Overview

Julia Waterhous is a partner in the Bay Area office of Kirkland & Ellis LLP. She is a member of the Firm’s Sustainability Practice Group, which advises some of the world’s most sophisticated and dynamic private equity firms, corporations, and project sponsors and lenders on complex and evolving legal issues relating to ESG and climate-related regulatory requirements, investor demands, strategic opportunities, and voluntary reporting frameworks and coalitions.

Julia’s practice includes ESG risk assessment, management, and mitigation with a focus on developing and evolving legal, regulatory, and market risks. Julia’s practice also includes policy and procedure development, due diligence, advising, and controversy mitigation, with a particular focus on business and human rights. Her practice is informed by evaluating and understanding the dynamic legal and regulatory landscapes that may impact clients, as well as by her previous experience working on white collar investigations. That experience informs Julia’s understanding of the particular risks clients face when policies, procedures, and management systems are not adequately developed, implemented, and monitored.

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Thought Leadership

Publications

Author “The Major Questions Doctrine Reigns Supreme in West Virginia v. Environmental Protection Agency — Implications for Climate Policy and Impact Investing,” Kirkland Alert, July 6, 2022

Author “Biden Administration Announces Major Environmental Justice Enforcement Initiatives,” Kirkland Alert, May 19, 2022

Speaking Engagements

Speaker “Climate Risk in Focus: Strategy, Compliance, and AI Technology for Business Resilience,” Climate Risk in Focus: Strategy, Compliance, and AI Technology for Business Resilience, April 25, 2024

Credentials

Admissions & Qualifications

  • 2022California
  • 2018Illinois

Education

  • Northwestern Pritzker School of LawJ.D.; LL.M., International Human Rights2018

    cum laude (J.D.)

    with Honors (LL.M.)

    Managing Editor, The Journal of Human Rights

  • Boston UniversityB.S., Journalism; B.A., Psychology2012