Halley I. Townsend

Halley Townsend is an attorney in Holland & Knight's Washington, D.C., office and a member of the Regulatory Practice Group. Ms. Townsend brings a collaborative, solutions-oriented approach to advising clients operating in highly regulated energy and environmental markets, helping them navigate complex regulatory requirements in ways that are practical, strategic and business focused.

As a member of Holland & Knight's Energy Technology Team, Ms. Townsend is part of a multidisciplinary group that supports energy, industrial and critical minerals clients across the full federal funding and financing life cycle, from early strategy and agency engagement through proposal development, negotiations, compliance and, when needed, dispute resolution. The team pairs deep program fluency with Holland & Knight's broader bench of project finance, energy regulatory, environmental, tax and litigation capabilities, bringing an integrated approach to high-stakes, capital-intensive projects. Together, the team has helped clients secure billions of dollars in federal support in recent years and is regularly trusted to guide complex U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) processes from first positioning to final execution.

Ms. Townsend also advises participants in energy derivatives and commodities markets on Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) and National Futures Association (NFA) compliance matters. She develops tailored compliance programs, manages regulatory investigations and assists clients in navigating enforcement actions, with an emphasis on practical solutions aligned with business objectives. Her experience extends to environmental market mechanisms, including the federal Renewable Fuel Standard under the Clean Air Act (CAA) and state low-carbon fuel standards and cap-and-trade programs.

In addition, as a member of Holland & Knight's extended producer responsibility (EPR) team, Ms. Townsend provides strategic guidance to businesses navigating various EPR requirements, particularly for packaging and paper products. Her work spans the full EPR compliance life cycle, including tracking and analyzing proposed laws and regulations, applicability and exemption analyses, registration, reporting, ongoing compliance, supply chain contracting and due diligence for corporate transactions. She helps companies of all sizes understand and prepare for EPR requirements, delivering right‑sized compliance strategies that balance regulatory risk, operational realities and environmental and sustainability goals.

What distinguishes Ms. Townsend's practice is her focus on understanding each client's business context and translating legal complexity into clear, actionable advice. She combines deep regulatory knowledge with a caring, collaborative approach that helps clients anticipate challenges and seize opportunities in a rapidly evolving regulatory landscape.

Beyond client work, Ms. Townsend demonstrates leadership through dedication to pro bono representation across a range of matters and service on the executive partner committee for Holland & Knight's Washington, D.C., office. She is also committed to mentoring the next generation of attorneys and building lasting client relationships grounded in trust, responsiveness and exceptional results.