McGuireWoods today announced that Bernadette Rappold, who was most recently the director of the Special Litigation and Projects Division in the Office of Civil Enforcement at the Environmental Protection Agency, has joined the firm as a partner in the firm’s Washington, D.C., office, where she will become part of the firm’s growing energy and environmental practice.
At McGuireWoods, Rappold will focus her practice on representing and counseling the firm’s clients in compliance, enforcement and other strategic matters relating to environmental regulations under EPA and state-based authorities, as well as sustainability issues and other business priorities. Rappold joins an energy and regulatory practice in Washington that has seen significant growth over the years, following the recent additions of Federal Energy Regulatory Commission practitioners Noel Symons, Todd Mullins and David Connelly as partners in the firm.
As director, Rappold led one of the four divisions in the EPA Office of Civil Enforcement, where she managed all divisional litigation, including complex national litigation under multiple EPA authorities. In that position, she directed EPA’s “Energy Extraction Enforcement Initiative” relating to shale gas extraction and production, as well as other initiatives.
She has broad experience in matters involving the Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act and the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, among other key environmental statutes. A 15-year veteran with the EPA, she was also responsible for coordination with EPA regional offices and state environmental officials in a variety of contexts. Prior to joining EPA headquarters, Rappold served as an enforcement counsel for EPA Region 3.
“As the administration begins its second term, environmental policy matters will continue to be a pressing need for our clients, both inside the Beltway and out in the field,” said Richard Cullen, chairman of McGuireWoods. “Bernadette’s experience in handling these highly complex issues will be a great asset to our clients and we are excited to have her on our team.”
“I am looking forward to joining this great and growing team at McGuireWoods,” Rappold said. “The depth of experience McGuireWoods brings to its clients is well known in the industry and I’m looking forward to using my experience on behalf of our clients.”
Rappold is a graduate of Temple University and received her law degree from the Temple University School of Law. She has also completed advanced studies in engineering geology at Drexel University and in environmental studies at the University of Pennsylvania.
