Ruth Stoner Muzzin

Friedman & Springwater LLP has been dedicated to providing clients with exceptional legal representation since its founding in 2003. Our lawyers have wide ranging expertise in the specialty practice areas of Bankruptcy, Commercial Transactions, Civil Litigation, Energy and Utilities Regulatory Litigation, and Appellate Litigation.

Based in San Francisco, F & S represents some of the largest technology, public utility, and financial services companies in the U.S., as well as debtors, creditors, trustees, and creditors’ committees in bankruptcy cases. We have represented numerous entities in bankruptcy cases, and have extensive experience implementing solutions for businesses and municipalities in troubled debt situations inside and outside of bankruptcy courts.

Our lawyers advise clients on sophisticated commercial transactions, with particular emphasis on secured transactions, including securitized or off-balance sheet financing, and other credit enhancement devices. We also have special expertise in sales of private label credit card portfolios, inventory finance, sales of intellectual property, and sales of small businesses.

We have in-depth experience handling regulatory proceedings relating to renewable energy matters, “green” systems, and other environmental impact cases. Our lawyers have particular expertise in representing parties before the California Public Utilities Commission.

Friedman & Springwater LLP is a certified woman-owned firm with an approach that emphasizes efficiency and efficacy in providing the highest quality legal representation.

 

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Ruth Stoner Muzzin is a litigator with a practice focused in the energy, water, transportation and telecommunications industries, and related business and environmental issues.  She has represented clients in state and federal courts and before the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC).  Ruth was a member of the plaintiffs' team in multiple actions by major electric companies and state agencies to recover overpayments made to the United States, several cities, and many municipal utilities during the 2000-2001 California energy crisis, for the ultimate benefit of utility ratepayers.  She has represented government entities, industry groups, private parties and utilities before the CPUC and in the courts.  Ruth is experienced in litigating questions of jurisdiction and preemption in the trial and appellate courts, as well as compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).

Ruth’s practice is also focused on all areas of insolvency, commercial bankruptcy litigation and navigating creditors’ rights issues, including claims litigation, fraudulent transfers and other related subjects.  As part of this practice, she successfully defended alter-ego claims brought against numerous, affiliated legal entities in a complex administrative law proceeding.

Ruth’s litigation practice includes appellate appearances before the state and federal courts.  She is particularly experienced in the special practice area of petitioning for judicial review of CPUC decisions, including original petitions to the California Supreme Court in CEQA matters and water utility cases.

Ruth was named as Rising Star in Northern California in 2019 and 2020 by Super Lawyers in the area of Energy and Natural Resources.

Ruth is a member of the State Bar of California; she is admitted to practice before the federal courts for the Northern, Eastern, Central and Southern Districts of California, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, the Court of Federal Claims, the Federal Circuit Court of Appeals, and the United States Supreme Court.  She is a member of the American Bar Association and its Section on Environment, Energy and Resources as well as the Litigation and International Sections.  Ruth is a long-time member of the Conference of California Public Utility Counsel, where she served on the Board of Directors from 2016-2021, including a term as President in 2019.

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