Meghan E. Gavin
CONSULTANT
Seattle
Direct Line: (292) 292-2655
[email protected]
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Partner, Cascadia Policy Solutions LLC and Cascadia Law Group PLLC (Seattle and Olympia). Meghan practices environmental, natural resources, and federal Indian law. She represents Indian Tribes, startups, universities, private project developers, and municipalities, helping them to deploy first-of-its kind technologies that mitigate greenhouse gas emissions or build resiliency in an environmentally responsible and culturally sensitive manner.
PROFESSIONAL
Meghan advises clients on siting and permitting climate-friendly infrastructure projects. This work involves analyzing and determining preferential pathways for regulatory compliance, identifying federal and state incentives, and formulating outreach and engagement strategies incorporating environmental and climate justice.
She also drafts legislative and policy proposals, such as model legislation regarding carbon dioxide removal technologies and a report to Washington’s Governor’s Office recommending a governance structure for meeting the State’s climate commitments.
Meghan drafts and reviews contracts, such as for the purchase and sale of renewable natural gas and credit offtake agreements.
She represents clients in negotiations with regulatory agencies and in federal and state court at the district and appellate levels.
Meghan joined Cascadia from the chambers of the Honorable Ronald B. Leighton, District Judge for the Western District of Washington, where she served as a two-year term law clerk.
Meghan also worked as an extern for the Department of Justice’s Environment and Natural Resources Division, Environmental Defense Section; the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit; and the Natural Resources Defense Council.
HONORS AND RECOGNITION
Delegate, United Nations Climate Change Conference, COP25 (Spain, Dec. 2019) and COP27 (Egypt, Nov. 2022)
Invited by XPRIZE Carbon Removal to join Partner Profile
Selected for World Commission on Environmental Law, IUCN
Selected for Emerging Leaders Initiative, Environmental Law Institute
Named SuperLawyer Rising Star in Environmental Litigation (2018–present)
BAR AND CIVIC ACTIVITIES
Governance Committee, Building Tribal Leadership in Carbon Removal (Member, 2023)
Yale University, Carbon Containment Lab (Advisor, 2023)
Sabin Center for Climate Change Law, Columbia University (Pro bono legal reviewer, 2023)
Board of Directors, Arctic Encounter (Treasurer, 2018–present)
Exec. Committee, WSBA Environmental and Land Use Law Section (Treasurer, 2019–22)
International Alliance to Combat Ocean Acidification (Volunteer, 2022)
Cascadia Innovation Corridor, Climate and Sustainability Subcommittee (Volunteer, 2019–20)
Alumni Board, Bellarmine Preparatory School (2016–18)
PRESENTATIONS
Northwest Bioenergy Summit (October, 2023)
WA State Bar Association, Environmental and Land Use Law Section (May, 2023)
Education
Certified Expert in Financing NDCs, Frankfurt School of Finance and Management and United Nations Collaborating Centre for Climate & Sustainable Energy Finance, 2021
J.D., University of Washington School of Law, 2015 (Environmental law concentration; trained in mediation)
Adv. Certificate in Conservation Biology, Fordham University Graduate School of A&S, 2011
B.A., Boston College, 2010
