28 Jan 2026
Verrill Welcomes Ryan Palmer to Its Energy, Telecommunications & Natural Resources Group
"Verrill hires Ryan Palmer as Counsel in its Energy, Telecommunications & Natural Resources Group to work on regulatory compliance, policymaking and litigation support focused on broadband and energy infrastructure deployment."
Palmer advises telecommunications providers, trade associations, infrastructure developers, government entities, and electric and water utilities on regulatory compliance, policymaking, and litigation support, with a particular focus on broadband and energy infrastructure deployment. He assists clients in navigating complex, cross-jurisdictional regulatory regimes and designs strategies that align legal and policy objectives with business goals.
Before joining Verrill, Palmer served in senior roles across government and the private sector, including Commissioner of the West Virginia Public Service Commission; Chief of the Federal Communications Commission’s Telecommunications Access Policy Division; and U.S. Director of Microsoft’s Airband Initiative. He also served in the administration of West Virginia Governor Joseph Manchin III and as an attorney advisor for Commissioner Charlotte R. Lane at the United States International Trade Commission. Through these positions he gained deep insight into regulatory regimes and infrastructure programs such as the Universal Service Fund, the BEAD program, pole attachments, utility rate setting for electric and water providers, spectrum policy, and broadband affordability measures.
Based in Washington, D.C., Palmer will leverage his regulatory background and network to advance client priorities through advocacy and engagement. He received his law degree from West Virginia University College of Law, his undergraduate degree from West Virginia University, and is admitted to practice law in West Virginia.