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Partner
Environmental
Washington
(202) 955-1943 Phone
(202) 778-2201 Fax
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| Practices |
Endangered and
Threatened Species
Environmental
Environmental
Enforcement and
Defense
Government Relations
Maritime
Environmental Law
Water Quantity
Wetlands, Endangered
Species & Natural
Resources
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Practice focuses exclusively on environmental law and administrative law -- in particular, the Clean Water Act (CWA) wetlands program, the Endangered Species Act (ESA), the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and other federal regulatory programs that affect the use of land. Experience in permit negotiation, litigation of policy issues, lobbying Congress and the Administration, enforcement defense, and compliance counseling. Representative clients include development companies, agricultural and mining companies, state and local agencies, and trade associations. Extensive experience with federal environmental agencies both in Washington and in district and regional offices.
Relevant Experience 
- Lead counsel in landmark wetlands cases, including NMA v. Corps of Engineers (invalidating the "Tulloch Rule," which illegally claimed authority to regulate excavation and land-clearing activities in wetlands); NAHB v. Corps of Engineers, which established that nationwide permits are rules subject to immediate judicial review; and Hoffman v. EPA, holding that the federal government must demonstrate an interstate commerce nexus in order to assert CWA jurisdiction over a wetland.
- Lead counsel for water agencies in litigation rejecting an Endangered Species Act challenge to the Bureau of Reclamation's operation of the lower Colorado River.
- Lead counsel in obtaining Corps permit for $1.2 billion redevelopment project in New Jersey and in successfully defending it in federal court.
- Assisted applicants in obtaining wetlands permits and related endangered species approvals and in documenting NEPA compliance for major development projects in over 25 states, including Florida, California, and Arizona.
Appointments - Adjunct Professor, University of Miami School of Law
- Co-chair, Annual ALI-ABA National Wetlands Conference
- Environment Program Advisory Committee, Doris Duke Charitable Foundation
- Legal Action Committee, National Association of Home Builders
Membership
- Member, District of Columbia Bar
- Member, American Bar Association, Section of Environment, Energy, and Resources
Education - J.D., Vanderbilt University Law School
- M.A., University of Pennsylvania
- B.S., University of Wisconsin
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Virginia Albrecht
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