Lauren Buehler

Senior Counsel

Washington, D.C.

Lauren applies a comprehensive and practical understanding of natural resources and land use law across federal, state, tribal and local levels to the development, construction, purchase, sale and operation of energy and infrastructure projects.

Lauren has extensive experience advising clients on compliance with environmental and natural resources laws, including:

  • Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act;
  • National Environmental Policy Act;
  • Endangered Species Act and other wildlife laws;
  • National Historic Preservation Act and tribal issues;
  • Clean Water Act;
  • Clean Air Act; and
  • Resource Conservation and Recovery Act.

She represents clients in matters before federal, state and local agencies, including the U.S. EPA, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, public utilities commissions, state natural resources and environmental agencies and other resource protection authorities. She has advised clients on wind and transmission projects in areas of significant tribal interest, facilitating constructive tribal engagement and the preservation of cultural heritage.

Her work includes transactions, project development and permitting, litigation, agency proceedings and enforcement actions. She has advised on environmental and land use matters for projects representing tens of thousands of megawatts of capacity and billions in investment, including a new $1.7 billion 550-mile double circuit transmission line spanning 12 counties.

Prior to Orrick, she was Assistant General Counsel at Xcel Energy, serving as lead environmental counsel for their solar, wind, energy storage, electric generation and transmission projects; an enforcement attorney at the EPA; and an advisor to an independent oil and gas company on exploration, production and development. At the EPA, she enforced environmental laws and regulations and ensured state hazardous waste programs met federal requirements.