ACOEL Fellowship: Recognizing Excellence in Environmental Law

Brittany Barrientos, a partner at Stinson LLP, has been selected as a fellow of the American College of Environmental Lawyers (ACOEL). The announcement, made on April 7, 2026, identifies Barrientos as one of 19 attorneys elected to the distinguished association this year.

ACOEL is an invitation-only association of lawyers dedicated to the ethical practice of environmental law through education, outreach, and rigorous focus. Fellows are chosen through a process that recognizes practitioners who have demonstrated excellence and made meaningful contributions to the field through service, scholarship, and practice.

Professional Background and Expertise

Barrientos provides counsel to clients on a variety of health, safety, and environmental matters. Her professional experience includes transactional support, enforcement defense, and regulatory compliance.

Her legal practice involves advising on requirements under major federal environmental statutes, specifically the Clean Water Act and the Clean Air Act. She also works with federal and state frameworks regarding chemical regulations and hazardous waste.

Barrientos represents clients in matters related to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), including workplace safety compliance, citations, and inspections.

Her practice focuses on highly regulated industries, including real estate, chemical production, manufacturing, and energy. She is also engaged with evolving regulatory issues, such as PFAS and other contaminants.

Organizational Context and Leadership

The 2026 class of fellows includes 19 accomplished attorneys, which ACOEL President Alexandra Dapolito Dunn stated will increase the depth and strength of the organization’s bench. This specific class also includes the third international fellow in the organization’s history.

On behalf of the fellows, I am delighted to welcome the class of 2026 to the College. The addition of these 19 accomplished attorneys will increase the strength and depth of the ACOEL bench. This class represents the best of the best across the United States, and includes our third international fellow.

Alexandra Dapolito Dunn, ACOEL President

The organization emphasizes values of integrity, rigor in expertise, and a balanced, objective perspective. Its members come from diverse backgrounds and practices to understand how environmental laws can be used to advance common goals.

ACOEL Initiatives and Rule of Law

Beyond the election of new fellows, ACOEL maintains a focus on the legal foundations of environmental protection. In July 2025, the College released a policy statement regarding the Environmental Rule of Law, asserting an unwavering commitment to the rule of law as the foundation for environmental law and protection.

The organization also engages in ongoing academic and professional discourse through insights provided by its fellows. Recent topics of focus have included:

• The protection of confidential business information (CBI) under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA).
• The impact of artificial intelligence, data centers, and the environment.
• Climate litigation and the persuasion of states regarding such litigation.
• The role of artificial intelligence within state legislatures.
• The impact of the administration on the Endangerment Finding.

Support for Future Practitioners

The ACOEL Foundation also operates the ACOEL Honors Intern Scholarship Program. For the summer of 2026, the foundation awarded $10,000 scholarships to five second-year law students pursuing full-time environmental law internships within government agencies or non-profit organizations.

The 2026 program was overseen by ACOEL Fellows Chris Locke of Locke Law Group and Kate Campbell of Manko Gold Katcher and Fox. Recipients include Celeste Baro, a second-year student at the University of Colorado Law School, who accepted an internship with the Colorado Department of Law’s Natural Resources and Environment Section.