Edward Zaelke

Ed Zaelke   Partner Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld, LLP

Edward Zaelke co-chairs Akin Gump’s global project finance practice. Mr. Zaelke focuses his practice on project development and finance, with a particular emphasis on representing companies engaged in the development, financing and operation of wind power, solar power and other alternative energy projects. His clients include many of the top renewable energy developers and investors in the United States. Mr. Zaelke’s experience extends to all elements of alternative energy development and finance, including equity and debt financing, merger and acquisition transactions, equipment purchase and sale agreements, power purchase agreements, siting and other real property issues, governmental approvals and construction and EPC contracts.

He has been named as one of California’s Top 100 Lawyers for each of the past 3 consecutive years by the San Francisco and Los Angeles Daily Journal, and is recognized by Chambers and Partners and numerous other publications for his leading role in the renewables industry. Mr. Zaelke is the former president of the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) and has been a board member of AWEA since 2002. He is also a founding board member of the American Wind Energy Foundation and the chair of the AWEA Conference and Education Committee.

Prior to joining Akin Gump, Mr. Zaelke was a partner at two international law firms. Mr. Zaelke is a member of the California Bar. He received his B.A. from California State University, Long Beach, in 1980 and his J.D. in 1983 from the University of California, Los Angeles School of Law, where he was Managing Editor of the UCLA Law Review and graduated with Order of the Coif.