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

Ashurst Perkins Coie; San Francisco (CA); Hybrid; USD 310,000 - 420,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual discretionary bonus

401(k) plan

Medical, dental, and vision insurance

Parental leave

Paid holidays

Family care benefits

Job summary

Ashurst Perkins Coie LLP is seeking a 4th to 7th-year associate for our California Projects, Energy, Environment and Resources team. The role focuses on guiding major energy and infrastructure projects through regulatory approvals, permitting, and potential litigation in federal and state courts.

Ideal candidates bring 4–7 years of environmental or energy regulatory experience, strong CEQA/NEPA knowledge, and the ability to mentor junior associates while managing client relationships.

Qualifications

• Experience with environmental, land use, or energy regulatory matters at a top law firm or government agency.
• Deep familiarity with CEQA and NEPA is important.
• Specialized knowledge of the CAISO planning process is highly valued.
• Ability to manage matters independently and mentor junior team members.

Responsibilities

• Advise on project development and permitting with emphasis on CEQA/NEPA compliance.
• Represent clients before regulators like CPUC, CEC, and other agencies.
• Defend project approvals in federal and state courts when needed.
• Counsel clients through resource consultation, permitting, and mitigation frameworks.
• Assist with transactional drafting, due diligence, and project financing related to energy infra.

Skills

Environmental regulation

CEQA knowledge

NEPA knowledge

CAISO familiarity

Litigation defense

Client management

Team leadership

CA Bar admission

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 combining a top-tier U.S. tech and environmental platform with unmatched global energy and infrastructure capabilities, Ashurst Perkins Coie 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.

Key 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), 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.

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 is important. Experience representing 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.

• 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 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.

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 will be part of a global Projects, Energy, Environment, and Resources division delivering best-in-class counsel to project developers operating within California and the Western United States. This is an excellent opportunity to receive hands‑on mentorship from leaders in the industry and real 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. More information regarding benefits and programs may be found here.

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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