Elizabeth (Ellie) B. Dawson is a counsel in the Environment & Natural Resources Group in Crowell & Moring’s Washington, D.C. office and a leader of the firm’s global ESG Advisory Team. She advocates for her clients’ interests in everything from agency rulemaking petitions under the Clean Air Act to Superfund liability and allocation disputes, everywhere from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit to the Western District of Washington.
Ellie’s practice covers the range of environmental and natural resources statutes, including the Clean Air Act; the Clean Water Act; the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act; the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act; the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act; the National Environmental Policy Act; and the Endangered Species Act. She counsels clients in navigating these statutes and helps them achieve their goals in commenting on and litigating agency rulemakings, in undertaking federal permitting processes, and in defending against enforcement actions.
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. She presented oral arguments in three different U.S. Courts of Appeals and litigated in district courts across the country, including the Western District of Washington, the Central District of California, and the Eastern District of Virginia. 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 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 of the firm, Ellie serves on the American Bar Association’s Section of Environment, Energy, and Resources Superfund and Natural Resource Damages Litigation Committee, and has served as the co-chair of the ABA’s Clean Technology & Climate Change Committee, where she has 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.
Affiliations
Admitted to practice: District of Columbia, Oregon
Speeches & Presentations
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"The Future of Carbon Credit Markets," American Bar Association Webinar, 2022.
(April 12, 2022).
Speakers: Elizabeth B. Dawson
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"ESG Survey: Environmental Performance and the Stakes for Your Business," Crowell & Moring Webinar
(December 9, 2021).
Speakers: John B. Brew, Christopher A. Cole, Elizabeth B. Dawson, Thomas De Meese, Thomas A. Lorenzen, and Preston L. Pugh.
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"Breaking Down IoT: Addressing Complex IoT Issues in the Real World in Real Time," ABA Internet of Things (IoT) National Institute 2021
(June 10, 2021).
Panelist: Elizabeth B. Dawson.
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"A New Day for EJ: Environmental Justice with an ESG Twist," Crowell & Moring Webinar
(March 4, 2021).
Presenters: Paul Freeman, Elizabeth B. Dawson, and Eryn Howington.
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"Election 2020: Environmental Law and Policy," Crowell & Moring Webinar
(October 28, 2020).
Presenters: David Chung, Robert Meyers, Byron R. Brown, Paul Freeman, Amanda Shafer Berman, Elizabeth B. Dawson, and Amy Symonds.
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"The Future of the Endangered Species Act," D.C. Bar, Washington, D.C.
(February 19, 2020).
Panelist: Elizabeth B. Dawson.
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"EPA’s Renewable Fuel Standard Agenda for 2019," Crowell & Moring Webinar
(March 7, 2019).
Speakers: Paul Freeman, Robert Meyers, Thomas A. Lorenzen, Byron R. Brown, Elizabeth B. Dawson, and Preetha Chakrabarti.
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"Energy Law Update," Energy & Mineral Law Foundation 39th Annual Institute, Nashville, TN
(June 18, 2018).
Presenters: Daniel W. Wolff and Elizabeth B. Dawson.
Publications
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"Top ESG, Environmental Issues For Business In 2022," Bloomberg Law
(December 28, 2021).
Authors: Thomas A. Lorenzen, and Elizabeth B. Dawson.
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"Biden’s Environmental Justice Push and its Impact on Retailers’ ESG Considerations," Crowell & Moring’s Retail & Consumer Products Law Observer
(May 26, 2021).
Authors: Paul Freeman, Elizabeth B. Dawson an Lynn Phan.
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"Crypto's Enviro Costs Present Challenges For Companies," Law360
(May 21, 2021).
Authors: Christopher A. Cole, Elizabeth B. Dawson, Lynn Phan, Michelle Ann Gitlitz, and Allison Skager.
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"The FYI on ESG: Not Your Average Acronym," American Bar Association Section of Environment, Energy, and Resources Trends Vol.52 No. 5
(Am. Bar Ass'n, May/June 2021).
Author: Elizabeth B. Dawson.
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"Biden Administration to Use Purchasing Power for Climate Change, Clean Energy Goals," Bloomberg Law
(December 22, 2020).
Authors: Paul Freeman, Thomas A. Lorenzen, Elizabeth B. Dawson.
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"How The Election May Affect The Renewable Fuel Standard," Law360
(October 2, 2020).
Authors: Robert Meyers, and Elizabeth B. Dawson.
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"How Environmental NGOs Are Targeting Plastic Pollution," Law360
(March 2, 2020).
Authors: David Chung, Kirsten L. Nathanson, Byron R. Brown, and Elizabeth B. Dawson.
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"Shifting Federal Policies on Public Lands: The Promise and the Peril, 65 Rocky Mt. Min. L. Inst. 23-1 (2019)" Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation
(2019).
Author: Elizabeth B. Dawson.
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"Pesticides and the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA)" Environment, Energy, and Resources Law: The Year in Review 2018 89
(Am. Bar Ass’n, 2019).
Authors: Michael Boucher and Elizabeth B. Dawson.
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"The Clean (Ground) Water Act?" Trends January/February 2019, Vol. 50, No. 3, American Bar Association
(2019).
Authors: David Chung and Elizabeth B. Dawson.
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"The Florida Beach Case and the Road to Judicial Takings," 35 Wm. & Mary Envtl. Law & Pol’y Rev. 713
(2011).
Authors: Michael C. Blumm & Elizabeth B. Dawson.
Client Alerts & Newsletters
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"SEC Proposes Rules Governing ESG Investment Disclosures,"
Corporate Alert
(May 26, 2022).
Contacts: Elizabeth B. Dawson, Byron R. Brown, Michael D. Mann, William J. Bruno, Jeff Severson
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"SEC Charges Vale with Securities Law Violations after Brumadinho Dam Collapse,"
White Collar Alert
(April 28, 2022).
Contacts: Elizabeth B. Dawson, Michael D. Mann, Thomas A. Hanusik, Jeff Severson
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"Let the Writing Begin: FAR Council Agrees to Draft Proposed Climate Disclosure FAR Amendments,"
Government Contracts Bullet Points
(April 21, 2022).
Contacts: Paul Freeman, Elizabeth B. Dawson, Issac D. Schabes
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"Small Changes to NEPA Rules Expected to Have Major Impacts on Federal Environmental Reviews of Infrastructure Projects,"
Environment & Natural Resources Law Alert
(April 20, 2022).
Contacts: Byron R. Brown, Kirsten L. Nathanson, Paul Freeman, Elizabeth B. Dawson
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"The SEC Seeks to Expand Scope of Required Climate Risk Disclosures,"
Environment & Natural Resources Law Alert
(March 22, 2022).
Contacts: Thomas A. Hanusik, Elizabeth B. Dawson, Byron R. Brown, Jeff Severson
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"EPA’s Anticipated Cumulative Risk Assessment Guidelines Will Guide EJ Enforcement,"
Environment & Natural Resources Law Alert
(December 6, 2021).
Contacts: Elliott P. Laws, Elizabeth B. Dawson, Eryn Howington
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"Agencies Continue to Lay Groundwork for Consideration of Potential FAR Amendments Aimed at Climate Change Risks,"
Government Contracts Bullet Points
(October 15, 2021).
Contacts: Paul Freeman, Peter Eyre, Elizabeth B. Dawson, Issac D. Schabes
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"Executive Order on Climate-Related Financial Risk,"
(May 26, 2021).
Contacts: Paul Freeman, Elizabeth B. Dawson, Lorraine M. Campos
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"SEC Enforcement Warms Up: Commission Creates Climate and ESG Task Force,"
Administrative Law Alert
(March 5, 2021).
Contacts: Daniel L. Zelenko, Jeff Severson, Rebecca Lennon Baskin, Elizabeth B. Dawson, Monty Cooper
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"New Executive Order Supports Domestic Sources of Critical Minerals,"
Energy Law Alert
(October 2, 2020).
Contacts: Byron R. Brown, Elizabeth B. Dawson
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"CERCLA Litigation Watch: First Subsurface Intrusion NPL Site Listing Challenge Fails in the D.C. Circuit,"
Environment & Natural Resources Law Alert
(August 14, 2020).
Contacts: Richard McNeil, Jennifer A. Giblin, Elizabeth B. Dawson
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"White House Updates Rules for Environmental Reviews of Federal Actions,"
Administrative Law Alert
(July 17, 2020).
Contacts: Byron R. Brown, Daniel W. Wolff, Thomas A. Lorenzen, Elizabeth B. Dawson, David Chung
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"DOJ Ends Use of SEPs in Resolving Violations of Environmental Law,"
Environment & Natural Resources Law Alert
(March 17, 2020).
Contacts: Elliott P. Laws, Peter Gray, Elizabeth B. Dawson
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"Citizen Suit Alert: Environmental NGOs Set Their Sights on Plastics,"
Environment & Natural Resources Law Alert
(February 11, 2020).
Contacts: David Chung, Kirsten L. Nathanson, Byron R. Brown, Elizabeth B. Dawson
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"Ninth Circuit Dismisses Kids’ Climate Change Lawsuit Against Federal Government,"
Environment & Natural Resources Law Alert
(January 24, 2020).
Contacts: Tracy A. Roman, Elizabeth B. Dawson
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"NEPA Review and Climate Change – Proposed Guidance Aims to Define Federal Agency Duties and Discretion,"
Environment & Natural Resources Law Alert
(July 3, 2019).
Contacts: Kirsten L. Nathanson, Daniel W. Wolff, Elizabeth B. Dawson, Matt Gauthier
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"EPA Repeals Obama Administration's Power Plant CO2 Regulations and Issues Narrower Replacement Rule,"
Environment & Natural Resources Law Alert
(June 25, 2019).
Contacts: Thomas A. Lorenzen, Robert Meyers, Elizabeth B. Dawson, Amanda Shafer Berman
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"Preemption or Pandora's Box: The Supreme Court Agrees to Review the CERCLA Federal/State Divide,"
Environment & Natural Resources Law Alert
(June 13, 2019).
Contacts: Elliott P. Laws, Peter Gray, Kirsten L. Nathanson, Elizabeth B. Dawson, Matt Gauthier
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"EPA Finalizes E15 Expansion, Scaled-Back RIN Market Reforms under the Renewable Fuel Standard,"
Environment & Natural Resources Law Alert
(June 3, 2019).
Contacts: Elizabeth B. Dawson, Paul Freeman, Robert Meyers, Thomas A. Lorenzen
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"Fuels Alert: EPA’s E15 and RIN Market Reform Proposed Rules out for Public Comment (Due April 29),"
Environment & Natural Resources Law Alert
(March 21, 2019).
Contacts: Paul Freeman, Thomas A. Lorenzen, Robert Meyers, Elizabeth B. Dawson
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"CERCLA Litigation Watch: First Subsurface Intrusion NPL Site Listing Challenged in D.C. Circuit,"
Environment & Natural Resources Law Alert
(February 28, 2019).
Contacts: Richard McNeil, Jennifer A. Giblin, Elizabeth B. Dawson
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"EPA Implements Obama-Era Subsurface Intrusion Regulation with National Priorities List Additions,"
Environment & Natural Resources Law Alert
(September 25, 2018).
Contacts: Richard McNeil, Jennifer A. Giblin, Elizabeth B. Dawson
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"Judicial Branch Continues to Scrutinize the Executive Branch's Deregulatory Agenda,"
Environment & Natural Resources Law Alert
(October 12, 2017).
Contacts: Daniel W. Wolff, Kirsten L. Nathanson, Elizabeth B. Dawson
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"Trump: The First Year - Deconstruction of the Administrative State Stymied by the D.C. Circuit,"
Biden 2021 Series2
(September 7, 2017).
Contacts: David Chung, Elizabeth B. Dawson
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"The Administrative State Will Not Deconstruct Itself,"
(June 29, 2017).
Contacts: David Ervin, Thomas A. Lorenzen, Elizabeth B. Dawson
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"Citizen Suit Watch: No End in Sight for Clean Water Act Litigation Involving Discharges to Groundwater,"
Environment & Natural Resources: Citizen Suit Watch
(May 23, 2017).
Contacts: David Chung, Kirsten L. Nathanson, Thomas A. Lorenzen, Elizabeth B. Dawson
Press Coverage
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FASB To Explore Rules For Climate Credit Accounting
June 10, 2022 — Agenda
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New Sustainability Disclosure Standards Expected By Year’s End
April 8, 2022 — Agenda
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SEC Climate Plan ‘Scenario Analysis’ Provision Draws Criticism
March 30, 2022 — Bloomberg Law
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How To Prepare For SEC’s Climate-Related Disclosure Rule
March 23, 2022 — Compliance Week
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Companies Setting Climate Goals Without Tracking Emissions, Survey Finds
December 15, 2021 — Corporate Secretary
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Companies Adopt Sustainability Goals But Lag In Measuring
December 3, 2021 — Law360
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Report: In-House Counsel Less Optimistic Than Other Execs About Sustainability Efforts
December 1, 2021 — Corporate Counsel
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US SEC Should Consider Sector-Specific Climate Disclosure Rule: Commissioner Roisman
August 17, 2021 — IHS Markit
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We Put These ESG Lawyers To The Test
July 26, 2021 — Reuters Legal
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Citing Biden’s EJ Goals, Lawyers Urge Companies To Weigh ESG Efforts
March 11, 2021 — InsideEPA
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Biden's "Clean Energy" Plans Face Several Hurdles
November 12, 2020 — Mountain West News Bureau
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Elections Might Not Resolve Uncertainty Over Fate Of EPA's RFS
October 5, 2020 — Inside EPA
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Attorneys Warn Appointee Delays Will Hamper State 'Deconstruction'
June 30, 2017 — Inside EPA
Firm News & Announcements