Spencer Fane is pleased to announce Maris Chambers has joined the firm’s Austin office as an associate. She will be part of the Energy and Environmental Law Practice Groups, specifically providing support to a growing team dedicated to complex regulatory and compliance matters for investor- and municipal-owned utilities.
Chambers brings a private practice focused on water and wastewater utility service interests, including certificates of convenience and necessity, water rights, water supply, and water quality. She assists municipalities, utilities, landowners, and water districts with permitting, compliance, and enforcement before courts and state agencies, specifically with experience with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, the Texas Public Utility Commission, and the State Office of Administrative Hearings.
In addition, Chambers provides general counsel services to water districts, water and wastewater utilities, and other political subdivisions.
During the past year, Spencer Fane added partners Cody Faulk and Cathy Webking to curate and lead an experienced group of attorneys to handle the growing needs of clients in these highly regulated utility industries. This includes matters involving electricity, water, wastewater, telecommunications, and natural gas services.
“We continue to seek out attorneys who fit the Spencer Fane culture of collaborative, efficient client service who bring a track record of successfully interfacing with state and federal environmental regulators, public utility commissions, and relevant stakeholders,” Faulk said. “Maris expands our capability to handle and resolve water and wastewater issues to ensure regulatory compliance while working toward their unique and specific business objectives.”
Prior to entering private practice, Chambers served as a legal intern with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, conducting research and drafting memoranda involving questions about the Clean Water Act, the Safe Drinking Water Act, and the RESTORE Act, among other things. This notable experience allows her to understand all sides of relevant issues for her clients and often informs an ability to provide insight to clients on the legal tactics regulatory bodies employ.
Chambers currently belongs to the Administrative and Environmental law sections of the Austin Bar Association; has membership in the State Bar of Texas’ Environmental and Natural Resources, Administrative Law, and Public Utility Law sections; and serves on the Water Environment Association of Texas Biosolids Management Committee. She completed her undergraduate degree in environmental studies at Southern Methodist University and earned her Juris Doctor at the University of Oklahoma College of Law.
