Top Natural Resources Lawyer Ann D. Navaro Joins Bracewell’s Environmental Strategies Group

WASHINGTON, DC – Bracewell LLP announced today that Ann D. Navaro has joined the firm’s Washington, DC office as a partner in the Environmental Strategies Group. Navaro has over 25 years of experience working as an attorney and advising senior leadership at federal agencies on environmental and natural resources policies and programs. For the last two years, she has held senior positions at the US Department of the Interior, including most recently as Counselor to the Solicitor.

“Ann brings a wealth of unique litigation and policy experience from her 25 years in government, which will deepen our offering in the natural resources arena,” said Bracewell Managing Partner Gregory M. Bopp. “We’re excited to welcome her to the firm as we continue to grow Bracewell’s DC office to best serve the government-facing needs of our energy, infrastructure and project development clients.”

In her distinguished career with the federal government, Navaro has worked on a wide range of issues with federal agencies, including litigation, regulation, legislation and the implementation of environmental and natural resources programs. She has held senior legal and policy positions at the US Army Corps of Engineers and the Department of the Interior. Navaro spent 14 years handling litigation in the Environment and Natural Resources Division at the US Department of Justice, as well as 10 years litigating and overseeing civil works litigation for the Army Corps.

“Ann is one of the most accomplished natural resources lawyers to enter private practice from the government in the last decade,” said Jason B. Hutt, chair of Bracewell’s Environmental Strategies Group. “Her experience at the federal agencies most directly involved in natural resources law and policy further strengthens our support of clients in energy, infrastructure development and other activities.”

Navaro has been involved in some of the most challenging and high-profile policy issues and disputes in environmental and natural resources law, including recent policy shifts to streamline federal permitting, oil and gas leasing in Alaska, Asian carp infiltration in the Great Lakes, Clean Water Act 404 actions, offshore royalty disputes, coal mining, hydropower projects, casino development, offshore sonar use, new oil and gas regulations, and federal takings and constitutional challenges.

At Bracewell, Navaro will focus her practice in four areas: (1) development projects, (2) regulatory counseling, (3) policy advocacy and (4) government litigation.

Navaro is the latest in a series of strategic hires in Bracewell’s Washington, DC office that has expanded the firm’s ability to meet the needs of its clients, including infrastructure developers and companies active in the upstream and midstream sectors. These new additions include Hans P. Dyke, a partner in the energy projects group; David A. Super, who leads the firm’s civil litigation practice in DC; Angela B. Styles, a partner in the government contracts group; Robert J. Wagman Jr., a partner in the government contracts group; and Paul F. Wight, a partner in the energy regulatory group. Bracewell’s Policy Resolution Group has also deepened its bench with the additions of Anna Burhop, who focuses on environmental and regulatory issues; Liam P. Donovan, who focuses on infrastructure, energy and tax issues; and Christine G. Wyman, who focuses on energy and environmental policy.

“Bracewell is a national leader on energy and environmental issues, with a unique platform that covers regulatory issues, public policy issues and litigation,” said Navaro. “I look forward to working with my new colleagues at this respected and dynamic firm.”

Navaro graduated cum laude with a B.A. from Wellesley College and earned a J.D. from the University of Cincinnati College of Law.