Susan Lent advises public and private sector clients on the development and implementation of infrastructure projects, including transportation, water and renewable energy projects.
Ms. Lent provides comprehensive advice on the development of large-scale infrastructure projects by assisting clients in securing federal funds through congressional earmarks and competitive grants, obtaining federal and other financing, negotiating project terms with the federal government and project partners and complying with the laws and regulations that apply to federally-funded projects, including the National Environmental Policy Act and procurement laws and regulations. Ms. Lent represents clients before Congress and federal departments and agencies, including the Department of Transportation, the Army Corps of Engineers and the Bureau of Reclamation. She also advises on laws and regulations applicable to infrastructure projects.
She has significant experience with a wide range of transportation projects, including highway toll road, port, freight, airport, intermodal and transit new starts and joint development projects across the country. She advises on public private partnerships and financing under the Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (TIFIA) and through private activity bonds.
Ms. Lent also advises clients on a range of transportation policy matters. She is actively involved on behalf of clients in the reauthorization of the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU), which will authorize funding of highway and public transportation programs and establish laws governing these programs, and in the development of implementing regulations. She also advises clients on complying with a broad range of transportation regulations covering commercial motor vehicle operators, hazardous materials transportation, airports and airlines.
In addition to transportation, Ms. Lent advises clients on water infrastructure and renewable energy projects. She advises clients on water rights, water infrastructure and groundwater cleanup projects. She also assists clients in developing flood control and navigation projects under the jurisdiction of the Army Corps of Engineers and advises clients on wind energy, hybrid vehicle systems and solar projects, as well as on the regulations governing these projects.
Before joining Akin Gump, Ms. Lent served as counsel to the Subcommittee on Surface Transportation and as counsel for investigations and oversight to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, where she was involved in all aspects of the enactment of the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century. Prior to joining the government, Ms. Lent was an attorney in private practice focusing on government contracts law.
Ms. Lent earned her B.A. in political science and psychology in 1983 from Emory University and her J.D. in 1986 from the George Washington University. She is a member of the District of Columbia Bar.