Douglas Benevento

An environmental regulatory attorney with deep government and policy expertise, Doug guides clients on complex compliance matters.

Doug brings a sophisticated understanding of environmental policy and compliance from his high-level leadership roles at federal and state agencies, including serving as the EPA Acting Deputy Administrator and the EPA Region 8 Administrator. Doug also worked in the United States Congress where he worked on major environmental and infrastructure legislation. He draws on this expertise and strong working relationships with regulators across the Mountain West and in Washington, DC to advocate for client solutions through policy, regulatory, legal and legislative avenues.

Doug guides companies to understand and respond to the cutting edge regulatory impacts energy and environmental issues like climate change, emerging contaminants like PFAS, environmental justice, and other enforcement and regulatory challenges. As the former Executive Director of the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, clients turn to Doug for his public health background and ability to proactively identify and develop solutions. He is also currently serving as President of Douglas County, Colorado Board of Health.

His role as a senior executive at Xcel Energy, gives him valuable insight into the challenges corporations face navigating with complex regulatory regimes, myriad regulations. He counsels companies from diverse sectors in the development of permitting and compliance strategies, and represents clients in enforcement actions and rulemaking proceedings before state and federal agencies.