Colin C. O’Brien joined Earthjustice’s San Francisco location of the California regional office in 2015, having previously worked as a staff attorney in the Alaska regional office. While there, Colin was recognized as the 2013 “Conservationist of the Year” by the Northern Alaska Environmental Center for his work to protect air quality in the Arctic and in Fairbanks, Alaska. He also successfully litigated to protect endangered Steller sea lions and the rich ocean ecosystem of the North Pacific.
Prior to joining the Alaska regional office in 2011, Colin worked for four years as an associate in the Environmental Practice Group at the New York office of Sidley Austin LLP, and then for four years as a staff attorney for the Natural Resources Defense Council’s “Clean Air Project” in Washington, D.C. He also served as a law clerk for the Honorable Richard J. Cardamone of the U.S. Court of Appeals, Second Circuit.
Colin received a bachelor’s degree in political science summa cum laude from The Ohio State University. He is also a graduate of Yale Law School (J.D.) and the Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies (Master of Environmental Management).