Janice Schneider is a partner in the firm's Washington, D.C. office in the Environment, Land & Resources Department. She has extensive experience in a broad array of environmental, American Indian and natural resource issues.
Ms. Schneider has handled matters in federal and state court, before the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) and other federal agencies, Members of Congress and staff. Her expertise includes Endangered Species Act (ESA) and National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) issues, hydropower project licensing, operation and compliance, fish and wildlife issues, water rights and water resource management, land acquisition, irrigation project operations and contracts, marine mammal protection and coastal zone issues, fishery conservation and management, American Indian land claims and trespass actions, treaty rights, cultural resource issues, gaming, Clean Water Act and wetlands issues, as well as wildlife refuge, public land, national forest, American Indian land and national park use and management.
Prior to joining Latham & Watkins in 2001, Ms. Schneider practiced environmental, natural resources and American Indian law with the US Department of the Interior, as a litigator with the US Department of Justice, Environment and Natural Resources Division, Wildlife and Marine Resources Section and served for a year as Counselor to the Deputy Secretary of the Interior.
Ms. Schneider has first chair experience drafting litigation briefs, motions and other pleadings, conducting discovery, defending agency administrative records, defending requests for temporary restraining orders and preliminary injunctions, summary judgment, trial, negotiation and mediation. Ms. Schneider also has experience in federal policy development and legislative and regulatory activities, including analysis and drafting of legislative language, testimony and remarks, and preparing and commenting on proposed rules and agency initiatives.
Before becoming an attorney, Ms. Schneider was a marine biologist, environmental specialist and consultant. She worked on large land and transportation development projects, drafting National Environmental Policy Act documents, developing mitigation plans, securing wetlands permits and approvals, evaluating historic properties and conducting environmental audits for commercial and industrial property transactions.