Albert M. Ferlo

Albert Ferlo, an of counsel in the firm's Environment, Energy & Resources practice, has more than 30 years of experience in environmental law. He served for 14 years as both a trial and senior appellate attorney in the Environmental and Natural Resources Division of the Department of Justice, where he litigated major cases in the natural resource and regulatory areas.

Albert has over 30 years of experience representing project sponsors throughout the environmental review process for major infrastructure projects, including highways, transit systems and airports. During his years at the U.S. Department of Justice, he represented both the FAA and the FHWA in cases challenging agency approvals of airport and highway developments. In 1994, he was the lead federal attorney representing the FAA in a challenge to FAA's approval of the expansion of the Dallas-Fort Worth Airport. While in private practice Ferlo was the lead attorney representing Los Angeles World Airports in its successful effort to obtain FAA approval of its master plan improvements for the Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). Albert has in-depth knowledge of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), Section 404 of the Clean Water Act, Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act, Section 4(f) of the U.S. Department of Transportation Act, Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act, and Title 23 of the U.S. Code, and FAA Orders 1050 and 5050.

Albert also advises solar project sponsors on environmental reviews and entitlement issues for development of solar projects on public land. He was instrumental in obtaining federal approvals needed for one of the largest concentrated solar development projects in the U.S. He has extensive experience in issues arising under the statutes and regulations governing the use of land administered by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and the Forest Service, including the Federal Land Policy and Management Act (FLPMA) and the National Forest Management Act.

In addition to his extensive counseling experience, Albert has extensive litigation experience. He has prepared briefs and argued cases in nearly every U.S. federal circuit court. From 1997 until 2001, he served as the counselor to the chief of the USDA Forest Service, where he was involved in all major legal and policy aspects of the agency's environmental compliance efforts.

Professional Recognition

• U.S.D.A. Forest Service, Chief's Award for Excellence, 2000
• U.S. Department of Justice, John Marshall Award for Outstanding Legal Achievement, 1997
• U.S. Department of Justice, Environment and Natural Resources Division, Special Commendation, 1985

Professional Leadership

• Environmental Law Institute, Instructor – Endangered Species Act, Environmental Law Boot Camp, 2008 - 2010

Related Employment

• Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld, 2001 - 2008
• U.S.D.A. Forest Service, Counselor to the Chief, 1997 - 2001
• U.S. Department of Justice, Environment and Natural Resources Division, Appellate Section, 1979 - 1986 and 1990 - 1997