Viktoriia De Las Casas

Associate

804.697.1205

More ways to contact Viktoriia De Las Casas

Additional Languages: Ukrainian, Russian

Overview
Representative Matters
Insights
Awards

Viktoriia is an environmental and natural resources attorney with experience in regulatory compliance, permitting, due diligence, enforcement, and litigation matters. She focuses her practice on advising clients on all aspects of compliance with the Endangered Species Act (ESA), the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act (BGEPA), and the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA). Viktoriia works with real estate developers, wind, solar, and transmission line operators, and other businesses on wildlife issues that come up during federal and state permitting. She also has experience with the Federal Aviation Administration regulations that relate to siting of wind farms and other renewable and development projects. In addition, Viktoriia is a member of the firm’s State Energy Regulation practice where she represents clients before the Virginia State Corporation Commission and Maryland Public Service Commission. Over the years Viktoriia has also developed proficiency in advising clients how to address environmental justice requirements that arise in permitting, litigation, and other contexts. She has also been assisting clients in developing company-wide strategies for compliance with various reporting obligations, for example, EPA’s TSCA PFAS reporting rule.

Her client base includes electric utilities, wind farm operators, solar and community solar developers, other renewable energy companies, land developers, manufacturers, health care companies, agricultural businesses, and other private and public companies.

  • Assisted a wind farm operator with negotiating an incidental take permit and habitat conservation plan for federally listed bat species.
  • Assisted a wind farm with developing a permitting strategy for protected Bald and Golden Eagles.
  • Assisted solar and other renewable energy projects with environmental due diligence, focusing on compliance with the ESA.
  • Represented a utility in obtaining Certificates of Public Convenience and Necessity from Virginia State Corporation Commission to construct and rebuild electric transmission lines.
  • Represented a developer of community solar farm in obtaining a Certificates of Public Convenience and Necessity before the Maryland Public Service Commission.
  • Assisted clients with developing strategies to address environmental justice-related aspects of their proposed projects during permitting and responding to environmental justice-related comments.
  • Assisted a manufacturing facility in developing compliance strategy to report PFAS per TSCA and EPCRA requirements.
  • Served as the lead associate in bringing a high-profile citizen suit under CAA, RCRA, and state nuisance law on behalf of a municipality.
  • Defended a challenge to a solid waste permit.
  • Represented agricultural companies and municipalities in appeals of Virginia-issued environmental permits.
  • Assisted with defending multiple federal permit appeals in federal circuit court on behalf of an interstate natural gas pipeline developer.
  • Best Lawyers in America®: Ones to Watch: Environmental Law (2023-2026), Natural Resources Law (2021-2026)

Viktoriia is an environmental and natural resources attorney with experience in regulatory compliance, permitting, due diligence, enforcement, and litigation matters. She focuses her practice on advising clients on all aspects of compliance with the Endangered Species Act (ESA), the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act (BGEPA), and the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA). Viktoriia works with real estate developers, wind, solar, and transmission line operators, and other businesses on wildlife issues that come up during federal and state permitting. She also has experience with the Federal Aviation Administration regulations that relate to siting of wind farms and other renewable and development projects. In addition, Viktoriia is a member of the firm’s State Energy Regulation practice where she represents clients before the Virginia State Corporation Commission and Maryland Public Service Commission. Over the years Viktoriia has also developed proficiency in advising clients how to address environmental justice requirements that arise in permitting, litigation, and other contexts. She has also been assisting clients in developing company-wide strategies for compliance with various reporting obligations, for example, EPA’s TSCA PFAS reporting rule.

Her client base includes electric utilities, wind farm operators, solar and community solar developers, other renewable energy companies, land developers, manufacturers, health care companies, agricultural businesses, and other private and public companies.

  • Assisted a wind farm operator with negotiating an incidental take permit and habitat conservation plan for federally listed bat species.
  • Assisted a wind farm with developing a permitting strategy for protected Bald and Golden Eagles.
  • Assisted solar and other renewable energy projects with environmental due diligence, focusing on compliance with the ESA.
  • Represented a utility in obtaining Certificates of Public Convenience and Necessity from Virginia State Corporation Commission to construct and rebuild electric transmission lines.
  • Represented a developer of community solar farm in obtaining a Certificates of Public Convenience and Necessity before the Maryland Public Service Commission.
  • Assisted clients with developing strategies to address environmental justice-related aspects of their proposed projects during permitting and responding to environmental justice-related comments.
  • Assisted a manufacturing facility in developing compliance strategy to report PFAS per TSCA and EPCRA requirements.
  • Served as the lead associate in bringing a high-profile citizen suit under CAA, RCRA, and state nuisance law on behalf of a municipality.
  • Defended a challenge to a solid waste permit.
  • Represented agricultural companies and municipalities in appeals of Virginia-issued environmental permits.
  • Assisted with defending multiple federal permit appeals in federal circuit court on behalf of an interstate natural gas pipeline developer.
  • Best Lawyers in America®: Ones to Watch: Environmental Law (2023-2026), Natural Resources Law (2021-2026)
  • Pro Bono ambassador – Richmond office
  • Chair, Environmental and Energy Law Section, Richmond Bar Association (2021-2022)
  • Pro Bono attorney, Landlord/Tenant Law, Central Virginia Legal Aid Society
  • Lecturer, Legal writing in English, American Common Law Center at Kyiv T. Shevchenko University, 2016-2017
  • Legal fellow, Center for Biological Diversity, 2015-2016

Education

  • University of Richmond School of Law, J.D., magna cum laude; McNeill Honor Law Society; Order of the Coif, 2015, University of Richmond Law Review, staff member; board member and semi-finalist, Moot Court; executive officer and semi-finalist, Client Counseling and Negotiation Competition
  • Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, Specialist of Law, with honors, 2008
  • Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, LL.B., with honors, 2007

Bar Admissions

  • Virginia
  • District of Columbia

Court Admissions

  • U.S. District Court, Western District of Virginia
  • U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Virginia

Languages

  • Ukrainian
  • Russian