Karma leverages her extensive permitting and litigation experience under the Clean Water Act (CWA), the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), and the Endangered Species Act (ESA) to help clients navigate complex environmental challenges. She has been at the forefront of many precedent-setting cases in the natural resources sector, litigating high profile, multi-party cases across the country in federal and state courts.She represents clients across industries, including national trade associations, pipelines, electric utilities, solid waste companies, developers, and water agencies. Karma's practice focuses on a wide range of environmental and administrative law issues, with an emphasis on natural resources litigation and regulatory compliance, and on the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA). Karma is widely regarded for her ability to negotiate settlements with the Department of Justice in controversial matters, and clients value her ability to work collaboratively with industry coalitions, states, the federal government and technical consultants.Karma represents cross-industry coalitions on a wide range of key issues, such as the Nationwide Permits (NWPs) and the scope of federally regulated "waters of the United States" (WOTUS) under the CWA, the criteria for designation of critical habitat and listing decisions under the ESA, and CEQ's NEPA rules. In addition, Karma has significant experience drafting comments on administrative rulemakings and advising clients and their technical consultants on the preparation of NEPA, ESA, and CWA permitting documents, including keeping clients apprised of continually evolving policy and regulatory clarifications.A significant portion of Karma's practice involves managing the environmental aspects of complex business transactions and major development projects. Karma draws upon her extensive experience in both litigation and transactional matters to balance clients' business objectives with the practical aspects of the case.Karma speaks regularly on a wide variety of topics, including administrative and environmental law, and has undertaken significant pro bono work, representing detainees at Guantánamo Bay in habeas corpus proceedings and numerous asylum applicants before the Department of Homeland Security. She served as a member of the firm's pro bono committee and charitable giving committee and received the firm's E. Randolph Williams Award for Outstanding Pro Bono Service.Karma was an adjunct professor at The George Washington University Law School from 2007 to 2009. Before joining the firm, she was an attorney-advisor in the Solicitor's Honors Program at the US Department of the Interior, Office of the Solicitor, and a judicial law clerk to the Honorable Francis M. Allegra of the US Court of Federal Claims, Washington, D.C..

Bar Admissions
District of Columbia

Maryland

Education
JD, The George Washington University Law School, with high honors, articles editor, The George Washington International Law Review; Order of the Coif, 2000

BA, Northwestern University, 1996

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