Leading Nuclear Attorney Amy Roma Joins Orrick

• Orrick today announced that Amy Roma – one of the most influential nuclear energy lawyers in the United States – has joined the firm as a partner in Washington, D.C., further accelerating the firm’s leadership at the forefront of the nuclear resurgence.
• Named the 2025 Most Innovative Practitioner in Technology by Financial Times, as well as one of the Top 10 Most Innovative Lawyers in North America by Financial Times, Amy has been ranked as a Chambers USA practitioner for Nuclear Regulatory & Litigation for 14 consecutive years. The National Law Journal recognized her as a Top 50 Energy & Environmental Trailblazer, honoring her impact at the critical intersection of energy production and environmental progress.
• Amy advises leading advanced reactor developers, fusion companies, fuel suppliers, investors, technology companies, and major energy users on high-stakes regulatory, transactional, and strategic matters across the nuclear sector. Her work spans licensing and regulatory strategy before the NRC and DOE, commercialization pathways, fuel cycle development, project finance and structuring, and first-of-a-kind deployments in the United States and internationally. She is at the forefront of integrating nuclear energy with AI-driven hyperscale data centers, advanced industrial and pharmaceutical facilities, and emerging space and maritime applications – helping clients translate complex regulatory frameworks into executable business strategy.
• She joins from Hogan Lovells, where she served as Global Energy Practice Leader. Amy began her career at the NRC, bringing firsthand regulatory insight to her work guiding clients through some of the most complex and consequential energy matters in the market today.
• Amy’s arrival further strengthens one of the most active nuclear practices in the industry. Orrick combines decades of experience advising operators of traditional large-scale nuclear fleets with a market-leading portfolio of venture-backed companies developing next-generation fission, small modular reactors (SMRs), fusion technologies and advanced nuclear fuel solutions. The firm is at the forefront of structuring first-of-a-kind transactions, financings and regulatory strategies that are shaping the future of clean, firm power.

“It is clear that nuclear energy will be a key pillar in the future power systems in the U.S. and in many other parts of the globe – and we believe the development of the nuclear ecosystem will accelerate on a rapid trajectory in the near term,” said Orrick Chair Mitch Zuklie. “Orrick has been at the center of this growing ecosystem for the past decade, and with the addition of Amy, we now offer holistic solutions to help all types of market participants scale nuclear technologies and projects.”

“Orrick is known for innovating at the convergence of technology and energy – where the nuclear industry firmly sits today – and has built an exceptional platform to address the full spectrum of opportunities and challenges across the nuclear sector,” said Amy. “I look forward to collaborating with this team to help the market innovate to meet unprecedented energy demand.”

“New nuclear deployment is accelerating rapidly, driven in part by greater appreciation of the technology’s carbon-free footprint, surging demand from AI and data centers, technological breakthroughs, and shifting energy security priorities,” said Kyle Drefke, co-leader of Orrick’s global Energy & Infrastructure practice. “Amy brings deep relationships with federal and international agencies at the center of this change and is the market leader in advancing first-of-a-kind technologies. She will play a pivotal role in helping our clients navigate the regulatory, policy and commercial landscape. With her addition, we have a complete offering to the nuclear energy market at an incredibly exciting time to be practicing in this space.”

A leading voice at the intersection of energy, national security and technological competitiveness, Amy has testified multiple times before the U.S. Congress on the strategic imperative of U.S. leadership in nuclear innovation, grid reliability, decarbonization and the deployment of nuclear power to support AI-driven data centers and space exploration. Her advocacy reflects a broader role shaping policy at the highest levels of government.

Amy serves as a Non-Resident Senior Fellow at the Atlantic Council’s Global Energy Center, where she contributes to global dialogue on energy security and advanced nuclear deployment. She also maintains a robust pro bono practice, advancing humanitarian and public-interest initiatives consistent with her commitment to responsible energy development.

More About Orrick’s Nuclear Practice

Orrick guides nuclear market leaders across the full spectrum of nuclear innovation, financing, development and deployment, including:

• Advising on more than a third of the venture financings in the U.S. nuclear market in 2025, helping our company and fund clients raise or deploy $2.1B, half of the total market value.
• Negotiating first-of-a-kind nuclear power purchase and fuel purchase agreements to accelerate data center development, including advising Microsoft on a PPA with Constellation Energy supporting the restart of Three Mile Island Unit 1, and Oklo on its agreement with Meta Platforms to advance Oklo’s plans to develop a 1.2 GW power campus in Ohio.
• Supporting the financing of all three U.S. nuclear plants brought online this century, including advising a client on obtaining DOE guaranteed loans to finance a portion of two of those facilities.
• Successfully litigating the enforceability of offtake agreements of nuclear generation facilities.