California Projects, Energy, Environment & Resources Associate Attorney - Midlevel to Senior
About the role
Ashurst Perkins Coie LLP, consistently recognized as one of Fortune’s “100 Best Companies to Work For” and recently named “Law Firm of the Year” in Natural Resources Law by Best Lawyers, is seeking an exceptional 4th to 7th-year associate to join our elite California Projects, Energy, Environment and Resources team. Our California team sits at the fulcrum of the nation’s energy transition, infrastructure development, and policy advocacy.
You will assist sponsors of significant multijurisdictional energy and infrastructure projects—including major electric transmission lines, renewable and conventional energy generation, legacy infrastructure decommissioning and repurposing, complex conventional utility systems, and data center infrastructure. You will also have opportunities to represent these clients in bet-the-project litigation in federal and state courts.
Responsibilities
- Project Development & Permitting: Advise utilities, energy companies, and infrastructure project developers on federal, state, and local regulatory approvals, with a heavy focus on the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the Federal Land Policy and Management Act (FLMPA), the National Forest Management Act (NFMA), and the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (OCSLA).
- Energy and Infrastructure Administrative Proceedings: Represent clients in complex proceedings before key regulatory bodies, including the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), California Energy Commission (CEC), Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM), California Coastal Commission (CCC), California State Lands Commission (CLSC) and State/Regional Water Boards, as well as local cities and counties.
- Environmental Litigation & Enforcement: Defend project approvals against collateral attacks and handle complex environmental defense and administrative claims in federal and state courts.
- Natural Resources & Land Use: Counsel clients through resource consultation, permitting, and mitigation frameworks involving the federal and state Endangered Species Acts (ESAs), Clean Water Act (CWA), coastal development, National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA), as well as tribal/stakeholder engagement strategies.
- Transactional Support & Due Diligence: Environmental and regulatory due diligence and transactional drafting on energy and infrastructure acquisitions, divestitures, project financing, and real estate transactions.
- Team Leadership: Mentor, supervise, and review the work product of junior associates and paralegals on project teams to ensure top-tier, efficient legal delivery.
Requirements
- Experience: 4–7 years of environmental, land use, or energy regulatory experience at a major Am Law firm, relevant government agency, or highly regarded environmental boutique.
- Core Knowledge: Deep familiarity with CEQA, NEPA, and related natural resource laws is important. Experience representing project sponsors of electric transmission, offshore/onshore wind, solar, battery storage, water infrastructure, geothermal, and/or carbon capture and storage projects is highly valued.
- Specialized Knowledge: Experience with the California Independent System Operator (CAISO) planning process is highly valued.
- Skills: Experience running matters independently, managing client relationships, and driving deliverables across the finish line. Exceptional analytical, legal research, drafting, and counseling skills. A demonstrated ability to translate complex technical/scientific data (from environmental or engineering experts) to clients, regulators, and decisionmakers.
- Bar Admission: Active member in good standing of the State Bar of California.
- Cultural Fit: A high-performance mindset seeking to join a highly collaborative team. We are looking for a peer who is passionate about client-centric service and managing the legal complexities of the global energy transition.
Benefits
- Annual discretionary bonus
- 401(k) plan
- Medical, dental, and vision insurance
- Personal medical and parental leave
- Up to ten paid holidays
- Family care benefits
Pay
Compensation range: $310,000 to $420,000 annually. Compensation depends on qualifications and experience.