Environmental Protection Agency General Counsel Returns To Crowell & Moring's Environment & Natural Resources Group

Washington, D.C. – August 1, 2006: Ann R. Klee, General Counsel of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), has joined Crowell & Moring LLP's nationally recognized Environment & Natural Resources (ENR) Group as partner. Klee is the only environmental attorney in the nation known to have held paramount legal positions in both the Congress and the Executive Branch, having also served as Chief Counsel of the U.S. Senate Committee on the Environment and Public Works and Counselor to the Secretary of the Department of the Interior under Gale Norton.

Klee, who began her legal career at Crowell & Moring, brings to the firm an uncommon breadth of experience--legal and political, in government service and private practice--in both natural resources and environmental law. During her career as principal legal advisor to the EPA Administrator, Klee led nearly 350 lawyers and support staff in the D.C. headquarters and 10 regional offices across the country in providing legal advice to the administrator and the EPA’s program offices on matters ranging from defensive and appellate litigation to legal review of all agency regulations.

“Ann’s significant experience and notable successes in top environmental legal positions on the Hill, at EPA, and at the Department of the Interior are an incredible benefit to our clients—whose needs range from product liability litigation to concerns over anticipated nanotechnology regulation. The addition of Ann is integral to our strategy to recruit the very best in this field, and we’re proud that she is coming back to the team,” said Steven P. Quarles, Crowell & Moring partner and chair of the firm’s ENR Group.

While at EPA, Ann’s work included serving as the agency lead on numerous Supreme Court and federal court briefs, including briefs for two landmark decisions concerning wetland protection under the Clean Water Act. Her work also included developing immediate guidance on novel legal issues to facilitate post-Hurricane Katrina and Rita clean-up; supervising the legal implementation of the Clean Air Mercury Rule and the Clean Air Interstate Rule; developing agency legal opinions regarding water transfers and application of pesticides to U.S. waters; and review of legal issues relating to permitting of energy development projects, including oil and gas leases, liquid natural gas facilities, and power plant projects.

“Crowell & Moring’s Environment & Natural Resources Group works with many of America’s leading industries on high-stake matters that promise to make my work as rewarding as it is challenging. I’ve known many of the lawyers here for more than 20 years and am looking forward to working with them as I turn my attention to helping our clients address and resolve their most significant environmental concerns,” said Klee.

Announcing her departure from the Agency, EPA Administrator Stephen L. Johnson wished Klee all the best, saying, “Under Ann’s steadfast leadership, the General Counsel’s office has provided critical assistance in implementing key programs, as well as defending decisions and regulations which support all aspects of the Agency’s mission. Ann’s counsel has been invaluable to me personally and to the important work of the Agency. I would like to extend to Ann my warmest appreciation for her guidance, advice, and friendship.”

While Chief Counsel at the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, Klee held primary responsibility for managing Clean Water Act, Endangered Species Act, solid and hazardous waste management, forestry and natural resources, and enforcement issues. Klee previously served as Counsel to the Subcommittee on Drinking Water, Fisheries, and Wildlife for Senator Dirk Kempthorne, who is now the Secretary of the Interior. Prior to her government service, Klee served as chair of the Environmental Group of a major law firm. She received her J.D. from University of Pennsylvania Law School.

Crowell & Moring’s Environment & Natural Resources Group offers clients in-depth experience in interpreting and shaping natural resources and environmental laws, regulations and policies, as well as negotiating and litigating when disputes arise. The group’s lawyers are regularly ranked by Best Lawyers in America, Chambers USA, PLC Which Lawyer?, and other industry peer-review guides for their national reputation in areas including water, air, and endangered species protection, federal public land use, site cleanup and reclamation, chemical and pesticide manufacturing, natural resources development (mining, forestry, and agriculture), safety and health, and consumer products regulation. The group recently added another former EPA lawyer, James C. Chen, who joined as partner from Hogan & Hartson, LLP.

Crowell & Moring LLP is a full-service law firm with more than 300 attorneys practicing in litigation, antitrust, government contracts, corporate, intellectual property and more than 40 other practice areas. More than two-thirds of the firm's attorneys regularly litigate disputes on behalf of domestic and international corporations, start-up businesses, and individuals. Crowell & Moring's extensive client work ranges from advising on one of the world's largest telecommunications mergers to representing governments and corporations on international arbitration matters. Based in Washington, D.C., the firm also has offices in Brussels, California and London.