Biography
Alisha Mehta Adams is an attorney in the Environmental and Regulatory section of Jackson Walker’s Austin office. Alisha represents a diverse set of clients in permitting, land use, and water matters, including commercial and residential real estate developers and special utility districts. She is experienced in advising clients on regulatory matters and complex environmental litigation matters in both state and federal courts and in arbitration proceedings, including identification and mitigation of environmental risks, navigating the permitting processes, and defending clients in administrative enforcement actions. Additionally, she routinely counsels clients on administrative, transactional, and regulatory issues before the Public Utility Commission of Texas and Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, including energy project transactions, regulatory proceedings, contested cases, rate cases, transmission line projects, and compliance matters. She also is experienced in analyzing environmental issues for renewable energy projects.
Prior to joining Jackson Walker, Alisha served as a Judicial Law Clerk for Justice Don Willett at the Supreme Court of Texas.
Additional Languages
Gujarati, Hindi, Spanish
Education
B.A., Barnard College of Columbia University, 2013
J.D., Duke University School of Law, 2016
- Notes and Research Editor, Duke Journal of Law and Contemporary Problems
- Executive Board Member, Environmental Law Society
Bar Admissions
Texas, 2016
- Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch (Woodward/White Inc.)
- Environmental Law, 2021-2023
- Government Relations Practice, 2021-2023
- Girlstart Alumna Honoree, Girlstart Annual Game Changers Luncheon, 2018
- Co-Author, “Key Permit Used in Keystone XL Pipeline Put On Hold – Potential Far-Reaching Impacts on Other Projects,” Jackson Walker Insights (May 1, 2020)
- Co-Author, “U.S. Supreme Court Finds That Clean Water Act’s Permitting Requirements Can Extend to Discharges Through Groundwater,” Jackson Walker Insights (April 24, 2020)
- Co-Author, “EPA Proposes New Source Performance Standards for New Coal-Fired Power Plants,” Jackson Walker Insights (December 11, 2018)
- Co-Author, “EPA Proposes Rule to Exempt Farm Animal Waste Reporting,” Jackson Walker Insights (November 15, 2018)
- Co-Author, “EPA Proposes to Revise Significant Aspects of Methane Rule,” Jackson Walker Insights (September 13, 2018)
- Leadership Council on Legal Diversity, Pathfinder Program, 2018
August 18, 2022
Attorney News‘The Best Lawyers in America’ Honors 214 Jackson Walker Attorneys in 2023 Edition, Including 11 “Lawyers of the Year” and 41 “Ones to Watch”
The Best Lawyers in America has recognized 214 Jackson Walker attorneys across 6 offices and 79 specialty practice areas in its 2023 edition, including 11 Lawyers of the Year and 41 Ones to Watch. Best Lawyers listings are based on an exhaustive peer review survey of thousands of attorneys who vote on the legal abilities of others in their practice areas.
October 5, 2021
NewslettersJW Diversity & Inclusion Newsletter – October 2021
View Jackson Walker’s October 2021 Diversity & Inclusion Newsletter, Perspectives.
August 19, 2021
Attorney News‘The Best Lawyers in America’ Honors 178 Jackson Walker Attorneys in 2022 Edition, Including 8 “Lawyers of the Year” and 31 “Ones to Watch”
The Best Lawyers in America has recognized 178 Jackson Walker attorneys across 6 offices and 67 specialty practice areas in its 2022 edition, including 8 Lawyers of the Year and 31 Ones to Watch. Best Lawyers listings are based on an exhaustive peer review survey of thousands of attorneys who vote on the legal abilities of others in their practice areas.
August 20, 2020
Attorney News‘The Best Lawyers in America’ Honors 164 Jackson Walker Attorneys in 2021 Edition, Including 9 “Lawyers of the Year” and 25 “Ones to Watch”
Jackson Walker congratulates the 164 attorneys who were selected by their peers as Best Lawyers, including 9 Lawyers of the Year and 25 Ones to Watch, across 6 offices and 66 specialty practice areas.
July 7, 2020
InsightsCourt Orders Dakota Access Pipeline Shut Down
On July 6, 2020, the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia issued a ruling ordering that the Dakota Access Pipeline be shut down and emptied by August 5, 2020.
May 1, 2020
InsightsKey Permit Used in Keystone XL Pipeline Put On Hold – Potential Far-Reaching Impacts on Other Projects
On April 15, 2020, the U.S. District Court for the District of Montana vacated a key general permit pipeline and utility project that owners have used for decades to address Clean Water Act requirements, including the Keystone XL oil pipeline.
April 24, 2020
InsightsU.S. Supreme Court Finds That Clean Water Act’s Permitting Requirements Can Extend to Discharges Through Groundwater
On April 23, 2020, the U.S. Supreme Court issued an opinion in County of Maui v. Hawaii Wildlife Fund, which established a new test to determine the permitting requirements under the Clean Water Act.
December 11, 2018
InsightsEPA Proposes New Source Performance Standards for New Coal-Fired Power Plants
Following the 2016 election, the EPA proposed withdrawing the Clean Power Plan, and, in August 2018, proposed the Affordable Clean Energy (ACE) rule to replace it.
December 3, 2018
Attorney NewsAlisha Mehta Honored as Girlstart Alumna at Game Changers Annual Luncheon
During a special celebration honoring women role models in STEM, Alisha Mehta was recognized as an alumna of Girlstart, a Texas-based nonprofit that provides STEM education programs for K-12 girls.
November 15, 2018
InsightsEPA Proposes Rule to Exempt Farm Animal Waste Reporting
In a new effort to clarify the breadth of exemptions for farm animal waste emission reporting, EPA has proposed a rule that exempts such emissions from the reporting requirements under the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA).