BUFFALO, N.Y. – Lippes Mathias announced that Christina D. Bonanni has joined the firm as a Senior Associate in its Washington, D.C. office. Christina, whose practice focuses mainly on matters involving environmental, energy, and natural resources law, will frequently work with Lippes Mathias' Environment & Energy, Litigation, and Real Estate practice teams.

 

Christina regularly advises clients on state and federal energy and environment regulations and compliance under the National Environment Policy Act (NEPA), National Forest Management Act (NFMA), Endangered Species Act (ESA), Clean Air Act (CAA), Natural Gas Act (NGA) and the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA). Christina has extensive experience performing environmental due diligence and compiling reports analyzing complex environmental laws for clients.

Christina acted as regulatory and litigation counsel on a major interstate natural gas pipeline project, which required approvals from various federal agencies, including the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, the U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Christina provided litigation support throughout this project at the federal appellate level and the U.S. Supreme Court regarding challenges to federal approvals under the Natural Gas Act, Mineral Leasing Act, and National Forest Management Act. Additionally, Christina served as regulatory and litigation counsel to the co-owners of a 345kV interstate transmission project in Iowa and Wisconsin that required defense of federal approvals and permits.

Christina is a 2015 graduate of The University at Michigan Law School and received her B.A. in Environmental Studies and Global Environmental Policy, and her M.S. in Environmental Science from American University.

Prior to law school, Christina worked at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as an Environmental Health Scientist, working within the Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS) Program, conducting risk assessments, and analyzing key chemicals and their impacts on human health and the environment. 

 

Lippes Mathias Wexler Friedman LLP is a full-service law firm with more than 130 attorneys serving clients regionally, nationally, and internationally. With offices in Buffalo, Albany and New York, N.Y.; Greater Toronto Area; Chicago, Ill.; Jacksonville, Fla.; and Washington, D.C., the firm represents publicly and privately-owned companies, private equity and venture capital firms, real estate developers, financial institutions, municipalities, governmental entities, and individuals.