Government Experience

  • Department of Justice: Environment & Natural Resources Division—Trial Attorney, Environmental Defense Section (2011-2017)

Education

  • Viterbo University, B.A. Spanish/B.F.A. musical theatre (2005) summa cum laude
  • Northwestern School of Law of Lewis & Clark College, J.D. (2011) summa cum laude, Cornelius Honor Society

Admissions

  • District of Columbia
  • Oregon

Languages

  • Spanish

Elizabeth B. Dawson

Partner
edawson@crowell.com
+1.202.624.2508

Elizabeth B. Dawson counsels clients in navigating the range of federal environmental and climate-related laws and regulations, helping them comment on and litigate agency rulemakings, pursue federal approvals, and defend against enforcement actions. In addition to administrative rulemaking advocacy, Ellie has briefed and argued these issues in federal courts around the country, from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit to the Western District of Washington. Ellie’s practice also offers clients legal guidance on a broad range of ESG and sustainability issues. Clients value her deep knowledge and immersion in ESG as well as her ability to break down complex risk into pragmatic business solutions.

Ellie’s prior experience includes over five years at the Environment & Natural Resources Division of the U.S. Department of Justice, where as a trial attorney in the Environmental Defense Section she gained invaluable insight into agency policies, procedures, and thought processes. Ellie received numerous performance awards, a Special Achievement Award, and was nominated for the John Marshall Award for Participation in Litigation, one of DOJ’s highest awards offered to attorneys. 

Ellie is a partner in the Environment and Natural Resources Group in Crowell & Moring’s Washington, D.C., office, a leader of the firm’s global ESG Advisory Team, and chair of the firm’s Sustainability Committee. She also serves on the firm’s Art Committee and Public Service Committee and maintains an active pro bono practice in a wide variety of areas, including asylum, landlord-tenant, and reproductive rights.

Outside the firm, Ellie has served on the American Bar Association’s Section of Environment, Energy, and Resources Superfund and Natural Resource Damages Litigation Committee and as the co-chair of the ABA’s Clean Technology and Climate Change Committee, where she organized programs covering such topics as the Task Force on Climate-Related Financial Disclosures and the role of climate change in the legal profession. Ellie was also selected to participate in the Environmental Law Institute’s Emerging Leaders Initiative, and has received a Certificate in Sustainable Capitalism & ESG Online from Berkeley Law Executive Education.


Recognition

  • Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch, 2023

Affiliations

Professional Activities and Memberships

  • Member, American Bar Association’s Section of Environment, Energy, and Resources Superfund and Natural Resource Damages Litigation Committee
  • Former Co-Chair, ABA’s Clean Technology & Climate Change Committee
  • Participant, Environmental Law Institute’s Emerging Leaders Initiative

Speeches & Presentations


Publications


Client Alerts & Newsletters


Press Coverage


Firm News & Announcements

January 9, 2023 Crowell & Moring Elects 16 New Partners, Promotes Five to Senior Counsel, and 25 to Counsel
August 18, 2022 The Best Lawyers in America 2023 Recognizes 54 Crowell & Moring Attorneys, Three Selected as Lawyer of the Year
December 1, 2021 Companies Are Setting Environmental Goals, But Questions of Measurement Persist, Crowell & Moring Survey Finds
March 15, 2021 Crowell & Moring Establishes Global Environmental, Social, and Governance Advisory Team
January 3, 2019 Crowell & Moring Elects Eight New Partners and Promotes 21 Associates to Counsel