Biography

Marcella Burke is an environmental lawyer who specializes in energy, industrial, and natural resources enforcement matters. She provides strategic counseling and policy guidance in the complex arenas of environmental and natural resources law and handles complex environmental and natural resources litigation, permitting, and compliance issues. Marcella began her legal career as an energy attorney in AmLaw 100 law firms, where she earned equity partnership. She served in the Environmental Protection Agency as Deputy General Counsel, and in the Department of Interior as Deputy Solicitor for Energy and Natural Resources, where she managed the litigation docket and regulatory portfolio for energy and natural resource permitting and project development on federal lands. In 2023, Governor Abbott appointed Marcella as one of four members of the School Land Board, which manages the sale and leasing of 13 million acres of Texas state lands. Marcella has served in leadership roles with the State Bar of Texas Environmental Division, the Foundation for Natural Resources and Energy Law, and the Institute for Energy Law. served in leadership roles with the State Bar of Texas Environmental Division, the Foundation for Natural Resources and Energy Law, and the Institute for Energy Law.

Clerkships

• Hon. Don R. Willett, Supreme Court of Texas
• Hon. Jennifer Walker Elrod, United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit (extern)
• Hon. Nancy Atlas, United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas (extern)
• Hon. Sherry Radack, Court of Appeals for the First District of Texas (extern)

Professional Recognition

• 2026 Lawdragon 100 Managing Partners You Need to Know
• Women We Admire, Top 50 Women Leaders in Houston
• Petroleum Economist, Global Top 100 Women of the Energy Transition
• National Law Journal, Trailblazer Award for Energy/Environmental Law
• Lawdragon 500 Leading Environmental & Energy Lawyers
• Legal 500 United States