Kristen Williams Golden is responsible for Grid United’s legal affairs, including matters related to legal strategy, transmission development, operations, regulatory, governance, and compliance.
Kristen has more than 16 years in-house legal and private law firm experience. She was one of the founding members of Grid United and oversaw its growth to over 60 employees with a portfolio of over ten transmission development projects across North America. Kristen advises senior management on every aspect of corporate governance, develops its regulatory strategy in various states, negotiates complex joint ventures and mergers and acquisitions, leads the HR function and sets strategic direction. In doing so, she has become one of the leading experts in permitting independent transmission lines in the country.
Kristen previously served as Senior Legal Counsel at Shell supporting Lake Charles LNG, Shell Ventures, and its Power business. She was responsible for M&A deals including retail power acquisitions, data center investments, venture capital and fund investments, joint ventures, as well as advising directors and board observers Prior to Shell, Kristen worked at Jones Day and Latham & Watkins in the areas of banking and finance.
Kristen sits on the board of Row House Community Development Corporations, a non-profit company that develops affordable housing in the historic Third Ward in Houston, Texas. She also serves on the advisory board of Women of Renewable Industries and Sustainable Energy – Houston chapter and volunteers with the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo Wine Committee.
Kristen holds a J.D. from The University of Texas School of Law, a bachelor’s degree in politics, and a certificate in African American studies from Princeton University.
