Anne Leidich

Anne Leidich is a go-to lawyer in the nuclear energy industry on nuclear regulatory issues ranging from complex export control questions and nuclear licensing advice to high-stakes federal court litigation.

A 2023 Law360 Rising Star, Anne has a degree in nuclear engineering from Purdue University and nuclear industry experience before law school. She is particularly suited to handle a wide range of matters in the nuclear power industry, with broad experience in nearly every area of nuclear law.

Anne represents participants from all corners of the nuclear industry, including domestic generators of nuclear power, advanced reactor startups, materials licensees, and vendors of nuclear power plant components. Consistent with the evolving needs of the industry, her recent work has included representing companies in the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals and the U.S. Supreme Court defending nuclear licenses and Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) rules.

Anne has handled complex and novel matters, including representing client Holtec International before the Supreme Court in the company’s efforts to license a first-of-a-kind interim spent-nuclear-fuel storage facility in New Mexico from the Atomic Safety and Licensing Boards. She represents vendors seeking licenses for advance or small modular reactors and fuel cycle facilities; utilities in their pursuit of subsequent license renewal; utilities challenging NRC enforcement matters; companies in their mandatory hearings before the NRC to obtain licenses for new nuclear power plants; and has represented a litigant in a multibillion-dollar international arbitration.

Representative Experience

Represented client Holtec International’s efforts to license a first-of-a-kind interim spent-nuclear-fuel storage facility in New Mexico before an Atomic Safety and Licensing Board, the NRC, the D.C. Circuit, and the U.S. Supreme Court.
Represented utility companies intervening in the D.C. Circuit in favor of NRC rulemaking on subsequent license renewal.
Represented NextEra Point Beach and Constellation in subsequent license renewal proceedings before Atomic Safety and Licensing Board.

Represented vendor of nuclear plant components in multi-billion-dollar international arbitration regarding a breach of contract dispute that led to permanent closure of a nuclear power plant.

Provided strategic advice on nuclear regulatory requirements to vendors seeking NRC licenses for advanced and small modular reactors and to various fuel cycle facility licensees.

Represented Florida Power & Light Co. in proceedings before the NRC to obtain a license to construct and operate a new nuclear power plant in Florida.

Advised Oklo Inc., an advanced fission technology and nuclear fuel recycling company, in entering a definitive agreement to merge with special purpose acquisition company AtlC Acquisition Corp.

Represented Brookfield Business Partners L.P. on the regulatory and policy aspects of its successful acquisition of Westinghouse Electric Company.

Represented Cameco when it acquired an interest in Westinghouse.

Advised Holtec International on its purchase of the Oyster Creek nuclear power station in New Jersey from Exelon Generation.

Represented two companies in their mandatory hearings before the NRC to obtain licenses to construct and operate new nuclear power plants.

Represented private equity firm it its acquisition of a Waste Control Specialists, a nuclear waste disposal facility.

Represented various entities in acquisitions or transactions regarding decommissioning of nuclear power plants, including strategic advice and in license transfer proceedings.

Advised companies on compliance with export control requirements in 10 CFR Part 810 and 10 CFR Part 110.

Professional Highlights

Publications

“Considerations for Bringing New Suppliers into the Nuclear Supply Chain,” ANS Transactions, June 2020, Vol. 122 No.1. Co-author.
“DOE Proposes Procedures for the Imposition of Civil Penalties for Violations of Part 810,” Pratt’s Energy Law Report, January 2020, Vol. 20, No.1. Co-author.
High Assay LEU, Nuclear Plant Journal, September – October 2018. Co-author.

Honors & Awards
- Recognized in Chambers USA, Energy: Nuclear Nationwide (2022 – 2024).
- Recognized in Chambers Global, Energy: Nuclear- Up and Coming (2024 – 2025).
- Named as a Thomson Reuters Stand-out Lawyer 2025.
- Recognized by Law360 as an “Energy Rising Star” (2023).
- Westinghouse Electric Co.’s restructuring and $4.6 billion acquisition by Brookfield Business Partners L.P., has been named Private Equity Acquisition of the Year 2019 (above $1 billion) by the Global M&A Network’s 11th annual Turnaround Atlas Awards.
- In the Restructuring Deal of the Year category, for the 11th Annual International M&A Awards, the organization selected Westinghouse Electric Co.’s restructuring and $4.6 billion acquisition by Brookfield Business Partners.
- International Financial Law Review selected Westinghouse Electric Co.’s restructuring and $4.6 acquisition by Brookfield Business Partners L.P., in which Pillsbury advised on critical regulatory and policy issues, as Private Equity Deal of the Year. Each year, IFLR honors legally innovative deals and teams in the Americas region.

Speaking Engagements
- “Litigation Update,” NEI Lawyers Advisory Committee Meeting, March 10, 2025, Panelist.
- “Recent Supreme Court Decisions,” NEI Lawyers Advisory Committee Meeting, Nov. 19, 2024. Panelist.
- “Streamlining Advanced Nuclear Regulation in the Post-Chevron Era,” New York Climate Week, 23, 2024. Panelist.
- “The Role of Nuclear Power in the Clean Energy Transition,” Energy Bar Association Midwest Chapter Energizer,” April 2023. Panelist.

Press & Media
- Pillsbury Advises 92 Ventures in Leading €22 Million Investment into Small Modular Reactor, March 20, 2025
- Constellation Once Again Names Pillsbury to Diversity Honor Roll, Oct. 29, 2024
- As Nuclear Industry Rebounds, Urgency Mounts for Spent Nuclear Fuel Case Before the U.S. Supreme Court, Law360, Oct. 8, 2024
- Quoted in “High Court Nuclear Case Could Be Admin Law Blockbuster,” Law360, Oct. 4, 2024
- Pillsbury Advises Oklo Inc. in Merger with AtlC Acquisition Corp., CNBC, May 20, 2024
- Quoted in “DC Circ. Leery Of Challenges To Nuke Waste Storage Site,” Law360, March 5, 2024
- Quoted in “NM Nuke Storage Site Backs Fed Authority At 5th Circ.,” Law360, Dec., 12, 2023
- Pillsbury Attorneys Comment on the Nuclear Utilities Industry’s Push to Increase Capacity and Support Hydrogen Production, Platts Nucleonics Week, 64, Issue 16, April 9, 2023.
- Jeff Merrifield and Anne Leidich Team Up With Nuclear Innovation Alliance in Report on Improvement of Reactor Safeguards, March 2, 2023

Firm Publications
- “NRC Issues Draft Guidance to Facilitate Reactor Siting,” Nov. 28, 2023. Co-author.
- “DOE Issues Final Rule on Part 810 Civil Penalties,” Jan. 13, 2023. Co-author.
- “Eielson Air Force Base Requests Proposals for Micro-Reactor,” Oct. 6, 2022. Co-author.
- “NRC Now Requiring Validation of Immigration Status for Individuals Receiving Unescorted Access,” June 14, 2022. Co-author.
- “NRC Staff Issues Environmental Justice Recommendations,” Apr. 15, 2022. Co-author.
- “UPDATE: NRC Rescinds Entire Enforcement Action against Pillsbury Client Tennessee Valley Authority,” Nov. 12, 2021. Co-author.
- “DOE Proposes Procedures for the Imposition of Civil Penalties for Violations of Part 810,” Oct. 7, 2019. Co-author.
- “Four China Nuclear Industry Companies Added to ‘Entity List,’” Aug. 15, 2019. Co-author.
- “DOE Issues New ‘Strategy’ for Nuclear Waste Management and Disposal,” Jan. 18, 2013. Co-author.

Education

J.D., The George Washington University Law School, 2012

B.S., Nuclear Engineering, Purdue University, 2007

Admissions

District of Columbia

Maryland

Courts

U.S. Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit

U.S. Supreme Court

Areas of Focus

Practices

Representative Experience

Professional Highlights

Anne's Insights