Environmental/Natural Resources Associate (4+ years experience)
About The Position
Van Ness Feldman is seeking an experienced environmental / natural resources attorney with at least 4 years of relevant experience to join our Environmental, Land Use, Natural Resources, and Real Estate team. Candidates can be based in any of our offices, including Seattle, Houston, Washington, DC, or the Bay Area. Natural Resources law has been a foundational element of Van Ness Feldman for nearly all of the firm’s 50-year history. Our attorneys are responsible for advising clients on a wide range of federal and state regulatory, enforcement, permitting, siting, and compliance requirements encountered during project development and facility operations including the Clean Air Act (CAA), the Clean Water Act (CWA), the Coastal Zone Management Act (CZMA), the Endangered Species Act (ESA), the Federal Land Policy and Management Act (FLPMA), the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA), and federal and state hazardous waste laws, and all parallel state and local equivalents.
Requirements
- Experience in environmental permitting, regulatory compliance, and enforcement, and associated litigation under federal and state environmental laws, such as the National Environmental Protection Act (NEPA), the Endangered Species Act (ESA), the Clean Water Act (CWA), and the State Environmental Protection Act (SEPA).
- Graduated with a JD or LLM from an ABA-accredited law school
- Active admission or eligibility for admission in the jurisdiction in which the candidate will practice
- 4+ of experience
Nice To Haves
- Strong academic credentials
- Strong organizational and time management skills, with attention to detail and accuracy
- Excellent research, drafting, and writing skills, and ability to produce high-quality work on tight timelines
- Excellent oral communication skills including the ability to communicate clearly, directly, and practically with clients and colleagues
- Ability to take ownership of matters and proactively drive work forward
- Ability to quickly learn new issues and apply that understanding in practice
- Comfort operating with a high degree of autonomy while collaborating closely with a lead partner
Responsibilities
- Research and analysis of complex regulatory issues under NEPA, the ESA, CWA, and the NHPA
- Draft arguments, pleadings and briefs in federal administrative record litigation under NEPA, the ESA, CWA, and the NHPA
- Participate in settlement negotiations with state and federal agencies with respect to compliance with environmental laws
- Track and analyze changes in federal regulations and statutes
- Work with federal and state agencies (e.g. Bureau of Land Management, Army Corps of Engineers, National Marine Fisheries Services) to secure permits on a wide variety of projects including: solar and wind facilities, tide gates, submarine cables, transmission lines, reservoirs
- Work on high-profile, high-stakes water supply and energy issues, including but not limited to: Colorado River water supply issues, California State Water Project water supply issues, programmatic ESA coverage for drainage infrastructure; renewable energy siting and permitting (hydropower, wind, solar), and the National Flood Insurance Program
Benefits
- medical, dental, and vision insurance
- a 401(k) profit-sharing plan
- paid time off
- paid holidays
- parental leave
- life and disability insurance
- employee assistance resources
- professional development opportunities
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Mid Level
