Subscribe

  • How Can We Help You?

    Global Problem Solving from Covington: Deal with Complex Problems Anywhere in the World

Hein_Jayni-Foley_1000x714_ENV

Jayni F. Hein

Of Counsel

San Francisco +1 415 591 7011

  • About
  • Representative Matters
  • Credentials
  • About

    Jayni F. Hein co-chairs the firm’s Carbon Management and Climate Mitigation industry group.

    Jayni joins the firm after serving as Senior Director for Clean Energy, Infrastructure & the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) at the White House Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ).

    During her tenure at CEQ, she oversaw the Biden Administration’s ambitious environmental and clean energy agenda, leading work on low carbon projects and climate disclosure, and advancing the successful implementation of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (2021) and Inflation Reduction Act (2022).

    Jayni has extensive experience advising clients on climate and environmental laws and regulations, including the Clean Air Act, NEPA, and Endangered Species Act, as well as corporate decarbonization goals and reporting. Leveraging her senior government experience, Jayni advises companies and investors on compliance and strategy in light of increased scrutiny of corporate climate and net-zero commitments. She advises clients on the legal and policy issues relating to ESG and climate-related regulatory requirements, investor demands, global reporting frameworks, and strategic business opportunities.

    In addition, as the former senior political appointee spearheading work to revise permitting regulations and issue guidance on climate change and greenhouse gas emissions, Jayni offers clients first-hand experience with infrastructure projects that require federal and state permits and authorization. She helps clients identify new funding opportunities and successfully advance clean energy and other infrastructure projects, including onshore and offshore wind, solar, hydrogen, transmission, semiconductor, and carbon, capture, and sequestration (CCS) projects.

    Clients benefit from her ability to creatively troubleshoot issues, establish relationships across government, and engage policymakers, industry, non-profit organizations, and other key stakeholders in constructive conversations around climate change, environmental justice, and corporate decarbonization goals.

    Areas of Expertise

  • Practices and Industries
  • Representative Matters
    • Provide regulatory counsel to financial institutions, technology companies, and multinational corporations regarding energy and climate regulation, climate disclosure requirements, carbon markets, and green marketing claims.
    • Provide permitting and regulatory counsel to developers and organizations on clean energy and low carbon infrastructure projects, government awards, and relevant permits and approvals.
    • Represented energy utilities, transportation companies, and manufacturers in Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, NEPA, CERCLA, and state regulatory proceedings.
    • Represented transportation companies in state and federal environmental and safety regulatory proceedings, as well as federal preemption challenges to state laws.
    • Represented civil rights organizations in an amicus brief in support of PEN America, Penguin Random House, and a diverse group of authors in a federal lawsuit challenging removals and restrictions of books from public school libraries.

    Areas of Expertise

  • Credentials
    Education
    • University of California, Berkeley School of Law, J.D.
        • Order of the Coif
        • Certificate in Environmental Law
    • Harvard Law School
        • Harvard–Berkeley Exchange Program
    • University of Virginia, B.A.
        • with highest distinction
        • Phi Beta Kappa
    Bar Admissions
    • California
    • U.S. Supreme Court
    • U.S. District Court, Northern District of California
    • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit
    Government Experience
    • White House
    Memberships and Affiliations
    • Adjunct Professor of Law, New York University School of Law (2017-2021)
    • Co-author, Environmental Law & Policy (University Casebook Series)
    Previous Experience
    • White House Council on Environmental Quality, Senior Director for Clean Energy, Infrastructure & NEPA (2021-2023)
    • Institute for Policy Integrity, New York University School of Law, Natural Resources Director (2014-2021)
    • Center for Law, Energy & the Environment, University of California, Berkeley School of Law, Executive Director (2011-2014)

    Areas of Expertise

Malibu California Aerial_CovLibrary-transform

Insights

Landmark California Climate-Related Disclosures Videos

News and Insights

Events