Sidley Welcomes Former Head of EPA’s Office of Policy, Brittany Bolen
Sidley is pleased to welcome Brittany Bolen, Senior Policy Advisor, to the firm’s Environmental and Government Strategies practices. She joins the firm’s Washington, D.C. office from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), where she served as the Associate Administrator for Policy and Senior Counsel to the Administrator.
Bolen’s practice involves counseling and advocacy on complex environmental regulatory and policy matters across the executive branch and on Capitol Hill. Her federal government experience includes a deep understanding of the rulemaking and legislative processes. Bolen’s knowledge of the substance, staff, and inner workings of the legislative and executive branches helps clients navigate the federal policymaking process and craft the most effective strategy to successfully shape environmental policy.
As the former head of EPA’s Office of Policy, she oversaw all aspects of agencywide (i.e., air, water, waste, and chemicals) policymaking and managed over 150 employees providing multidisciplinary skills in areas of environmental justice, environmental permitting, environmental economics, and regulatory development. During her time at EPA, Bolen was substantively involved in crafting regulations and guidance under each environmental statute, including enhanced contributions to actions related to climate change, fuel economy, energy development and infrastructure, and PFAS. She also served as EPA’s Regulatory Policy Officer — the chief liaison to OMB’s Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs — leading negotiations for interagency review of significant EPA regulatory actions and coordinating EPA review of other federal agencies’ significant regulatory actions. In addition, Bolen served as EPA’s NEPA Official, overseeing EPA’s environmental review of other agencies’ major federal actions and coordination with the Council on Environmental Quality.
Prior to her executive branch service, she served on congressional committees in both the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives, including the Environment and Public Works Committee with jurisdiction over EPA and other environmental policy issues. On Capitol Hill, Bolen had in-depth experience conducting oversight and investigations, developing legislation, and contributing to the confirmation process for presidential nominees.
Bolen has extensive strategic and crisis communications and advocacy experience. She has testified before Congress and is frequently invited to speak at large stakeholder events, industry panels, and federal advisory committee meetings. Throughout her government service, Bolen has developed strong bipartisan relationships and has worked with a variety of stakeholders, including state and local officials, corporations, trade associations, think tanks, and non-governmental organizations.
Bolen received her J.D. from the George Mason University School of Law and her B.A., cum laude, from the University of Florida. She is admitted to practice law in Florida and the District of Columbia.
