Jessica Ann Bernardini
About Jessica
Jessica Bernardini is a member of the firm’s environmental team. Her practice focuses on providing clients with regulatory advice and representation in energy and environmental law matters.
Jessica works on complex, multi-party, federal and state Superfund sites involving claims under the federal Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) and its state law equivalents; assists clients with environmental permitting and compliance issues; and handles settlement negotiation or appeals of environmental penalties.
Jessica’s environmental law expertise is bolstered by her more than 10 years of experience as an engineering consultant to private and public entities. In this capacity, she concentrated on environmental permitting and compliance and the design of waste management and renewable energy development projects.
Before joining Miller Nash, Jessica practiced at law firms in Oregon where she focused on energy and environmental matters. In this role, she handled contested cases before the Public Utility Commission of Oregon and the Energy Facility Siting Council. She also completed a secondment at Avangrid Renewables, LLC.
Representative Experience
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Environmental Plus
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Regularly represented a variety of manufacturing and commercial operations to come into or maintain compliance with state, municipal, and local stormwater regulations.
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Assisted manufacturing clients with regulatory compliance of latest PFAS laws regulating food packaging and consumer products.
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Successfully negotiated or defeated citizen suits brought against clients under the Clean Water Act.
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Provided environmental due diligence for the financing of renewable energy projects, which involved multiple state and federal environmental regulations, as well as contract drafting and negotiation.
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Successfully negotiated settlements of environmental enforcement actions.
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Represented large manufacturing company in the remediation design phase of the Portland Harbor Superfund Site.
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Activities
- Oregon State Bar, Environmental and Natural Resources Section, Executive Committee Member, 2023–present
- Victim Rights Law Center, Pro Bono Attorney, 2021-present
- Lewis & Clark Law School, Small Business Legal Clinic, Pro Bono Attorney, 2021-2023
Insights from Jessica
- “Leveraging Mandatory Licensing Under the Clean Air Act—a Novel Framework to Domestic Reduction of Greenhouse Gases,” Environmental Law (Apr. 2021)
Outside the Office
Outside of work, Jessica loves spending time outdoors—mountain biking, snowboarding, or exploring the Pacific Northwest on her motorcycle.