Amy K. Olfene
Attorney
Amy K. Olfene
Attorney
Phone: 207.253.0558 Fax: 207.772.3627 Email: aolfene@dwmlaw.com
84 Marginal Way, Suite 600
Portland, ME 04101-2480Assistant: Michelle Veilleux Email: mveilleux@dwmlaw.com
About
Amy Olfene represents a variety of businesses, regulated utilities, nonprofits, municipalities and quasi-municipal entities, housing providers, and individuals in a range of energy, public utilities, administrative, and government relations matters. Her representation includes in all phases of counseling, regulatory compliance support, and litigation.
In her energy practice, Amy serves as lead counsel to Fortune 500 energy companies, renewable generators, and local utilities (both consumer- and investor-owned) in administrative proceedings and appellate litigation. Examples of Amy’s work include assisting clients in adversarial proceedings, ratemaking cases, investigations, and applications for approval before the Maine Public Utilities Commission and the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities. Amy also works with the firm’s Tribal Services Group to assist clients in navigating federal and state regulation of energy generation and transmission projects located in and around Indian Country.
In her government relations practice, Amy has represented clients before state administrative agencies and the Maine Legislature on wide-ranging matters including regulatory compliance, rulemaking, policy change, legislative drafting, and lawmaker education.
Amy is also an experienced appellate attorney who serves as the firm’s appellate coordinator. She has successfully handled numerous appeals before the First Circuit and the Maine Supreme Judicial Court (Law Court), as well as appeals of government action (Rule 80B and 80C) actions before the Maine Superior Court. In 2021, Amy expanded her appellate practice to include matters before the Supreme Court of the United States.
Amy has been recognized by Chambers as an “Up and Coming” practitioner in Energy and Natural Resources (2020-2022), and as a “Rising Star” by New England Super Lawyers (2019-2024). She also was a Commendation Recipient in the Katahdin Counsel Recognition Program, a state-wide honor bestowed on Amy for her pro bono work in both 2017 and 2018.
Outside of the office, Amy enjoys spending time with her partner and their rescue pets, hiking or engaging in one of her many creative endeavors. Raised in Maine, she is deeply committed to her community. Amy’s pro bono work has included engagements with the Volunteer Lawyers Project, Maine Equal Justice Partners, the ACLU of Maine, and the Maine Public Health Association.
Education
University of Maine School of Law, J.D., summa cum laude, 2014
University of Southern Maine, B.A., summa cum laude, 2006
Maine State Bar Association Leadership Academy, 2019
Recognition
Best Lawyers USA, Energy Law
New England Super Lawyers, Rising Star, Civil Litigation
Chambers and Partners, USA Guide, Maine, Energy & Natural Resources, Band 3
Representative Clients & Matters
- Represented NextEra Energy Resources before the Maine Public Utilities Commission and the Maine Supreme Judicial Court (Law Court) in the Company’s opposition to Central Maine Power’s New England Clean Energy Connect transmission project.
- Successfully appealed Department of Health and Human Service’s denial of food supplement benefits asylum seekers and their families (Manirakiza v. Dept. Health & Human Servs., 2018 ME 10).
- Represented The Maine Water Company in successful effort to obtain Maine Public Utilities Commission approval of merger with SJW Group.
Publications
- Of Asthma and Ashtrays: Examining the Rights of and Exploring Ways to Protect Maine Tenants Living in Multi-Unit Rental Housing Who are Involuntarily Exposed to Secondhand Tobacco Smoke in Their Homes, 66 Me. L. Rev. 291 (2013)
- Rapper’s Delight: Fifth Circuit Finds School Violated Student’s First Amendment Rights, School Law Advisory (Winter 2015)
Memberships
Maine State Bar Association
Community/Public Service
Maine Startup Weekend 2015: Women’s Edition
Coach
Maine Women’s Lobby
Board Member (2012-2016)
Maine Public Health Association
Member and Mentor (present)
Board Member (2018-2020)
American Heart Association/American Stoke Association, 2017
Go Red Survivor Speaker and Volunteer