William G. Malley

Bill Malley is partner in the Environment, Energy & Resources group, and is managing partner of the Washington, D.C. office. Bill represents project sponsors during all stages of the environmental review process for major infrastructure projects, including public-private partnerships (PPPs).  He has particular experience with transportation infrastructure projects, including highways and toll roads in West Virginia, Indiana, Maryland, Utah, North Carolina and Washington State. He also has advised clients on environmental reviews for many other types of projects, including a transit center, a rail line, several airports, a major international gas pipeline, a large rail-haul landfill, and the new headquarters complex for a large federal agency. Bill has in-depth knowledge of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act, 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 and Title 23 of the U.S. Code.

As outside counsel to a national association of state transportation agencies, Bill has been directly involved in the development of major federal surface transportation legislation, including the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU) and Moving Ahead for Progress in the 2st Century (MAP-21).  He also has participated in numerous USDOT rulemakings, including major revisions to transportation planning regulations in 2006 and major revisions to Section 4(f) regulations in 2008.  In addition, Bill serves as outside counsel to a coalition promoting electrification of transportation vehicles.  He is familiar with a wide range of federal laws, regulations and policies affecting vehicle electrification, including vehicle emission standards, battery regulations and consumer incentives. 

Bill also advises clients in several sectors regarding the potential implications of federal climate change legislation and policies with a particular focus on policies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the transportation sector.  Bill has spoken extensively on federal climate change policy to diverse audiences including the Transportation Research Board and the Environmental Law Institute.  He also authored the 2008 publication, "A Primer on Transportation and Climate Change."

Bill has represented clients in federal district and appellate court litigation arising under the Administrative Procedure Act (APA).  He has particular experience representing project sponsors in the defense of challenges to federal agency approvals for infrastructure projects.  In this capacity, he also has experience in the negotiation of complex multi-party settlements that avoid or resolve federal litigation, allowing projects to move forward to construction. 

Bill is a frequent speaker at transportation industry, renewable energy and environmental conferences.  He also comments occasionally on federal legislation and policy developments affecting the transportation, energy and environmental fields.  He has been quoted in leading publications, including the New York Times, Dallas Morning News, Energy & Environment, Energy Daily, BNA, Law360 and others.

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Professional Recognition

• American Bar Association, Section on Environment, Energy, and Natural Resources, Environmental Impact Assessment Committee – Vice-Chair for Programs
• District of Columbia Bar Association, Environment, Energy, and Natural Resources Section
• Transportation Research Board, Environmental Analysis in Transportation Committee
• Transportation Research Board, Environmental Issues in Transportation Law Committee
• Road Gang

Related Employment

• Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP, Washington, D.C., Partner, 2000 - 2007
• Cutler & Stanfield LLP, Washington, D.C., Associate/Partner, 1993 - 2000

Clerkships

• Hon. José A. Cabranes, Chief Judge, U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut, 1992 - 1993