RILEY DESPER focuses her practice on environmental litigation and regulatory compliance, with a particular emphasis on assisting clients in the chemical, industrial, and auto sectors.
Riley has assisted clients with a variety of challenges in connection with the Clean Air Act (CAA), the Toxic Substances and Controls Act (TSCA), the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), the Clean Water Act (CWA), and the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA). Riley is a member of Sidley’s workplace safety and health practice, helping clients navigate Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) compliance and enforcement actions.
Riley received her J.D., with highest honors, from The George Washington Law School. While in law school, Riley was a managing editor for The George Washington Law Review and externed at the Environmental Protection Agency’s Environmental Appeals Board. Riley earned her M.S., with first class honors, in climate change studies from The University of Edinburgh, and her B.S., summa cum laude, in chemical engineering from Arizona State University.