Samina M. Bharmal
- Environmental
SAMINA M. BHARMAL is a member of the Environmental practice group in Washington, D.C. Her practice focuses on guiding clients through agency investigations and judicial challenges to federal rulemakings. She represents clients before the Environmental Protection Agency and Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, as well as in federal courts. With her regulatory experience, she advises clients on a wide range of transactions, including mergers, asset acquisitions and dispositions, and physical and financial trading, with an emphasis on energy transactions.
Prior to joining Sidley, Samina was an environmental and energy associate in large law firms in Washington, D.C, where her practice has focused on matters arising under the Clean Air Act, Federal Power Act, and International Traffic in Arms Regulations. Samina also worked in the Environmental & Natural Resources Division of the U.S. Department of Justice. In this role, she assisted with policy and litigation matters regarding environmental and tribal law and the Freedom of Information Act, and worked directly with foreign delegations on wildlife trafficking enforcement and development of hydrocarbon laws. During her time at the Justice Department, she received Department honors for outstanding achievement as well as for her pro bono service.
Experience
- Representative Matters
- Pro Bono
Samina’s experience prior to joining Sidley includes:
- Represented geothermal facility in Environmental Protection Agency pre-enforcement investigation under the Clean Air Act.
- Represented manufacturer in negotiations with Environmental Protection Agency regarding sale of aftermarket tuning devices.
- Defended client in deposition related to Federal Energy Regulatory Commission investigation into False Claims Act liability.
- Represented rural electric cooperatives in judicial challenges to the Clean Power Plan.
- Advised defense contractor on False Claims Act liability related to Department of Justice investigation.
- Assisted defense contractor in conducting internal investigation through multiple global business units as part of settlement with Department of State under International Traffic in Arms Regulations.
- Advised client on environmental risks in acquisition of minority interest in 880 MW of wholesale solar generation facilities.
- Advised clients on a wide range of physical and financial trading transactions, with an emphasis on energy commodity transactions.
Samina maintains an active pro bono practice helping individuals in the D.C. community with a variety of issues. Her selected experience includes the successful representation of a Project Clemency Applicant in a sentence commutation, and the successful representation of a low-income housing tenant in a wrongful eviction lawsuit before the D.C. Superior Court.
Samina has received several recognitions for her pro bono work.
- D.C. Access to Justice Commission Capital Pro Bono Honor Roll for 2016
- D.C. Access to Justice Commission Capital Pro Bono Honor Roll for 2014
- U.S. Department of Justice Commendation for Pro Bono Service, 2014
- U.S. Department of Justice Commendation for Pro Bono Service, 2013
Samina also actively engages in community service. She served as a precinct captain in the District of Columbia for the 2016 general election and regularly volunteers with charitable organizations serving the D.C. community.
Capabilities
- Environmental
- Administrative Law Appeals
- Clean Air Act
- Climate Change
- Compliance Management
- Crisis Management and Strategic Response
- Electricity
- Energy and Commodities Trading
- Environmental Crisis Management
- Environmental Enforcement, Litigation and Internal Investigations
- Environmental Experience in the Energy Sector
- Environmental Transactions
- False Claims Act
- Internal Investigations
- NEPA and Natural Resource Protection
- Oil and Natural Gas Pipelines
- Permitting and Project Approvals
- Regulatory Advocacy and Counseling
News & Insights
Credentials
Admissions & Certifications
- U.S. Court of Appeals, D.C. Circuit
- District of Columbia
- New York
Education
- American University, Washington College of Law, J.D., 2014 (Administrative Law Review, Editor-in-Chief, National Security Law Brief)
- Georgetown University, B.A., 2007