Julie Miles is an associate in the San Diego office of Latham & Watkins.

Julie advises developers, utilities, and other public and private companies on a broad range of environmental matters, including matters involving compliance with and challenges under federal, state, and local environmental and land-use regulations, project siting and approvals, and complex environmental litigation.

Julie also advises clients on the environmental, health, and safety aspects of complex corporate and finance transactions across a variety of sectors. 

Julie leverages her language background and experience living and studying Chinese law in Shanghai to track and advise clients on developments in Chinese environmental laws and regulations. 

Julie has substantial experience in regulatory and litigation matters involving: 

  • Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act (BGEPA)
  • California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA)
  • California Coastal Act
  • California Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA)
  • Clean Water Act (CWA)
  • Coastal Zone Management Act (CZMA)
  • Contaminated property laws (Federal, California, and Indiana)
  • Endangered species laws (Federal and California)
  • Local planning and zoning laws
  • Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA)
  • National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)
  • National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA)
  • Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (OCSLA)
  • State tort and products liability laws

Julie also has experience representing policyholders in complex insurance coverage and bad faith disputes involving environmental liability matters and in defending US and foreign entities in multi-district products liability class actions.

Julie maintains an active pro bono practice representing veterans with disabilities, victims of domestic violence, and asylum applicants.

Prior to law school, Julie studied Chinese Law, with an emphasis on a comparative study of US and Chinese water law and regulations.

During law school, Julie was the Class of 2019 Rothman Scholar, and served as the inaugural chair of the Gold Honors Scholars program. Julie received the Hale Moot Court Best Brief Award, and later served on the board of the Hale Moot Court.  

Julie has represented clients in connection with: 

  • Entitlements and environmental approvals for large-scale desalination facilities, energy transmission projects, and renewable energy projects
  • Defending approvals for energy and infrastructure projects issued by federal and state agencies
  • Advising corporate clients on environmental and regulatory matters
  • Remediation, settlement mediation and negotiation, and litigation related to toxic tort, public nuisance, products liability, and contaminated property claims brought in state and federal courts

Thought Leadership

  • “California Water Challenges Remain Despite Significant Precipitation in 2023,” Latham & Watkins Article (February 2024)
  • “Unprecedented Buildout of Renewables and Transmission Necessary for California Decarbonization,” Latham & Watkins Article (April 2023)
  • “California Coastal Commission Concurs With BOEM’s Consistency Determination for Morro Bay WEA,” Latham & Watkins Article (June 2022)
  • “California Senate Passes Broad GHG Emissions Reporting Requirements,” Latham & Watkins Article (February 2022)
  • “President Biden Outlines Comprehensive Plan for Federal Sustainability,” Latham & Watkins Client Alert (January 2022)
  • “CEQA Case Report: 2020 Year in Review,” LW Environment, Land and Resources (2020)
  • “US Fish and Wildlife Service Continues Work to Narrow Application of Migratory Bird Treaty Act,” Latham & Watkins Article (June 2020)
  • “California Sets Standards for Holding Public Meetings During the COVID-19 Pandemic,” Latham & Watkins Article (May 2020)
  • “California WaterFix: an Historic Vote Is a Major Step Forward,” Latham & Watkins Article (July 2018)

Bar Qualification

  • California

Education

  • JD, University of Southern California Law School, 2019
  • LL.M. in Chinese Law, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 2015
  • BS, International Politics, Georgetown University, 2013
    magna cum laude