Katherine Yarber Email and Phone Number

Business and tort litigation. Member of trial teams trying cases to jury verdict in federal and state court, and multiple additional trial teams litigating cases settling before jury verdict. Participated in every facet of litigation, including cross-examining witness, drafting and arguing motions, jury instructions, deposition designations, and exhibit objections, and drafting expert and fact witness outlines. Involved in all aspects of pre-trial discovery and case work-up of 100+ individual cases, including deposing witnesses.

Judicial law clerk for multiple Judges on the Atomic Safety and Licensing Board Panel, the independent administrative court in the NRC. Evaluated merits of disputes raised by citizen groups and state and local governments challenging applications for NRC licenses, including the application to construct a nuclear waste repository at Yucca Mountain, NV. Researched and analyzed complex legal issues and drafted decisions. Analyzed federal statutes, including the Endangered Species Act, NEPA, and the CWA, NRC regulations, and case law. Managed law clerks.

Drafted Congressional memoranda for briefing Senators for federal judge nominations. Researched and analyzed federal laws for proposed legislation. Represented the Senator in hearings important to Vermont constituents. Participated in strategy meetings for Attorney General nomination and committee hearings.

Assisted in developing new initiative to safeguard Chilean indigenous communities’ access to clean water by challenging hydro-energy projects. Using the National Historic Preservation Act, worked with Japanese groups to protect the cultural heritage of the Okinawa Dugong. Advised senior attorneys on the merits of various strategies to regulate greenhouse gas emissions. Worked with federal law, international agreements, and EU laws.

Planned, and implemented programs to increase the livelihoods of indigenous Mayan communities living in Santa Cruz, Belize. Designed protected areas management plan. Worked with stakeholders to increase the capacity of a community-based organization to manage the protected area, working with international funding agencies, including USAID and UNDP, as well as the Belize government. Worked with women’s group to develop a small business.