Practicing in the areas of natural resources, environmental, and maritime law, Rachael provides counsel on complex regulatory, enforcement, and litigation matters under a range of environmental statutes, including the Clean Water Act (CWA), Endangered Species Act (ESA), Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (OCSLA), and the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).
Rachael works with both public and private sector clients to navigate complicated federal regulatory permitting issues to develop critical infrastructure, including energy export infrastructure at marine terminals in the PNW and Gulf of Mexico, solar and wind energy development, and large-scale sediment diversion projects. In addition, Rachael advises clients in the often-related procurement and protection of water rights and provides advice and litigation support for municipal water suppliers.
Experience in federal government allows Rachael to successfully navigate complex regulatory issues, often involving overlapping federal and state interests. Before joining the firm, Rachael served as an Attorney Advisor for the U.S. Coast Guard’s Office of Maritime and International Law where she worked in the Environmental Law Division. She advised the Coast Guard on environmental compliance, response, and enforcement matters. During this time, Rachael also served a detail as a Special Assistant U.S. Attorney prosecuting misdemeanor criminal cases. After graduating from the University of Oregon School of Law, Rachael served two years as a Presidential Management Fellow at the Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) focusing on offshore oil and gas issues.