Utilities Expert Witnesses

Livermore, California

Energy, Electricity - Lost Earnings, Economic Damages, Business Litigation, ERCOT, PJM, ISO-NE, CAISO, Utilities, Energy Markets, Asset Management, Power Generation, Statistics, Mechanical Engineering, Operations Research, Hydroelectric Energy, Compliance, Regulatory, Batteries, Tolling Agreement, Power Purchase Agreement

I am an expert in the systems that balance electricity demand and supply. Many systems have been created that maintain this balance over time and mitigate the cost to energy users. There are economic systems, for example, energy markets, which generate prices that indicate the value of changing the electricity flow at a particular place and time. There are regulatory systems that enforce standards on owners and operators of energy infrastructure. There are mechanical systems at power plants that keep coal flowing into the furnaces at the precise amount needed. There are forecasting systems that allow industry stakeholders to plan for the future. There are business processes that allow every kind of enterprise to interface with the grid. All these systems work in concert to keep the electrical grid energized and the electricity flowing. Contact me if your issue intersects with any of these energy systems. My expertise comes from over 10 years of work experience in the energy indu...

Los Angeles, California

Energy, Mechanical Engineering - Power Grid, Energy Infrastructures, Marine Industry, Accident Investigation, Power Tools, Patent Litigation, Construction Safety, Utilities, Oil & Gas, Wildfire, Public Safety, Root Cause Analysis, Failure, Accident, Energy, Climate Change, Renewable Energy, Disaster, Catastrophic Injury, Safety

Dr. Tarannom Parhizkar, Ph.D., P.E., is a distinguished expert in power grids and the oil & gas industry, with over 16 years of professional experience. She is an Adjunct Professor at UCLA and a trusted authority in accident investigation, failure mode and effects analysis (FMEA), and common cause failure assessment, providing attorneys with clear, defensible technical opinions. Her litigation and consulting work focuses on accident reconstruction, root cause analysis, and patent disputes. She has supported cases involving energy infrastructure accidents, pipeline integrity, combustion systems, equipment failures, and environmental exposures. Known for her meticulous methods and integrity, Dr. Parhizkar offers objective, reliable insights that help clarify complex technical issues in court. Dr. Parhizkar has authored a book, multiple book chapters, and more than 30 peer-reviewed journal publications. She is also an active academic contributor, serving as Adjunct Professor at UCLA,...

Denver, Colorado

Civil Engineering - Civil Infrastructure, Grading, Accessibility, Drainage, Flood Control, Storm Sewer, Water System, Sanitary Sewer, Erosion Control, Development, Transportation, Roadway Design, Construction Defects, Residential, Commercial, Senior Housing, Student Housing, Utilities, Handicap

Steve Kocher is the President and co-founder of Harris Kocher Smith and also serves as Principal-in-Charge and Project Manager for the firm’s private and public clients. Mr. Kocher has designed and managed civil engineering projects since 1993. Mr. Kocher has designed, or managed the design, of civil infrastructure, grading, and drainage for numerous residential projects, totaling over 10,000 multi-family, single-family, student housing, and senior living dwelling units. Mr. Kocher has also managed and designed projects for many state and local governments and agencies, including Colorado Department of Transportation; National Conference of State Legislatures; Colorado Springs; Douglas County; Kansas Department of Transportation; Castle Pines Metropolitan District; City and County of Denver; Highlands Ranch Metro District; Centennial Water & Sanitation District; Denver Public Schools; and Colorado School of Mines. Mr. Kocher’s specific expertise includes site grading, handic...

Plymouth, Michigan

Energy, Financial - Utilities, Renewables, Board Member, Governance, Independent Power Producer (IPP), Power Plant Development, Peaker & Combined Cycle Natural Gas power plants, M&A negotiations, Power offtake contract negotiations, Biomass Power, Carbon Capture and Sequestration, Financial Analysis, Strategy, Executive Management

Raj Swaminathan is a transformational energy executive with nearly three decades of experience leading high-growth initiatives across the global energy, utility, and independent power sectors. Known for building businesses at the intersection of innovation and sustainability, Raj has held senior leadership roles at Fortune 500 companies and renewable-focused firms, steering organizations through pivotal stages of development, expansion, and energy transition. Most recently, Raj served as Executive Vice President at Drax, a global renewable energy company headquartered in the UK, where he led international business development for Bioenergy with Carbon Capture and Storage (BECCS) — one of the world's most promising negative-emissions technologies. As one of Drax’s first U.S.-based executives, Raj founded and scaled the U.S. business from inception to a 30-member global team. Previously, as Vice President at CMS Energy, Raj led renewable energy development and M&A activities, expand...

Cleveland, Ohio

Civil Engineering, Land Surveying - civil engineering, drainage, grading, utilities, site design, subdivisions, land development

Mr. Neff has expertise in the areas of civil / site engineering, design and review of roadways, utilities, sanitary sewers, storm sewers, water mains, site planning, industrial site design, residential site design, multi-family site design, stormwater management, soil and erosion control, water quality, EPA regulations, and feasibility studies. Mr. Neff has surveying expertise in land surveying including boundary line determination; boundary, topographic and ALTA/ACSM surveys. Mr. Neff has been an expert witness including document analysis and report preparation in land development and drainage cases.