Hi, I’m Cat. I’m an environmental lawyer, conservation advocate, legal researcher, and writer

Latest reflections

Coming Soon!
Rescinding the Roadless Rule: The Path Ahead

by Catarina Conran
Deep Dive | TBD

Since June, the USDA has been working to rescind the 2001 Roadless Area Conservation Rule (better known as the "roadless rule"), a landmark protection that has safeguarded nearly 45 million acres of the nation’s last undeveloped forest lands from roads and logging for a quarter of a century. Rescinding the roadless rule would fragment essential wildlife habitats, putting hundreds of endangered species at risk, polluting drinking water relied upon by millions of Americans, and quadrupling the risk of human-caused wildfires...

Hidden in Coal Country: The Unique Biodiversity of the Clinch River

by Catarina Conran
Deep Dive | 10/25

Tucked away in the heart of Appalachia, the Clinch River looks unassuming at first glance. However, this 135 mile stretch of river is home to one of the most biologically rich ecosystems in the United States. Unfortunately, this remarkable biodiversity is under threat from declining water quality (the legacy of local coal mining operations) and unsustainable agricultural practices...

The Cost of Intelligence: AI Data Centers and the Environment

by Catarina Conran
Deep Dive | 8/25

Artificial intelligence may be digital, but it has a very real footprint. The rapid proliferation of massive data centers is reshaping landscapes, draining water supplies, and straining power grids. If our legal frameworks fail to adapt, the race to expand AI infrastructure could erode protections for land, water, and biodiversity just when we need them most...

Vanishing Islands and the Future of the Chesapeake Bay

by Catarina Conran
Deep Dive | 6/25

In the Chesapeake Bay, shorelines have always shifted. But over the last century, the pace of change has accelerated. Entire islands that once supported vibrant communities have slipped beneath the waves. Without intervention, USGS warns that many more of the Bay’s islands and marshlands could disappear within just a few decades...

Nature's Genetic Fingerprints (eDNA & eRNA)

by Catarina Conran
Quick Take | 2/25

By collecting samples of water, soil, and even air scientists are able to identify what species are present in a particular environment. In practice, this means a single water sample can reveal fish, amphibians, invertebrates, and even microscopic organisms that traditional surveys might miss...

The Death of Deference: Conservation in the Post-Chevron Era

by Catarina Conran
Deep Dive | 10/24

With the end of Chevron deference, judges are now deciding statutory meaning for themselves with no obligation to defer to the technical or scientific judgments of agencies. This seismic shift raises immediate challenges for environmental advocates. Statutes that were once interpreted flexibly in favor of agency expertise are now vulnerable to restrictive readings in court...

Wetlands After Sackett

by Catarina Conran
Quick Take | 9/24

By narrowing the definition of protected wetlands, Sackett risks accelerating both biodiversity loss and climate instability...

My mission

I believe in the power of law to protect communities, conserve natural resources, and ensure justice in the face of today’s greatest challenges. From environmental protection to access to justice, I am deeply committed to using my skills in legal research, writing, and advocacy to serve the public good.At the same time, I bring experience across regulatory compliance, nonprofit governance, and environmental science – a broad foundation that allows me to navigate new and complex legal landscapes with clarity and precision.

Biography

I’m an attorney with dual J.D./M.A. training in Law and Environmental Science with a passion for public service. I focus on environmental and administrative litigation, advocacy, and regulatory work, bringing exceptional research and writing skills to courts, communities, and organizations.I’ve represented community members in environmental justice disputes, supported litigation under the Clean Water and Clean Air Acts, drafted public comments on agency rulemakings, proposed revisions to federal regulations, and advised nonprofit organizations on governance and compliance. My work has included drafting litigation briefs, analyzing regulatory frameworks, and producing plain-language materials that help both lawyers and laymen make sense of technical and scientific issues.Earlier in my career, I earned the highest new-associate performance review in the history of Keller & Heckman LLP for the quality of my research and writing. I’ve also served on the editorial boards of both the Virginia Law Review and the Virginia Environmental Law Journal (where I also served as Executive Editor), further honing my skills in editing, analysis, and precise legal writing.Alongside my environmental work, I have engaged in projects touching on human rights, access to justice, and emerging technology. This breadth of experience reflects both my curiosity and my dedication to public service, while reinforcing the common thread of my career: producing rigorous, effective legal work that makes a difference.

Key areas of interest

  • Environmental & Conservation Law – Federal and state environmental statutes; protected areas, biodiversity, and land conservation; cultural heritage law

  • Legal Research & Writing – Drafting briefs, motions, memoranda, regulatory comments, and publications with clarity and precision

  • Litigation – Civil and administrative litigation, statutory interpretation, appellate and trial-level research and writing

  • Regulatory Analysis – Assessing compliance obligations under federal and state frameworks; translating complex regulatory developments into actionable strategies

  • Public Service & Advocacy – Environmental justice, nonprofit governance, pro bono service (human rights, estate planning, constitutional rights)

  • Interdisciplinary Collaboration – Working with scientists, technical experts, and community stakeholders to align legal advocacy with evidence-based outcomes

My experience

  • Drafting litigation briefs and motions under the Clean Water Act, Clean Air Act, and state environmental laws

  • Supporting environmental enforcement matters in coordination with regulators and technical experts

  • Researching and analyzing federal and state permitting and compliance frameworks

  • Advising community clients on environmental justice disputes

  • Summarizing technical evidence into clear, persuasive advocacy materials

  • Advising nonprofits on compliance, governance, and charitable strategy

  • Contributing to pro bono matters spanning environmental advocacy, human rights, constitutional litigation, and access to justice for vulnerable populations

  • Publishing in leading legal journal on environmental and natural resource law

Legal publications

Monumental Change? Rethinking the Role of the Courts in the Antiquities Act → Catarina Conran, 2022, Virginia Environmental Law Journal

Levees Against the Rising Tide: Protecting Underwater Cultural Heritage From Climate Change Threats
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Catarina Conran, 2023, University of Virginia