Courtney F. Kissel

Regulatory Matters

Courtney regularly represents utilities, electric cooperatives, and other energy-sector clients before the Michigan Public Service Commission in complex regulatory and energy matters. She has worked on nearly every major transmission siting case brought under Michigan’s Act 30 of 1995 over the past 15 years, advising clients on routing, administrative proceedings, contested case strategy, and stakeholder engagement. Courtney also advises clients in Integrated Resource Plan proceedings, regulatory compliance matters, and electric and gas rate cases, helping navigate the legal, technical, and policy issues that arise in high-profile proceedings before the Commission.

Courtney also advises insurance companies and education organizations on compliance, regulatory interpretation, and legislative strategy. She regularly drafts and analyzes proposed legislation, assists clients in navigating state regulatory frameworks, and counsels on statutory and administrative issues affecting their operations and governance. 

In addition, Courtney represents many of Michigan’s public school academy authorizing bodies, advising on the unique constitutional, statutory, and oversight responsibilities they hold within Michigan’s charter school framework. She counsels authorizers on governance, compliance, accountability, and regulatory issues arising from their supervisory role over public school academies.

Complex Litigation

Courtney has also played significant roles in complex litigation and high-profile disputes involving constitutional law, administrative law, regulatory challenges, governmental authority, and institutional governance. Her experience spans trial and appellate matters across a wide range of regulated industries and public policy issues

• In re Mich Electric Transmission for Cert Re Oneida, __ Mich App ___; ___NW2d___; (Jan. 23, 2026).  Successfully moved to dismiss an appeal of the Michigan Public Service Commission’s grant of two certificates of public convenience and necessity under Public Act 30 of 1995.
• Mich Electric Transmission Co, LLC v Mich Pub Power Agency, __ Mich App ___; ___NW2d___(June 23, 2025).  Successfully defended summary disposition in favor of plaintiff in litigation involving issues of first impression related to Michigan’s right of first refusal statute.
• Reproductive Freedom For All et al v Board of State Canvassers et al, 510 Mich 894; 978 NW2d 854 (2022). Successfully obtained an order of mandamus compelling the Board of State Canvassers to certify ballot proposal following a 2-2 deadlock.
• Covenant Medical Center, Inc v State Farm Mut Auto Ins Co,  500 Mich 191; 895 NW2d 490 (2017).  Successfully challenged a provider’s right to sue a no-fault insurer for the payment of no-fault benefits under Michigan’s No-Fault Act.
• Charter Twp of Oshtemo v Mich Elec Transmission Co LLC (In re Mich Elec Transmission Co for Transmission Line), 500 Mich 988; 894 NW2d 551 (2017).  Successfully defended against a challenge to the constitutionality of the Michigan Public Service Commission’s certificate to an electric transmission company under the Michigan Electric Transmission Line Certification Act.
• Coalition Protecting Auto No-Fault v. Michigan Catastrophic Claims Ass’n, 317 Mich App 1; 894 NW2d 758 (2016). Successfully defended against a challenge, on remand, to the constitutionality of the Michigan Catastrophic Claims Association’s statutory exemption to the Michigan Freedom of Information Act.
• Council of Orgs & Others for Educ. About Parochiaid v State, 326 Mich App 124; 931 NW2d 65 (2018): Successfully defended the constitutionality of legislative appropriation designated to reimburse nonpublic schools for certain costs of complying with State health, safety and welfare mandates.
• Smith v McPharlin, ___F Supp 3d___; 2018 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 151043 (ED Mich, May 11, 2018). Successfully defended the constitutionality of Michigan’s No-Fault Act in federal court.
• Ace American Insurance Company v Workers’ Compensation Agency/Director, unpublished decision of the Court of Appeals (Feb 17, 2015). Amicus curiae of the Michigan Insurance Coalition in support of Court of Claims’ holding that the filing of a form notice did not create insurance liability independent of an insurance policy to which that form refers.
• Coalition Protecting Auto No-Fault et al v The Michigan Catastrophic Claims Association, 305 Mich App 301; 852 NW2d 229 (2014). Successfully defended against a challenge to the constitutionality of the Michigan Catastrophic Claims Association’s statutory exemption from the Freedom of Information Act.
• Old Republic Ins Co v Michigan Catastrophic Claims Association, 493 Mich 856; 820 NW2d 777 (2012).  Michigan Supreme Court denied leave to appeal a Court of Appeals’ decision that upheld the Michigan Catastrophic Claims Association’s right to recognize when member insurer’s recover payments from third parties when evaluating the Association’s indemnification obligation. 
• Herrick District Library v. Library of Michigan, 293 Mich App 571; 810 NW2d 110 (2011). Amicus curiae of the Ann Arbor District Library in support of successful challenge to the Library of Michigan’s power to adopt administrative rules governing the distribution of state aid to public libraries.
• Groves, et al v Michigan Department of Corrections, Public Communications Services, Inc., et al, 295 Mich App 1; 811 NW2d 563 (2011). Successfully defended award of Michigan Department of Corrections contract by State of Michigan to client.

Administrative Law & Regulation