Nikki Shoultz is a partner in the Utility Group. Nikki represents utilities, energy industry stakeholders, municipalities, large industrial and commercial energy consumers, landowners and developers in state and federal regulatory proceedings, litigation and private business transactions.
Nikki has extensive experience handling the complex, multidisciplinary demands of data center and renewable energy development projects from land acquisition, zoning approval, negotiating power and utility contracts, regulatory approvals, financing and closing. Having represented developers, municipalities and hyperscalers, Nikki coordinates firm resources to provide the depth and breadth of experience to bring projects to commercial operation.
Nikki has more than 30 years of experience representing clients with energy, telecommunications, technology, wind, solar, water and sewer matters. Prior to entering private practice, Nikki served for four years with the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission as Chief Administrative Law Judge, general counsel and assistant general counsel.
Nikki’s career highlights include:
• Representing more than 2GW of Indiana renewable energy and data center projects in siting, permitting, regulatory approvals, transmission access, environmental compliance and contract negotiations toward commercial operation.
• Arguing successfully for Indiana regulators to reject an electric utility’s proposal to build an 850MW generation facility based on the utility’s failure to adequately consider less expensive alternatives.
• Testifying before the 2021 Indiana General Assembly on Indiana’s transition to renewable energy.
• Prevailing in the only contested communications service provider certification proceeding in Indiana on behalf of a successful federal Rural Digital Opportunity Fund bidder.
• Avoiding a $23 million sewer rate increase for a client community by convincing Indiana regulators to deny the utility’s request to pre-approve proposed projects because the utility failed to adequately repair its system.
• Prevailing in a proceeding that approved a new rate structure for large industrial customers, allowing access to the wholesale market for power, which identified up to $60 million per year in savings for large industrial customers.
• Intervening in a regulatory proceeding that would have shifted $45 million in costs to retail customers related to their wholesale power operations. The shift in cost was eliminated, which reduced the power cost to retail customers.
• Saving a large, publicly traded industrial company $14 million a year by negotiating advantageous electric rates for its manufacturing facilities.
• Prevailing in a multi-million-dollar contractual dispute on behalf of an electric provider with more than a billion dollars in assets.
• Serving as counsel for the City of Indianapolis in its highly contested, yet ultimately successful, acquisition of the Indianapolis Water Company.
• Efficiently navigating several national telecommunications carriers through complex regulatory issues, including carrier-to-carrier and competition related disputes, state and federal universal service fund obligations, slamming investigations, and matters affecting the payphone industry.
• Advising numerous clients on cogeneration arrangements including interconnection agreements, coordination with MISO/PJM/NERC and transmission facilities.
• Lobbying and testifying before the Indiana General Assembly on a number of utility related issues on behalf of clients and as president of the Indiana State Bar Association’s Utility Law Section.
Honors / Awards
• Indianapolis Monthly TOP Lawyer (2026)
• Best Lawyers Indianapolis Communications Law Lawyer of the Year (2014, 2016, 2021)
• 2009 Distinguished Barrister, Indiana Lawyer‘s Leadership in Law
• The Best Lawyers in America (2008-2026)
• Indiana Super Lawyers (2012-2015)
• AV Peer Review rated by Martindale-Hubbell
• Order of the Barristers, Indiana University School of Law Indianapolis (1991)
• Jessup International Law Moot Court Team (1991)
Appearances / Publications
Speaker/Presenter:
“Wind Energy in Indiana Update” (Energy Bar Association Midwest Chapter Annual Meeting, Local Opposition to Wind Farms session, 2018); “Energy Law In Indiana Update” (ICLEF, 2018); “Energy Saving$ Strategie$ (Indiana Chamber Energy Management Conference, August 2013); “Energy Law Nuisance Litigation” (ICLEF, February 2011); “The Winds of Change: Wind Leases in Indiana” (ICLEF, November 2010); “Indiana Wind Energy - Legal Issues” (Indiana State Bar Association - Utility Law Section, October 2009)
Author:
“Will Indiana’s Economy Cool Due to Rising Energy Costs?” (Indiana Lawyer article, August 2013); “An Opportunity to Shrink Your Energy Bill?” (Indiana Manufacturer’s Association electronic newsletter article, May 2013); “Competition: A Dream Without Further Action” (Indianapolis Business Journal)
