MARGARET CARAVELLI is a partner in the firm’s Washington, D.C., office and a member of the Energy Section and the Environmental & Natural Resources Section. She is a federal policy attorney who counsels businesses, associations and other clients on energy, environmental and transportation matters. With over a dozen years of experience in federal policy, Margaret has handled complex legislative and regulatory matters both on and off Capitol Hill. Utilizing her expertise in developing and executing legislative strategies to shape public policy, Margaret helps clients solve regulatory and legislative challenges in order to achieve business objectives. Prior to joining Balch & Bingham, Margaret served for a decade as lead counsel on Clean Air Act (CAA) issues for the three congressional committees with jurisdiction over the law and the Environmental Protection Agency, including the U.S. Senate Committee on Environment & Public Works; the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Science, Space and Technology; and the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Energy and Commerce. In addition to her Capitol Hill experience, she previously managed the federal and state affairs of two trade associations representing petroleum refiners and petrochemical manufacturers.
Margaret’s extensive experience with federal policy allows her to counsel clients on issues such as climate change and stationary and mobile source emissions. She regularly navigates the complexities of federal and state environmental and energy policy and regulation, including climate change policy and regulation. She maintains a unique understanding of the legislative process, including extensive legislative drafting experience and substantive knowledge of the procedural tools available as policy moves through the legislative and, once enacted, the regulatory implementation process. This experience enables her to provide practical and effective counsel and advice to clients as they interact at the federal and state level with various governmental and nongovernmental entities. Further, her time counseling the refining and petrochemical industries provides her with a comprehensive understanding of the regulated community’s legal and policy priorities and concerns.
GOVERNMENTAL EXPERIENCE
From 2004 to 2006, Margaret served as counsel on the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Energy & Commerce. Margaret was responsible for all legislative activity regarding the Clean Air Act including the planning and conducting of legislative and oversight hearings on multi-emissions, climate change, coal and transportation fuels. She interacted regularly with senior officials at the Environmental Protection Agency, Department of Energy, Department of Transportation and the White House Council on Environmental Quality.
From 2007 to 2012, Margaret served as chief counsel on the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Science, Space and Technology. In that capacity, Margaret was the chief legal advisor to the chairman and members of the Committee on all legislative, procedural and jurisdictional matters. She functioned as the principal committee liaison to House leadership, other committees and the U.S. Senate. Margaret supervised the work of a legal and professional staff of 20.
From 2013 through 2014, Margaret was the senior Clean Air Act counsel on the U.S. Senate Committee on Environment & Public Works. Margaret was responsible for all activity related to the Clean Air Act, including managing a portfolio of issues consisting of new and existing power plant greenhouse gas emissions regulatory proposals, the renewable fuels standard (RFS) and the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS). In additional to conducting multiple oversight hearings, she was the lead counsel responsible for the confirmation process of the EPA Administrator.
TRADE ASSOCIATION/PRIVATE SECTOR EXPERIENCE
From 2002 to 2004, Margaret managed the federal and state relations programs of the Oxygenated Fuels Association, the major trade association representing the producers of oxygenate compounds used in reformulated gasoline. Margaret counseled member companies on matters relating to federal and state legislation as it related to motor vehicle and renewable fuels. She advocated on behalf of OFA with the U.S. Congress, the Executive Branch and government agencies. She supervised the activities of outside law firms engaged to assist in federal and state level litigation of environmental regulation.
From 2006 to 2007, Margaret was senior legislative and federal affairs counsel for the American Fuel and Petrochemical Manufacturers (formerly the National Petrochemical & Refiners Association (NPRA)), a national trade association with over 450 member companies, including almost all US refiners and petrochemical manufacturers. She counseled member companies on matters related to energy and environmental legislation, as well as relevant federal regulation.
