Veteran environmental and technology lawyer Susan Snyder has rejoined Vinson & Elkins LLP as a partner in Austin, bringing with her longstanding knowledge of the environmental and natural resources issues affecting the firm’s clients.
Susan will support and enhance V&E’s highly regarded environmental counseling and transactional practice, and provide environmental risk management counseling, both domestically and internationally. Snyder has considerable experience advising companies on cross-border environmental legislation, regulation, and policy, including internationally in countries such as China, India, Brazil, and throughout Europe.
Susan previously served as an associate in V&E’s environmental practice from 1989-1995, leaving to broaden her business experience on a global scale.
“We are delighted to welcome Sue back to the firm,” said T. Mark Kelly, V&E’s Chairman. “She has a proven track record in helping companies solve complex environmental issues, and her background and experience aligns well with our long-term goals and strategies in Texas, on the West Coast, and in Asia. We are confident she will be a tremendous asset to our clients.”
In particular, Susan will be of immediate assistance to many of the firm’s energy industry clients dealing with water scarcity due to the effects of recent droughts and the growing demand for a reliable water supply for hydraulic fracturing, electric power generation, and other needs. She will also leverage her considerable experience working in the technology sector to assist clients in that industry with waste management and environmental sustainability concerns, as well as the growing multitude of regulatory requirements that companies in the expanding technology sector face on an almost daily basis.
From 1995-2007, Susan worked for multi-national semiconductor company Advanced Micro Devices, where she rose to serve as Executive Legal Counsel and Vice President of International Policy and Relations. For the U.S. Semiconductor Industry Association, which represents U.S. leadership in the semiconductor industry, she chaired the Legal Committee, Environmental Committee, and International Policy Group and led initiatives for global changes to environmental and trade regulations.
“Sue crosses between traditional environmental law and technology in a way that no one else does. Her background is that of a traditional environmental attorney, but she has considerable experience in the semiconductor and high technology marketplace,” said Carol Dinkins, head of V&E’s Environmental practice. “She has a unique skill set that will benefit our clients as energy companies deploy more sophisticated approaches in using technology to unlock energy, and technology companies work to increase their energy efficiency.”
V&E has one of the most experienced environmental law practices in the United States, routinely playing a leading role in significant matters that shape today’s environmental laws. Chambers USA 2012 notes that “clients are quick to praise this group for its up-to-date knowledge of cutting-edge energy industry issues such as hydraulic fracturing,” and the practice is regularly retained by clients to advise on permitting, enforcement defense, regulatory, litigation, and transactional matters.
The firm’s lawyers work on a myriad of environmental issues across the United States and internationally, serving a broad range of clients including financial services firms, core manufacturing operations, refining and petrochemicals operations, transportation companies, energy companies, real estate developers, local and state governmental entities, and others.
“I am happy to rejoin my friends at V&E, and I’m looking forward to helping grow the environmental practice in Austin and broadening it to include representation of clients on a wider range of administrative law matters,” Susan said. “I also plan to conduct in-house training on environmental and other risk management related topics.”
Beyond her experience at AMD and V&E, Snyder also served as a partner at Jackson Walker LLP from 2007-2011, and since 2009 has taught courses in business law, international business and law, ethics, and corporate social responsibility at The University of Texas McCombs School of Business. She also chaired the Austin In-House Counsel group for more than a half-dozen years, and chaired international and policy committees at the Austin Chamber of Commerce.
A frequent author and accomplished speaker, Susan received her J.D. degree with honors from The University of Texas School of Law, and her degree with distinction in civil and environmental engineering from Cornell University.
