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Shennie Patel

Senior Counsel
Senior Counsel
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Areas of Focus

Overview

Shennie Patel works in Crowell & Moring’s Environment and Natural Resources Group, focusing on enforcement and investigations and offering clients robust representation in both civil and criminal matters. With over 20 years of federal investigation and prosecution experience, Shennie brings valuable insight to her clients. During her federal career, which included 14 years in the DOJ’s Environmental Crimes Section, she managed multiagency teams and prosecuted a wide array of complex federal laws, primarily covering environmental and white collar crimes. She handled cases nationwide and internationally and was entrusted with full case management, covering motions practice, trial strategy, plea agreements, and sentencing, as well as supervision of hundreds of search warrants.

At Crowell, Shennie taps into this extensive experience to adeptly advise clients across a broad spectrum of issues, including environmental defense, natural resources litigation, wildlife trade compliance, and various other regulatory and litigation matters. Since joining the firm, Shennie has become highly regarded for her tactical counsel and is particularly noted for guiding clients through responses to potentially high-profile federal government investigations and inspections.

Her depth of knowledge enables her to anticipate the priorities and perspectives of prosecutors and agency investigators. This ensures that clients receive practical, informed counsel tailored to the realities of government enforcement. She provides straightforward advice, aiming for an efficient and comprehensive resolution of enforcement actions, including the mitigation of possible criminal liability. Her insider’s perspective on government investigations and inspections is a key asset, allowing her to deliver targeted and effective solutions for potentially complex legal challenges.

Wildlife Trade Enforcement and Compliance

While serving as an environmental crimes prosecutor, Shennie developed a distinct proficiency in investigations covering customs laws and international and domestic trade, particularly targeting wildlife trade and related animal welfare violations and economic crimes. She enforced key provisions of laws, including the Endangered Species Act (ESA), the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), the Lacey Act, the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA), and the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA). As a result, major international and U.S.-based trade and biotechnology companies seek her strategic guidance on their most challenging wildlife trade matters, risk management, and due diligence. She is adept at strengthening and implementing her clients' compliance programs and has a deep understanding of federal environmental investigations and enforcement across a wide range of industries, such as agricultural technology, trade, and biotech. Her invaluable federal experience empowers her to offer clients  individualized attention towards achieving the right legal solutions.

Career Highlights  

During her 21 years with the DOJ, she worked with agencies including the U.S. Department of the Interior, USFWS, USDA, NOAA, the U.S. Coast Guard, EPA, FBI, HSI, and ICE. Before joining the DOJ’s Environmental Crimes Section, Shennie was an attorney-advisor with the department’s Office of Intelligence, where she worked on national security terrorism investigations and handled top-secret intelligence information. She began her DOJ career investigating systemic violations as a trial attorney in the Civil Rights Special Litigation Section, reflecting her commitment to justice across a broad spectrum of legal issues.

Recent Contributions

Recently, Shennie has played a significant role in advising global companies on federal civil and criminal investigations, particularly focusing on enforcement matters regarding international and U.S. wildlife trade. Her clients consistently rely on her keen insight into these compliance matters. Additionally, media publications frequently seek her opinions on current trends in federal environmental crimes.

Career & Education

    • Department of Justice
      Trial Attorney, Environmental Crimes Section, 2009–2023
      Special Assistant U.S. Attorney, Major Crimes, U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland, 2008–2009
      Attorney-Advisor, Office of Intelligence, National Security Division, 2005–2008
      Trial Attorney, Special Litigation and Housing Sections, Civil Rights Division, 2002–2005
    • U.S. Office of Special Counsel
      Attorney, 2001–2002
    • Department of Justice
      Trial Attorney, Environmental Crimes Section, 2009–2023
      Special Assistant U.S. Attorney, Major Crimes, U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland, 2008–2009
      Attorney-Advisor, Office of Intelligence, National Security Division, 2005–2008
      Trial Attorney, Special Litigation and Housing Sections, Civil Rights Division, 2002–2005
    • U.S. Office of Special Counsel
      Attorney, 2001–2002

    • Associate, Federal Litigation- Cotton, Bledsoe, Tighe & Dawson P.C., 1998–2000
    • Associate, Federal Litigation- Cotton, Bledsoe, Tighe & Dawson P.C., 1998–2000

    • University of Houston, B.A., cum laude, sociology/anthropology, 1991
    • University of Houston Law Center, J.D., Recipient, Dean’s Scholarship, 1996
    • University of Houston, B.A., cum laude, sociology/anthropology, 1991
    • University of Houston Law Center, J.D., Recipient, Dean’s Scholarship, 1996

    • District of Columbia
    • Texas (Inactive)
    • District of Columbia
    • Texas (Inactive)

    • Law Clerk to Judge Lucius D. Bunton, III, U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas, 1998
    • Law Clerk to Judge Lucius D. Bunton, III, U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas, 1998

  • Professional Activities and Memberships

    • American Bar Association, Environment, Energy & Resources Section
    • District of Columbia Bar Association
    • Texas Bar Association

    Professional Activities and Memberships

    • American Bar Association, Environment, Energy & Resources Section
    • District of Columbia Bar Association
    • Texas Bar Association
I pride myself on being able to demystify the environmental enforcement process, criminal or civil, for non-prosecutors, and I look forward to working with clients so they understand what agency investigators and prosecutors are looking for, and how to handle negotiations with the government. Crowell offers a great opportunity to bring my public service experience to the table and make sure clients are prepared.

— Shennie Patel

Shennie's Insights

Client Alert | 1 min read | 10.03.25

Government Shutdown: Impact of Shutdown on EPA Enforcement

E&E News reported that EPA will continue to operate during the shutdown relying on “carryover funds.” Carryover funds generally are unspent and unobligated funds from a previous budget period that are carried forward to cover allowable costs in a future budget period. There is no indication how long EPA’s carryover funds will allow all EPA employees to continue working versus those that are “exempted” or “excepted” personnel, meaning they can continue to work either because they are separately funded (“exempted) or must continue to work because of their position (“excepted), such as emergency responders or criminal agents....

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Representative Matters

  • Advising major international wildlife and plant trade Fortune 500 companies in the strategic management of potential liabilities, including in connection with supply chain and regulatory compliance matters as well as customs enforcement actions and investigations.
  • Serving as federal environmental regulatory counsel to a North America trade association whose members are regulated primarily under USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) and USFWS.
  • Advising major metropolitan city utility company in responding to potential “take” violations under the MBTA and recommending proactive maintenance steps to prevent future issues.
  • Advising companies regarding mandatory disclosure obligations under USFWS and USDA regulations and related reporting processes.
  • Counseling client and assisting with responses to USDA-APHIS Emergency Action Notice, resulting in positive resolution with the agency without any penalties or license revocations.
  • Represented a senior executive during an EPA witness interview in connection with a federal fraud and environmental dumping investigation.
  • Represented employees of a global supplier of specialty chemicals in connection with federal environmental investigation, including during separate witness interviews with the FBI and EPA.
  • Worked with the State Department and DOJ, traveling around the United States and overseas teaching courses covering case evaluation, investigation, and prosecution of environmental and organized crimes.
  • Prosecuted international wildlife smuggling ring under Lacey Act, ESA, and tax evasion charges.
  • Prosecuted recycling company for environmental contamination in connection with polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) as well as false statement and tax evasion, securing over $21 million for cleanup costs associated with the contamination.
  • Served as a member of the U.S. delegation at the CITES Conferences of the Parties in South Africa (2016) and Qatar (2010), covering international law enforcement issues.

Shennie's Insights

Client Alert | 1 min read | 10.03.25

Government Shutdown: Impact of Shutdown on EPA Enforcement

E&E News reported that EPA will continue to operate during the shutdown relying on “carryover funds.” Carryover funds generally are unspent and unobligated funds from a previous budget period that are carried forward to cover allowable costs in a future budget period. There is no indication how long EPA’s carryover funds will allow all EPA employees to continue working versus those that are “exempted” or “excepted” personnel, meaning they can continue to work either because they are separately funded (“exempted) or must continue to work because of their position (“excepted), such as emergency responders or criminal agents....

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Recognition

  • U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Bronze Medal for Commendable Service, 2014
  • U.S. Attorney General’s Office, Special Achievement and Outstanding Performance Awards (multiple years)

Clerkship

  • Law Clerk to Judge Lucius D. Bunton, III, U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas, 1996-1998

Shennie's Insights

Client Alert | 1 min read | 10.03.25

Government Shutdown: Impact of Shutdown on EPA Enforcement

E&E News reported that EPA will continue to operate during the shutdown relying on “carryover funds.” Carryover funds generally are unspent and unobligated funds from a previous budget period that are carried forward to cover allowable costs in a future budget period. There is no indication how long EPA’s carryover funds will allow all EPA employees to continue working versus those that are “exempted” or “excepted” personnel, meaning they can continue to work either because they are separately funded (“exempted) or must continue to work because of their position (“excepted), such as emergency responders or criminal agents....

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Insights

Client Alert | 1 min read | 10.03.25

Government Shutdown: Impact of Shutdown on EPA Enforcement

Client Alert | 4 min read | 10.03.25

Wildlife Trade in Limbo? What a Federal Shutdown Means for Your Business.

Client Alert | 2 min read | 09.23.25

The Other PFAS Shoe Drops: EPA Will Retain and Defend Its CERCLA PFAS Regulation

Blog Post | 08.28.25

Environmental Justice Is Alive And Well At The State Level

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Practices

Industries

Shennie's Insights

Client Alert | 1 min read | 10.03.25

Government Shutdown: Impact of Shutdown on EPA Enforcement

E&E News reported that EPA will continue to operate during the shutdown relying on “carryover funds.” Carryover funds generally are unspent and unobligated funds from a previous budget period that are carried forward to cover allowable costs in a future budget period. There is no indication how long EPA’s carryover funds will allow all EPA employees to continue working versus those that are “exempted” or “excepted” personnel, meaning they can continue to work either because they are separately funded (“exempted) or must continue to work because of their position (“excepted), such as emergency responders or criminal agents....

View All Insights