Clients rely on Karma’s extensive experience with permitting and litigation under the Clean Water Act, the National Environmental Policy Act and the Endangered Species Act. Karma has been at the forefront of many precedent-setting cases in the natural resources sector, litigating high profile and complex cases across the country. She represents clients across industries, including national trade associations, pipelines, electric utilities, solid waste companies, developers, and water agencies. Karma’s practice focuses on a wide range of environmental and administrative law issues, with an emphasis on litigation and regulatory compliance with the Clean Water Act (CWA), the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), and the Endangered Species Act (ESA), and on the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA). Karma is widely regarded for her ability to negotiate settlements with the Department of Justice in controversial matters, and clients value her ability to work collaboratively with industry coalitions, states, the federal government and technical consultants.

Karma represents cross-industry coalitions on a wide range of issues, such as the Nationwide Permits (NWPs) and the scope of federally regulated “waters of the United States” (WOTUS) under the CWA, the criteria for designation of critical habitat and listing decisions under the ESA, and CEQ’s NEPA rules. On the regulatory side, Karma has significant experience drafting comments on administrative rulemakings and advising clients and their technical consultants on the preparation of NEPA, ESA, and CWA permitting documents, including keeping clients apprised of continually evolving policy and regulatory clarifications. And a significant portion of Karma’s practice involves managing the environmental aspects of complex business transactions and major development projects. Karma draws upon her extensive experience in both litigation and transactional matters to balance clients’ business objectives with the practical aspects of the case.

Karma speaks regularly on a wide variety of topics, including administrative and environmental law, and has undertaken significant pro bono work, representing detainees at Guantánamo Bay in habeas corpus proceedings and numerous asylum applicants before the Department of Homeland Security. She served as a member of the firm’s pro bono committee and charitable giving committee and received the firm’s E. Randolph Williams Award for Outstanding Pro Bono Service.

Karma was an adjunct professor at The George Washington University Law School from 2007 to 2009. Before joining the firm, she was an attorney-advisor in the Solicitor’s Honors Program at the US Department of the Interior, Office of the Solicitor, and a judicial law clerk to the Honorable Francis M. Allegra of the US Court of Federal Claims, Washington, DC.

Bar Admissions

Education
JD, The George Washington University Law School, with high honors, articles editor, The George Washington International Law Review; Order of the Coif, 2000

BA, Northwestern University, 1996

• Represent coalition of national agricultural and industry associations in litigation challenging rules issued by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) under CWA section 404.
• Represent coalition of trade associations in litigation challenging the Corps’ Nationwide Permit 12. 
• Represent large landholder in administrative appeal of Corps jurisdictional determination.
• Prepare amicus briefs for various industry and agricultural interests on CWA and ESA cases before the U.S. Supreme Court and U.S. Courts of Appeals.
• Represent major waste management company in CERCLA and Natural Resource Damages litigation and alternative dispute resolution proceedings.
• Negotiate settlement of litigation arising under Section 404 of the CWA and advise clients on compliance with complex consent decrees.
• Prepare comments on EPA and Corps rulemakings and guidance under the CWA and Fish & Wildlife Service and National Marine Fisheries Service rulemakings under the ESA.
• Represent land developers on issues relating to Corps jurisdictional determinations and the use of general permits under Section 404 of the CWA.
• Advise natural gas pipeline company regarding abandonment in place of offshore pipelines.

• Member, Legal Action Committee, National Association of Home Builders, 2012 to present
• Member, Legal Affairs Committee, National Association of Clean Water Agencies
• Vice Chair, Endangered Species Committee, American Bar Association Section on Environment, Energy, and Resources, 2008 to 2010
• Adjunct Professor, The George Washington University Law School, 2007 to 2009
• Member, American Bar Association Section on Environment, Energy, and Resources
• Member, Northern Virginia Home Builders Association
• Member, Legal Action Network for Development Strategies

• 2017 Chambers USA Environment Law Firm of the Year
• Selected as Environmental “Super Lawyer” by Washington, DC Super Lawyers Magazine, 2013 to 2017
• Named among Law360 Environmental Rising Stars, 2012
• Beacon of Justice Award, National Legal Aid & Defender Association, 2007
• E. Randolph Williams Award for Outstanding Pro Bono Service, Hunton & Williams LLP, 2003 to 2008

• Final Critical Habitat Rules and Policy May Result in Substantial Impacts to Land Use Without Commensurate Wildlife Benefits, American Bar Association Trends
• EPA's Unprecedented Exercise of Authority Under Clean Water Act Section 404(c), American Bar Association Section on Environment, Energy, and Resources, In-House Counsel Committee Newsletter
• Update on the EPA and Corps Unlawful Attempts to Expand Their Clean Water Act Jurisdiction Without Following Proper Rulemaking Procedures, Maryland-National Capital Building Industry Association
• Behind Closed Doors: The Quiet Expansion of the Wetlands Landscape, National Wetlands Newsletter, Vol. 35, No. 4