SALT LAKE CITY — Amanda Smith, who served for six years as the executive director of the Utah Department of Environmental Quality, has joined the law firm Holland & Hart.
Smith will work in the Environment, Energy, and Natural Resources practice in the firm’s Salt Lake City office.
Smith joins more than 20 environment and energy lawyers in the firm’s Salt Lake office.
“We are thrilled that Amanda has joined Holland & Hart’s robust environmental practice,” said Kelly Johnson, chairwoman of Holland & Hart's Environment, Energy, and Natural Resources practice. “Amanda's unique experience with the challenges facing companies and industries doing business in the West will bring a new perspective to our client service approach.”
From 2007 to 2009, Smith served as the legislative director and rural adviser to Gov. Jon M. Huntsman Jr., advising on issues regarding Utah’s natural resources, energy, water, and economic development.
Appointed as executive director of the department in 2009, she also served concurrently as energy adviser to Utah Gov. Gary Herbert from January 2011 to May 2012. She has also worked as the director of government relations for the Nature Conservancy of Utah.