Sr. Environmental Attorney

Direct Counsel is seeking a Sr. Environmental Attorney with 7-10 years of experience for its California offices. The role involves providing legal counsel on environmental regulatory matters, managing due diligence for real estate transactions, and representing clients in disputes. Candidates must have expertise in federal and California environmental laws, strong analytical skills, and the ability to mentor junior associates. Admission to the State Bar of California is required.
Job Description

Job Description

Sr. Environmental Attorney
Location : California Offices (Century City, Downtown LA, Orange County, San Diego, San Francisco)
Practice Area : Environmental and Natural Resources

Direct Counsel is seeking a Sr. Environmental Attorney with 7 to 10 years of experience to join a prestigious Am Law 100 firm’s Environmental and Natural Resources practice in their California offices. This is an excellent opportunity for a highly skilled attorney to work with a supportive, collaborative team in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment. The firm is known for advising clients on complex environmental regulatory matters and enforcement issues, particularly those arising under federal and California-specific environmental laws.

Key Responsibilities :

Provide legal counsel to clients on a wide array of environmental regulatory matters , including compliance and enforcement under CERCLA, RCRA, the Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act , and other related California statutes .

Lead and manage environmental due diligence for a variety of real estate and transactional matters, including complex investigations and assessments of contaminated properties.

Guide clients through the sale or purchase of potentially contaminated properties , ensuring compliance with all regulatory requirements and minimizing potential legal risks.

Advise clients on environmental risks associated with land use, development projects, and real estate transactions.

Represent clients in environmental disputes , including regulatory enforcement actions , and provide litigation support related to environmental matters.

Manage multiple complex matters simultaneously while maintaining exceptional attention to detail and a high standard of client service.

Collaborate with a team of attorneys to support the firm’s practice, mentoring junior associates and contributing to the continued development of the environmental practice group.

Qualifications :

7 to 10 years of experience practicing environmental law, with significant experience advising clients on regulatory compliance and enforcement actions related to environmental laws.

Expertise in handling environmental due diligence , site investigation , and transactions involving potentially contaminated properties.

Experience advising on environmental matters relating to federal and California-specific environmental regulations , including CERCLA , RCRA , the Clean Air Act , and the Clean Water Act .

Strong analytical , research , writing , and communication skills, with the ability to provide clear and practical legal advice.

Ability to work both independently and as part of a collaborative team , supporting a wide range of clients from developers to corporate entities.

Demonstrated leadership and the ability to manage significant projects and client relationships.

A high level of academic achievement from a top law school.

Admission to the State Bar of California is required.

This position offers the opportunity to work in a collaborative and entrepreneurial environment , handling cutting-edge environmental matters for clients across diverse industries, including real estate, energy, and manufacturing. The firm offers a competitive salary and benefits package, as well as excellent opportunities for professional development and career advancement.

The anticipated base salary range for this full-time role is $315,000 to $345,000 per year, with actual salary dependent on factors such as relevant experience, job-related skills, and qualifications.