Andrew Wheeler, former head of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) during the Trump administration, is joining law firm Holland & Hart in Washington, DC. He will serve as a partner and head of the firm’s federal affairs team.
The Denver-based firm has a strong national presence in sectors such as energy, environment and natural resources, especially across the Rocky Mountain states, an area where a significant amount of industries are influenced by decisions made in Washington, as pointed out by Bloomberg Law.
Wheeler first served as deputy administrator of the EPA, nominated in 2017 and confirmed in April 2018. He assumed the role of acting head only three months later following the resignation of his predecessor, Scott Pruitt, amid numerous scandals. Wheeler’s position as head of the EPA was confirmed in February 2019.
Prior to joining Holland & Hart, Wheeler served the office of Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin as director of the Office of Regulatory Management until March 29. Throughout his career, Wheeler has repeatedly worked with Holland & Hart, primarily through building their Washington office and helping to expand their federal affairs practice.
Holland & Hart, grossing $358 million in 2023, has recently represented Pattern Energy Group LP in the financing of the largest clean energy infrastructure project in US history, valued at $11 billion.
Beyond his government roles, Wheeler has an extensive history in the private sector. He spent nine years at Faegre Baker Daniels Consulting where he led the firm’s federal energy and environment practice team, providing federal regulatory and legislative counseling and lobbying to clients across various industries.
Wheeler plans to build a bipartisan team capable of engaging with both congressional issues and those involving different regulatory agencies, beyond just natural resource clients. He foresees the Washington DC based practice expanding to accommodate a broader range of the firm’s clients.