Carolyn “Lina” Tanner has been named general counsel of the Public Utilities Commission of Nevada. She will be based in the PUCN’s Carson City office.
Tanner began her new duties effective Aug. 12. She replaces former PUCN General Counsel Jan Cohen, who retired earlier in August.
The general counsel division is responsible for representing the commission’s interests in all proceedings in state and federal court and before state and federal regulatory agencies.
In addition, the division counsels commissioners and administrative attorneys on legal and policy issues; and reviews and approves notices, orders, notices of agenda meetings, regulations, legislation and other legal documents prepared by administrative attorneys and the legal case manager.
The division also is responsible for case management and reviewing the commission's administrative procedures to assure compliance with the Administrative Procedures Act as well as other statutes and regulations applicable to the commission.
Tanner moves to the PUCN from the Nevada Attorney General’s Office, where she served as senior deputy attorney general since 2009.
In addition to litigation, legislative and supervisory experience, Tanner has nearly 20 years of legal experience that includes regulatory, administrative, employment and open meeting law.
A member of the Nevada State Bar since 1994, Tanner earned her law degree from the University of Denver, College of Law, in 1994 and a Bachelor of Arts in History from Occidental College in Los Angeles in 1990.