Education

  • J.D., University of Notre Dame Law School, 1991
  • B.A., Lewis and Clark College, 1987

Bar Admissions

  • Arizona, 1991

Carla A. Consoli

Practice Group Leader
Partner
40 North Central Avenue
Suite 1900
Phoenix, Arizona 85004
Phone 602.262.5347
Fax 602.734.3896

About Carla Consoli

Ms. Consoli is a partner and Practice Group Leader of the firm’s Energy, Natural Resources, Environmental, Government Relations and Indian Affairs Practice Group. Ms. Consoli’s practice emphasizes real estate and corporate due diligence and acquisition and development for projects as diverse as power plants, mines and master-planned communities. Her work includes traditional environmental due diligence as well as endangered species and habitat compliance and water rights and water availability analysis. She works closely with clients assisting in remedial activities, natural resources evaluations and permitting new facilities.

Ms. Consoli negotiates environmental agreements and determines potential and historical environmental liabilities related to the acquisition of property and existing facilities as well as initial development of new facilities. She counsels companies of various sizes to aid their understanding of environmental, water and natural resource laws affecting their business operations. She is active in site characterization and remediation planning and regularly assists clients in negotiating consent orders. Ms. Consoli also assists clients in acquiring water rights and resolving water law, endangered species and critical habitat issues. Prior to joining Lewis and Roca, Ms. Consoli was a partner with Bryan Cave in Phoenix, Arizona.

Ms. Consoli is the editor-in-chief of a handbook for non-environmental lawyers and business owners to aid their understanding of the impact of environmental law on business transactions. She authored the handbook section on environmental due diligence in commercial property transactions. As part of her effort with the state and county bar associations, she published several articles on a variety of environmental and natural resources topics.

Ms. Consoli is listed in the 2011 edition of Chambers USA America’s Leading Business Lawyers, by Chambers and Partners Publishers, in the category of Environment: Water Rights. 

Representative Cases/Matters

  • Counsel to Canadian exploration company in its purchase of an abandoned copper mine which has been the subject of intense environmental investigation for possible groundwater and soil contamination by multiple State and federal agencies; the acquisition of this potentially significant copper resource involved negotiating with the US EPA, the Bureau of Land Management, the Department of Interior, Indian Tribes, the State of Nevada and private entities identified as potential responsible parties for the site
  • Counsel to several solar power companies to acquire property and permit new solar power generation stations
  • Counsel to the State of Kuwait in its claims before the United Nations for environmental damages resulting from the Republic of Iraq’s 1990/1991 Invasion and Occupation of Kuwait
  • Counsel to mining concern regarding Superfund liability, natural resources damages, NEPA and water rights
  • Counsel to "green" development company regarding Aquifer Protection Program permits
  • Counsel to mining concern regarding Arizona’s statewide water adjudication
  • Counsel to developers regarding Brownfields Redevelopment, assured and adequate water supply designations, Endangered Species Act considerations and Clean Water Act permits
  • Counsel to nationwide manufactured housing company to prove non-contribution to major Phoenix Superfund area
  • Counsel to manufacturer to defend industrial waste water notice of violation; obtained fine reduction of 97 percent
  • Counsel to real estate developers to determine applicability of the National Environmental Policy Act to developments of virgin desert land

Memberships and Affiliations

  • Environmental and Natural Resources Law Section of the State Bar of Arizona, Member and Former Chairman
  • Boys Hope Girls Hope of Arizona, Board Member and Former Chair
  • Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, Trustee
  • Valley Forward, Member and Former Chairman of the Board
  • State Bar of Arizona Environmental Section, Member and Former Chairman
  • Maricopa County Bar Association Environmental Section, Member and Former Chairman
  • ABA Section on Energy, Environmental Resources, Member and Fall Meeting Planning Committee Member

Publications

  • Chapter Contributor, "Inside the Minds: Client Strategies for Alternative Energy and Efficiency," Aspatore Books, December 2008
  • Author, "Colorado River Water Entitlement Transfers, Kayaking the Middle of the River Between State and Federal Jurisdictions," CLE International, Summer 2008
  • Author, "Good Intentions, Unintended Consequences: The Central Arizona Groundwater Replenishment District," Arizona Law Review, June 28, 2007

Court Admissions

  • U.S. District Court, Arizona, 1991

Other Distinctions

Ms. Consoli is listed in the 2008-2012 editions of Best Lawyers in America, by Woodward/White, Aiken, S.C., the 2009 edition of Super Lawyers Corporate Counsel, the 2008-2012 editions of Southwest Super Lawyers, the 2007-2010 editions of Chambers USA, the International Who's Who of Business, the Arizona's Who's Who of Business in the March 2011 edition of AZ Central, and the April 2010 edition of AZ Business' Top Lawyers. She is included in all of the above listings in the category of Environmental Law.

Ms. Consoli has an "AV/Preeminent Attorney" rating with Martindale-Hubbell.