Kerensa H. Gimre

Associate

Washington, D.C.

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202.661.5864 direct

KGimre@perkinscoie.com

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Kerensa Gimre counsels clients on complex regulatory compliance and permitting issues under state and federal environmental and natural resource laws, including the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), Clean Water Act (CWA), National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA), Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), and Endangered Species Act (ESA).

As a component of her compliance and permitting practice, Kerensa is well-versed in helping clients navigate enforcement actions undertaken by state and federal agencies. She also has significant experience counseling clients on rulemaking proceedings and assisting in environmental litigation.

Kerensa's counseling and compliance advice covers a wide range of additional regulated areas, including advising clients on chemical and substance restrictions in products, including polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), and counseling clients on regulations applicable to the travel industry, such as state and local restrictions on short-term rentals. As an extension of her environmental counseling and compliance practice, Kerensa also advises food and beverage industry clients on regulatory matters with the USDA, FDA, and EPA, including product labeling, licensing, and registration.

Kerensa earned her J.D. from the University of California, Berkeley, with a certificate in public interest and social justice law. She was awarded pro bono honors of the highest distinction for her significant contributions to pro bono matters, including working with the Appalachian Citizens' Law Center, a nonprofit organization in Appalachia that fights for justice for coal miners and their families. She also worked with the Harvard Food Law & Policy Clinic, authoring a report on date labeling laws and policies globally, and the impact of date labeling on food loss and waste.

Prior to her career in law, Kerensa was a senior environmental consultant at Ramboll. In this role, she conducted socioeconomic impact assessments for a range of private and public sector clients in water and energy infrastructure spaces. She also managed and evaluated large environmental sampling databases through geospatial analysis and geographic information system (GIS) mapping to support litigation, particularly in cost allocation and insurance recovery cases.

Areas of focus

Industries

Energy Infrastructure & Clean Technology

Retail & Consumer Products

Food & Beverage

Outdoor

Services

Environment, Energy & Resources

Climate Law

Infrastructure Development

Environmental Litigation

Education & Credentials

Education

UC Berkeley School of Law, J.D., Public Interest and Social Justice Certificate, Pro Bono Honors with Highest Distinction
University of Cambridge, M.Phil., Environmental Policy
The University of Arizona, M.S., Applied Mathematics
Stanford University, M.S., Civil and Environmental Engineering
Pacific University, B.S., Math and Physics, magna cum laude

Bar and Court Admissions

District of Columbia

U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit

Related Employment

Perkins Coie LLP, Washington, D.C., Summer Associate, 2020
Ramboll (formerly ENVIRON), Arlington, VA, Senior Consultant, 2017-2020; Consultant, 2015-2017
Perkins Coie LLP, Washington, D.C., Summer Associate, 2020
Ramboll (formerly ENVIRON), Arlington, VA, Senior Consultant, 2017-2020; Consultant, 2015-2017

Impact

Community Involvement

American Bar Association’s Year in Review, Biodiversity Committee, Vice Chair
Amica Center for Immigrant Rights, Legal Advisory Committee, Member
American Bar Association’s Year in Review, Biodiversity Committee, Vice Chair
Amica Center for Immigrant Rights, Legal Advisory Committee, Member

Professional Experience

Experience

Save Long Beach Island v. U.S. Department of Commerce (D.N.J.)

U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey
Represent trade association as amicus curiae in case challenging NOAA’s issuance of authorizations under Marine Mammal Protection Act to offshore wind companies with leases in New York Bight (pending).

Save Long Beach Island v. U.S. Department of the Interior (D.D.C.)

U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia
Represent amici nonprofit organizations, including trade associations, that promote renewable energy in challenge to the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management’s (BOEM) offshore wind energy leasing program in the New York Bight. Drafted amicus brief in support of motion to dismiss filed by government, which was granted (pending).

Northern Alaska Environmental Center v. Haaland
Alatna Village Council v. Padgett

U.S. District Court for the District of Alaska
Represent intervenor-defendant mining company in cases challenging permits for a new, State-constructed road in north-central Alaska that will cross federal lands and water bodies. The plaintiffs assert claims under NEPA, Federal Lands Policy and Management Act, Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act (ANILCA), NHPA, and CWA (pending).