Lea A. Phillips leads Ballard Spahr’s Environment and Natural Resources Group and administers the Group’s practice nationwide. Lea focuses her practice on serving the energy, manufacturing, and waste/recycling industries and has particular experience related to battery energy storage systems (BESS) and data centers. Lea regularly provides legal counsel on project development and financing and obtains and defends challenges to environmental and land use permits on behalf of her clients.
Lea also advises clients on compliance with new and changing federal and state environmental regulations, redevelopment of contaminated properties, and environmental risks and liabilities in business and real estate transactions. Her experience extends to Native American Indian Law, natural, and cultural resources, including issues pertaining to open space and trails, endangered and protected species and plants, tribal resources and development of projects on state, tribal, and federal lands.
Experience
Representative Matters
Regulatory Compliance and Permitting
- Regularly represents developers in siting, permitting, building, and financing utility scale conventional and renewable energy power plants, battery energy storage systems (BESS), and data centers across the country. Her experience includes:
- Real estate and environmental counsel in connection with purchase or lease of project land, including, but not limited to, federal lands, state lands, and tribal lands
- Providing comprehensive analysis of all permits necessary for a proposed project, including land use entitlements, environmental permits, and local building permits
- Developing strategy to address opposition from stakeholders
- Negotiating creative and cost-effective solutions to development challenges, including, cultural resource and open space concerns, road dedications, building permit requirements, fire safety, water usage, tribal resources, among others
Professional Highlights
Pro Bono Experience
Lea maintains an active pro bono practice in which she represents human trafficking survivors. Lea recently represented four Thai sex-trafficking survivors in matters before U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.
Recognition & Accomplishments
Chambers USA, "Up and Coming," Environment (Arizona), 2023, 2024
The Best Lawyers in America, Environmental Law (Phoenix), 2025
The Best Lawyers in America, "Ones to Watch," – Environmental Law (Phoenix), 2021-2024
Benchmark Litigation, "40 & Under List," - Environmental (West), 2022-2024
Speaking Engagements
Faculty, Environmental Risks in Business Transactions, Environmental Law Institute Western Boot Camp, 2019 - 2023
Board Memberships & Community Service
Child Crisis Arizona, Board of Directors
New Way Academy, Board of Directors, Chairperson
Publications
Co-author, "Brownfield Qualification for the Energy Community Tax Credit," The Legal Intelligencer, July 23, 2024
Co-author, "New 'Forever Chemical' Rules to Hit Renewable Energy Companies," Bloomberg Law, July 17, 2024
Co-author, "Regulation of Non-Hazardous Waste under RCRA," Chapter 15, The RCRA Practice Manual, Third Edition, ABA Section of Envt., Energy, & Resources, American Bar Association, Chicago, 2013
Credentials
Education
Arizona State University, Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law (J.D., magna cum laude, with Law Science and Technology Certificate)
Associate Editor, Arizona State Law Journal
Order of the Coif
Recipient, Merit Scholarship
Recipient, Willard H. Pedrick Scholar Award for academic achievement
Recipient, Highest Pro Bono Distinction
Arizona State University, Barrett, The Honors College (B.A., magna cum laude)
Admissions
Arizona
U.S. District Court for the District of Arizona