Overview
Micaela Hyams focuses her practice on energy and environmental matters, advising clients on regulatory and policy issues. Situated across practice groups, Micaela is poised to support clients at the nexuses of environment and energy, including the energy transition. On the energy side, Micaela's work focuses on assisting regulated energy companies in compliance and enforcement issues before the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. On the environmental side, Micaela supports a wide range of clients in the chemicals and life sciences industries in compliance and policy under several federal statutes, including those administered by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB).
Micaela maintains a robust pro bono practice. During law school Micaela focused on voter protection advocacy work in multiple capacities and has continued that work at Steptoe, serving with Steptoe's Voter Protection Hotline. Micaela is also passionate about access to outdoor recreation and was part of a Steptoe team that advocated on behalf of a pro bono client to successfully secure year-round pedestrian access to Washington’s Rock Creek Park. In law school, Micaela served as a law clerk for the US Department of Justice Environment and Natural Resources Division.
- Maryland
- District of Columbia
- J.D., The Pennsylvania State University, Penn State Law, 2022, summa cum laude, Rupprecht Valedictorian Award
- B.S., The University of Oregon, 2016, Phi Beta Kappa, Environmental Science; Political Science
Representative Matters
Energy
- Advising an electric utility in Section 205 rate proceedings, including through technical conference and settlement proceedings.
- Advising a natural gas pipeline with regard to its obligations under Section 7(c) of the Natural Gas Act.
- Advising a regulated entity in an enforcement matter before FERC's Office of Enforcement.
- Advised electric utilities and natural gas and oil pipelines in FERC regulatory requirements, with a special focus on novel ratemaking and tariff questions.
Environmental and Chemicals
- Advised natural gas pipeline regarding environmental regulation of landfill gas.
- Provided policy advice regarding EPA's authority to regulate non-hazardous waste recycling under RCRA.
Pro Bono
- Advised a Washington-area nonprofit in NEPA matters arising from the National Park Service's actions, ultimately resulting in a favorable outcome for the client without litigation.
- Was part of a team that filed a petition for certiorari before the US Supreme Court on behalf of a veteran and his spouse under USERRA and the Due Process Clause.