Shennie Patel

Overview

Shennie Patel, a former Trial Attorney in the U.S. Department of Justice’s Environmental Crimes Section, represents corporate and individual clients in environmental defense and natural resources litigation, internal investigations, regulatory compliance assistance, and related white-collar cases. Shennie counsels clients on large-scale, complex environmental enforcement defense strategies on both the civil and criminal sides, providing advice in responding to government investigations and inspections from federal agencies including the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Labor. She works on issues regarding key provisions of environmental laws including the Occupational Safety and Health Act, the Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act, the Toxic Substances Control Act, the Act to Prevent Pollution from Ships, and the Endangered Species Act.

During her twenty-one-year career with the DOJ, Shennie led investigation teams and prosecuted a variety of cases, primarily environmental, working with agencies including the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), U.S. Department of Interior, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and U.S. Department of Labor. Before joining the Environmental Crimes Section, Shennie was an attorney-advisor with the DOJ’s Office of Intelligence, where she worked on national security terrorism investigations, handling Top Secret intelligence information. She started her career with the DOJ as a trial attorney in the Civil Rights Special Litigation and Housing Sections, investigating systemic violations.

Prior to joining the DOJ, Shennie worked for the U.S. Office of Special Counsel, in private practice, and in a two-year federal clerkship in the Western District of Texas for the (late) Honorable Lucius D. Bunton, III.

Shennie is a recipient of the Bronze Medal for Commendable Service from the U.S. EPA and several Special Achievement Awards from the U.S. Attorney General.

Career & Education

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Department of Justice
Trial Attorney, Environmental Crimes Section, 2009–2023
Special Assistant U.S. Attorney, Major Crimes, U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland, 2008–2009
Attorney-Advisor, Office of Intelligence, National Security Division, 2005–2008
Trial Attorney, Special Litigation and Housing Sections, Civil Rights Division, 2002–2005
U.S. Office of Special Counsel
Attorney, 2001–2002
- Department of Justice
  Trial Attorney, Environmental Crimes Section, 2009–2023
  Special Assistant U.S. Attorney, Major Crimes, U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland, 2008–2009
  Attorney-Advisor, Office of Intelligence, National Security Division, 2005–2008
  Trial Attorney, Special Litigation and Housing Sections, Civil Rights Division, 2002–2005
- U.S. Office of Special Counsel
  Attorney, 2001–2002
Associate, Federal Litigation- Cotton, Bledsoe, Tighe & Dawson P.C., 1998–2000
- Associate, Federal Litigation- Cotton, Bledsoe, Tighe & Dawson P.C., 1998–2000
University of Houston, B.A., cum laude, sociology/anthropology, 1991
University of Houston Law Center, J.D., Recipient, Dean’s Scholarship, 1996
- University of Houston, B.A., cum laude, sociology/anthropology, 1991
- University of Houston Law Center, J.D., Recipient, Dean’s Scholarship, 1996
District of Columbia
Texas (Inactive)
- District of Columbia
- Texas (Inactive)
Law Clerk to Judge Lucius D. Bunton, III, U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas, 1998
- Law Clerk to Judge Lucius D. Bunton, III, U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas, 1998

I pride myself on being able to demystify the environmental enforcement process, criminal or civil, for non-prosecutors, and I look forward to working with clients so they understand what agency investigators and prosecutors are looking for, and how to handle negotiations with the government. Crowell offers a great opportunity to bring my public service experience to the table and make sure clients are prepared.

— Shennie Patel

Shennie's Insights

Press Coverage | 06.13.24

Attorneys Warn OECA Criminal-Civil Policy May Chill Industry Cooperation

Press Coverage | 05.09.24
Despite ‘Gaps,’ Lawyers Say OECA Policy Could Boost Criminal Cases
Client Alert | 4 min read | 05.08.24
EPA’s Busy April for CERCLA and PFAS:
New CERCLA Authority, an Enforcement Escape Hatch, and the Continued Search for Viable Cleanup Technologies
Press Coverage | 05.06.24
New EPA Policy Could Increase Criminal Enforcement

View All Insights

Recognition

U.S. Department of Justice, Environment and Natural Resources Division, Special Achievement Awards from the Attorney General, 2015, 2014; Outstanding Performance Rating Awards from the Attorney General, 2015, 2012, 2010
U.S. Department of Justice, National Security Division, Meritorious Award from the Attorney General, 2007; Special Achievement Award from the Attorney General, 2007
U.S. Department of Justice, U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of North Carolina, Commendation Award from the U.S. Attorney, 2010
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Bronze Medal for Commendable Service, 2014
Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission, Award of Excellence, 2019
Maryland Department of Natural Resources Police Department, Superintendent’s Letter of Appreciation, 2014
U.S. Coast Guard, Meritorious Public Service Award, 2013
U.S. Office of Special Counsel, Special Act / Service Award, 2001
U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas, Special Service Awards, 1997, 1998