Maria Dambriunas

Maria is an Associate Attorney at ELPC where she focuses on threats to the Great Lakes and matters involving clean energy. Prior to joining ELPC, Maria served as a judicial law clerk to the Honorable Nancy L. Maldonado of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. Before clerking, Maria served as an Assistant Regional Counsel at the U.S. EPA Region 5 Office where she brought administrative actions to enforce federal environmental statutes and regulations. While in law school, Maria gained clinical experience in the Emmett Environmental Law & Policy Clinic, Harvard’s Crimmigration Clinic, and the Consumer Protection Clinic at Harvard’s Legal Services Center. Maria is a member of the District of Columbia Bar. In her free time, Maria enjoys figure skating, yoga, and studying Spanish.

WHAT’S A PLACE YOU LOVE IN THE MIDWEST?

I love Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan and the trail that leads to Chapel Rock by way of a beautifully lush forest. As a Chicago resident, I also feel so lucky to have New Buffalo, Michigan so close by and accessible by train to escape city life for a weekend.

WHAT DRIVES YOU TO DO THIS WORK?

I firmly believe that all living beings deserve a clean and safe environment. I’m honored to fight for policies that protect ecosystems of the Midwest. Given the climate crisis that is already causing tremendous damage and suffering around the world, I am honored to fight for policies that encourage clean energy usage in Midwest.