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Sara V. Mogharabi
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Sara V. Mogharabi

Attorney

  • Environment|
  • Litigation|
Denver
303.825.6384C 303.435.9579
Washington, DC
202.955.5600
smogharabi@kaplankirsch.com
  • Overview
  • Representative Experience
  • Resources and News
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My focus as an environmental attorney is on helping my clients find practical, efficient solutions to complex environmental problems. I use my diverse set of legal skills and wide-ranging experience in environmental law to approach problems holistically and craft strategies that achieve both immediate objectives and long-term goals. I am an effective manager of large, fact-intensive environmental matters and cases. I love that every day practicing environmental law brings a new challenge, and I am eager to help you with yours.

Environmental attorney Sara V. Mogharabi assists public and private sector clients on regulatory compliance, project development, and litigation matters.

Sara has represented clients in the real estate development, mining, waste, manufacturing, recycling, and energy sectors as well as numerous public entities like municipalities and airport operators. She has experience advising clients on the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act; the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act; the Clean Water Act; the Clean Air Act; the Endangered Species Act; the Safe Drinking Water Act; the National Environmental Policy Act, and related state environmental and natural resource laws.

Much of her current work touches on water and waste issues. She represents large public entities conducting groundwater remediation projects and all the regulatory, litigation, and transactional details those entail. She advises private and public sector clients on regulatory compliance, risk reduction, and potential cost recovery strategies related to emerging contaminants, including PFAS. She defends private clients facing federal and/or state environmental enforcement action for alleged environmental noncompliance. She also works with clients to craft strategies for brownfields and contaminated property redevelopment projects, including negotiating and drafting agreements with relevant agencies, advising on voluntary cleanup programs and similar regulatory strategies, and assessing the availability of funding and cost recovery.

Sara’s litigation experience includes conducting document reviews, managing expert witnesses, taking and defending depositions, working with joint defense groups, drafting motions and briefs, and preparing cases for arbitration and jury trials. She has represented clients with matters in federal and state courts as well as before agency tribunals. She has performed internal investigations and assisted in settlement negotiations on behalf of clients. When her workload permits, Sara represents pro bono clients in immigration court.

Representative Experience

  • Advise airport operators, municipalities, and private sector clients on PFAS regulatory developments, PFAS management best practices, risk reduction, and potential cost recovery for PFAS remedial efforts
  • Counsel client regarding purchase of former Superfund site and conduct negotiations with state and EPA regarding maintenance of site remedy while allowing for redevelopment of property into a logistics center
  • Support municipality with legal strategy for redevelopment of contaminated shopping center in coordination with state regulators and strategize for future CERCLA cost recovery
  • Defend owner of former battery manufacturing site against information request from state agency and potential enforcement action regarding alleged site contamination
  • Advise municipalities with groundwater remediation projects, including compliance counseling, negotiations with entities responsible for pollution, coordination with regulators, evaluating funding for remediation projects, and determining litigation strategy
  • Represent municipality remediating groundwater contamination in CERCLA cost recovery litigation, including document review, coordination with insurance counsel, and developing factual and expert case against potentially responsible parties
  • Defended developer in enforcement action by state for alleged stormwater violations, culminating in favorable settlement for client
  • Assisted with defense of airport operator in contract litigation regarding airport noise levels
  • Advised global manufacturer on response to spill of hazardous materials, coordinated an internal investigation and regulatory compliance audit at the company’s facility, and represented client in settlement negotiations with the state
  • Counseled battery recycler on its response to an EPA compliance inspection and notice of violation
  • Represented a global manufacturer on liability and cost allocation for PCB contamination of a waterway, helping secure a jury verdict of zero liability in federal court
  • Defended an energy client against multiple lawsuits alleging breach of contract of the company’s mineral leases
  • Orchestrated orderly transfer of environmental permits for oil and gas refineries nationwide after client acquired another national refining company
  • Advised clients in North America and Europe on compliance with California’s Proposition 65
  • Represented water district in National Environmental Policy Act and Clean Water Act compliance and strategy for its planned reservoir project in one of the fastest-growing counties in America
  • Counseled oil and gas companies on Endangered Species Act compliance, including the development of unique take-avoidance protocols and general conservation plans
  • Provided National Environmental Policy Act counseling, including advising infrastructure clients on environmental and related reviews for their projects
  • Provided guidance to electronic and pharmaceutical clients on compliance with state and local product regulatory laws
  • Attained Special Immigrant Juvenile Status for minor immigrant client
  • Argued for Cancellation of a Removal Order for a pro bono client in immigration court, securing client’s release from detention and return to his family immediately following the evidentiary hearing

Resources and News

News

Presentations

Publications

  • EPA Limits Its PFAS Drinking Water Standard to PFOA and PFOS and Delays Compliance Timeline to 2031Trump EPA Announces Major Actions to Combat PFAS Contamination

    News | May 16, 2025
  • Trump EPA Announces Major Actions to Combat PFAS Contamination

    News | April 30, 2025
  • EPA Finalizes Designation of PFOA & PFOS as CERCLA Hazardous Substances and Formalizes Agency Enforcement Guidance Designed to Spare Municipal Entities

    News | April 19, 2024
  • EPA Sets First Nationwide Drinking Water Standards for PFAS

    News | April 11, 2024
  • view all
  • 39th Annual Airport Law Workshop

    Presentations | October 15, 2023
  • PFAS Update: Litigation, Regulation, and Risk Management Strategies

    Presentations | June 20, 2023
  • Kaplan Kirsch & Rockwell Attorneys Present at AAAE PFAS Workshop

    Presentations | April 6, 2021
  • Sara Mogharabi Presents Webinar on PFAS for Environmental Law Network

    Presentations | November 3, 2020
  • view all
  • PFAS Regulatory Update – August 2024

    Publications | August 12, 2024
  • Firm Attorneys Author PFAS Litigation Article for ABA

    Publications | September 29, 2021
  • Environmental citizen suits in the Trump era

    Publications | October 15, 2017
  • Déjà vu:  Supremes Hold Corps’ Jurisdictional Determinations Constitute “Final Agency Actions”

    Publications | June 15, 2016
  • view all

Primary Sidebar

Practices

  • Air Quality
  • Airport Environmental Impacts and Conformity
  • Airports
  • Brownfields
  • Climate Mitigation and Adaptation Projects
  • Climate Policy & Litigation
  • Endangered Species & Wildlife Issues
  • Energy and Climate Change
  • Environment
  • Environmental Due Diligence
  • Environmental Impact Reviews
  • Environmental Litigation
  • Federal and State Public Lands
  • Government and Public Policy
  • Hazardous Materials and Safety
  • Intergovernmental Agreements
  • Litigation
  • Military Base Closure and Redevelopment
  • Mining and Reclamation
  • Project Development
  • Rail, Transit, Highways, and Infrastructure
  • Real Estate, Land Use, and Zoning
  • Site Cleanup and Compliance
  • Water Resources

Education

  • J.D., The George Washington University Law School, 2012
  • M.P.P., Environmental Policy, The George Washington University, 2012
  • B.A., Claremont McKenna College, cum laude, 2006

Bar & Court Admissions

Bar Admissions

  • Colorado, 2012
  • District of Columbia, 2013

Court Admissions

  • U.S. District Court, Colorado, 2020
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Tenth Circuit, 2019

Organizations

  • Trustee and Secretary, Board of Trustees of the International School of Dakar, Senegal (2022–present)
  • Co-Chair, Energy and Environmental Law Affinity Group, National Association of Women Lawyers (2017–2019)
  • Participant, Colorado Women’s Chamber of Commerce, Women of Influence and Impact Leadership Program (2018–2019)
  • Adjunct Professor of Legal Writing, The George Washington University Law School (2014–2015)
  • Member of Environment, Energy, and Resources Section, American Bar Association (2012–Present)

Honors

  • Recipient, Philip Roland Prize for Excellence in Public Affairs, Claremont McKenna College, 2006

Sara V. Mogharabi's Projects

  • Leviathan Mine Superfund Site

    California
  • PuebloPlex

    Colorado
  • Redevelopment of the Former Gates Rubber Company Site

    Colorado
projects that keep life moving®
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