Avista names Durkin chief legal officer

A former United Airlines attorney begins work as chief legal officer for Avista Corp. on Aug. 1.

Marian Durkin, 51, worked for the airline for 10 years, most recently serving as vice president, deputy general counsel and assistant secretary. At Avista, Durkin will provide legal advice to the board of directors and officers, the company said in a news release Tuesday.

“Marian is well respected for her expertise and strategic capability in the areas of negotiations, labor management, litigation, corporate governance, and merger and acquisitions,” said Gary Ely, Avista’s chief executive officer, in a prepared statement.

For the past two years, Avista has contracted with outside firms to provide legal advice as the company’s former general counsel, David Meyer, began focusing solely on state and regulatory issues, said spokeswoman Debbie Simock.

Those issues have included handling an investigation by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and dam relicensing. Meyer’s title is vice president and chief counsel for regulatory and governmental affairs.

The company has determined that it is most efficient to bring in a new in-house, general counsel, Simock said. Durkin also will manage Avista’s relationships with other outside attorneys, who provide expertise in areas including banking, finance, water rights and environmental issues.

“Having two vice presidents with legal responsibilities is a reflection of increasing regulations impacting all businesses,” Simock said in an e-mail. “As a result, Avista has changed how it manages its legal resources.”

Prior to joining United, Durkin was a partner in the Minneapolis law firm of Briggs and Morgan, P.A.