arrangements, on-site and behind-the-meter generation, interconnection, utility infrastructure, special contracts and innovative tariff structures.  

Christine is known for guiding clients through sophisticated commercial arrangements with investor-owned utilities, municipalities, cooperatives and third-party energy providers. She regularly structures and negotiates electric service agreements, power procurement arrangements, interconnection agreements, power purchase agreements, water supply agreements, offtake agreements and related infrastructure arrangements. For data center and mega-load projects, Christine helps clients evaluate power availability, service timelines, cost responsibility, regulatory requirements, utility upgrade obligations and long-term operational risk.

Christine also leads the negotiation of engineering, procurement and construction agreements and related project documents with utilities and other third parties. She works with clients to align energy procurement, construction obligations, regulatory approvals and project development milestones, helping reduce execution risk for capital-intensive projects.

In addition to her development and procurement work, Christine advises on energy-related M&A due diligence and transactions. She evaluates utility service arrangements, power supply obligations, interconnection rights, rate and tariff exposure, regulatory approvals, infrastructure commitments, environmental attributes and other energy-related issues that may affect project value, financing, development timelines and post-closing operations.

Christine represents clients before state public utility commissions in matters involving energy procurement, interconnection, base rate cases, acquisition proceedings, special contracts, tariff approvals and renewable energy programs. She has appeared for more than a decade before the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities and the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission and has extensive experience navigating contested and uncontested regulatory proceedings, rulemakings and approval processes.

Christine also advises on renewable natural gas and landfill biogas projects, including project agreements, transactional due diligence and the structuring and sale of related environmental attributes, such as renewable energy credits and carbon offsets.

Before joining Polsinelli, Christine served as in-house regulatory counsel at the largest publicly owned water and wastewater utility in the United States and as commercial counsel for one of the world’s largest pharmaceutical companies. Her experience also includes more than 12 years practicing commercial litigation, energy and regulatory law at two AM Law 100 firms. With a background spanning private practice and in-house roles, Christine brings a practical, risk-focused perspective to regulatory strategy, project execution and complex energy transactions.