California Projects, Energy, Environment & Resources Associate Attorney - Midlevel to Senior

Contra Costa County Bar Association; San Francisco (CA); Hybrid; USD 310,000 - 420,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual discretionary bonus

401(k) plan

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Parental leave

Holidays

Family care benefits

Job summary

Ashurst Perkins Coie LLP seeks a 4th to 7th-year associate to join its California Projects, Energy, Environment and Resources team. The role focuses on environmental, land use, and energy regulatory work with leading sponsors on major multi-jurisdictional projects.

The California team works at the intersection of energy transition, infrastructure development, and policy advocacy, offering opportunities in permitting, litigation, and regulatory proceedings in California and beyond.

Qualifications

• 4–7 years of environmental, land use, or energy regulatory experience at a major Am Law firm, government agency, or respected environmental boutique.
• Deep familiarity with CEQA, NEPA, and related natural resource laws is important.
• Experience representing project sponsors of energy and infrastructure projects is highly valued.
• Active California Bar admission is required.
• Strong independent work, client counseling, drafting, and analytical skills.

Responsibilities

• Advise utilities, energy companies, and infrastructure developers on federal, state, and local regulatory approvals, with focus on CEQA/NEPA.
• Represent clients before regulators and agencies (e.g., CPUC, CEC, BOEM, CCC, CLSC) and local bodies.
• Defend project approvals and handle environmental and administrative litigation.
• Counsel clients through energy and infrastructure permitting, due diligence, and transactional matters.

Skills

Independent work

Client relationships

Drafting

Counseling skills

Education

California Bar admission

Tools

CAISO

Job description

Job Description:

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 associate to join our Chambers-ranked California team.

Following our landmark merger combiningatop-tier U.S. tech and environmentalplatformwithunmatched global energy and infrastructure capabilities,Ashurst Perkins Coieis seeking an exceptional4th to 7th-year associateto join our elite CaliforniaProjects, Energy, Environment and Resourcesteam.

Our California team sits at the fulcrumof the nation’s energy transition, infrastructure development, andpolicyadvocacy. You willassistsponsors ofsignificantmultijurisdictionalenergyand infrastructureprojects—includingmajorelectrictransmission lines, renewable and conventional energy generation,legacy infrastructuredecommissioningand repurposing, complex conventional utility systems,and data center infrastructure.You will also have opportunities torepresentthese clients in bet-the-project litigation in federal and state courts.

Key Responsibilities

• Project Development & Permitting:Advise utilities,energycompanies,andinfrastructureprojectdeveloperson federal, state, and local regulatory approvals, with a heavy focus on the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), theFederal Land Policy and Management Act (FLMPA), theNational Forest Management Act (NFMA), and the Outer Continental ShelfLandsAct (OCSLA).

• Energyand InfrastructureAdministrative 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), CaliforniaState Lands Commission (CLSC)and State/Regional Water Boards, as well as localcities andcounties.

• Environmental Litigation & Enforcement:Defend project approvals against collateral attacks and handle complex environmental defenseand administrative claims in federal and state courts.

• Natural Resources & Land Use:Counsel clients through resource consultation, permitting,and mitigation frameworksinvolving the federal and state Endangered Species Acts(ESAs),Clean Water Act(CWA),coastal development,National Historic Preservation Act(NHPA),as wellastribal/stakeholder engagementstrategies.

• Transactional Support & Due Diligence:Environmental and regulatory due diligenceandtransactional draftingonenergyand infrastructureacquisitions,divestitures,project financing,andreal estate transactions.

Qualifications & Experience

• 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 isimportant. Experiencerepresentingprojectsponsors ofelectric transmission, offshore/onshore wind, solar,battery storage,water infrastructure,geothermal,and/orcarboncapture andstorageprojectsis highly valued.

• Specialized Knowledge:Experience withthe California Independent System Operator (CAISO) planning process is highly valued.

• Skills:Experience running matters independently, managing clientrelationships, and driving deliverables across the finish line.Exceptional analytical, legalresearch,drafting, and counselingskills.A demonstrated ability to translate complex technical/scientific data (from environmental or engineering experts)to clients, regulators, and decisionmakers.

• Team Leadership:Mentor, supervise, and review the work product of junior associates and paralegals on project teams to ensure top-tier, efficient legal delivery.

• Bar Admission:Active member in good standing of the State Bar of California.

• Cultural Fit:A high-performance mindsetseekingto 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.

Why Ashurst Perkins Coie?

As a newly integrated global powerhouse with 52 offices across 20 countries, we combine the collegial, innovative atmosphere of our legacy roots with an expansive global platform. You willbe part of a global Projects, Energy, Environment, and Resources division delivering best-in-class counsel to project developersoperatingwithin California and the Western United States.This is an excellent opportunity to receivehands-on mentorship from leaders in the industryandreal responsibilities on headline-making projects.

This position is eligible for an annual discretionary bonus, 401(k) plan, medical, dental, and vision insurance, personal medical and parental leave, up to ten paid Holidays, and family care benefits.

• annual discretionary bonus


• 401(k) plan


• medical


• dental


• vision insurance


• personal medical and parental leave


• up to ten paid Holidays


• family care benefits

Qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with the California Fair Chance Act.

Compensation range: $310,000 to $420,000 annually. Compensation depends on qualifications and experience.

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