Hogan Lovells announced today that Hilary Tompkins, former Solicitor for the United States Department of Interior (DOI), will join the firm’s Environmental practice group as a partner in the Washington D.C. office.

As the top legal officer at the DOI, a cabinet-level agency responsible for the management and conservation of most federal land, natural and cultural resource programs, and the trustee for the Nation’s Native American population, Tompkins was in charge of all legal matters involving the programs, operations, and activities within the department, with a focus on public lands, water infrastructure, energy development, minerals management, general administration, and Indian law.

Throughout her seven years as Solicitor, she led a legal office of over 300 attorneys in 16 offices, including the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Bureau of Reclamation, Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement, the National Park Service, the Office of Surface Mining and Reclamation, the Fish & Wildlife Service, and the Geological Survey. 

“Hilary is a highly respected environmental practitioner who will strengthen the capabilities of our public lands and natural resource practice,” said Alice Valder Curran, Global head of the firm’s Government Regulatory practice. “Due to client demand, we have been focused on expanding our practices in these areas. Her extensive knowledge of the DOI will be invaluable to clients, who either regularly appear before the federal agency or are impacted by its decisions and rules.”

During her time with the DOI, Tompkins addressed and shaped many issues in public lands and Indian law, which is an area of special interest for her as she is a member of the Navajo Nation. At Hogan Lovells, Tompkins will continue to serve the needs of Indian nations, their tribal governments and leadership who seek legal services regarding nation building and economic development, including Indian gaming and protection of tribal interests and treaty rights. She will continue to build the firm’s Indian Law practice, bringing to it the unique perspective of tribal membership and hands-on experience in the representation of tribal interests while at the Department of the Interior.

Before serving as DOI Solicitor, Tompkins was counsel to Bill Richardson when he was governor of New Mexico. She advised Richardson on legal and policy issues and Native American affairs and supervised the general counsels in more than 20 state executive agencies.

“As we look to expand the firm’s Indian country work, Hilary’s close relationships with Indian Country leaders combined with her previous experience representing Indian nations, will be a great asset,” said Adam Kushner, co-head of the firm’s Environment practice. “She will also add great depth to our already robust public lands and natural resource practice.”

Prior to her work in Indian law, she served as a special assistant U.S. attorney in the Eastern District of New York. Additionally, she started her legal career as an Honors Program Trial Attorney in the Environment and Natural Resources Division of the U.S. Department of Justice in Washington, D.C., where she handled civil prosecutions in environmental cases nationwide.

Tompkins earned a J.D. from Stanford University Law School and a B.A. in Government form Dartmouth College.

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