Senior Legal Counsel - U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

Zach Pilchen, currently serving as the Senior Legal Counsel at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in Washington, D.C., is a distinguished law graduate of Lewis & Clark Law School. He successfully earned his J.D. and a certificate in environmental and natural resources law in May 2013. Mr. Pilchen's dedication to environmental law became apparent during two summer clerkships at the EPA, where he collaborated closely with agency attorneys on civil enforcement matters related to RCRA and TSCA § 6(e). His contributions included writing numerous legal memoranda, aiding in the development of a groundbreaking compliance manual, and supporting electronic discovery efforts for a case arising from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.

Zach's academic prowess is highlighted by his consistent placement in the top 7% of his class. He excelled in a diverse range of courses, with a particular focus on administrative, environmental, constitutional, and criminal law, as well as legal writing.

Beyond his academic achievements, Zach Pilchen actively engages in various aspects of the law school community. He serves as an Associate Editor on the environmental law review and as a teaching assistant in the Legal Writing Department, where he mentors students on projects encompassing appellate briefs, memoranda, complaints, demand letters, judicial opinions, and statute-drafting. Zach has also been an integral part of moot court programs throughout his three years of law school, achieving national finalist status in the prestigious National Moot Court Competition.

Following his academic journey, Zach Pilchen has seamlessly transitioned into the professional realm as the Senior Legal Counsel at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Based in Washington, D.C., he continues to make significant strides in the field of environmental law, exemplifying a commitment to excellence and service.