Peacock Piper is proud to announce that Frances Keeler has joined the firm. Frances’s unique background further strengthens the firm’s ability to assist and support its maritime, marine terminal, transportation, and energy industry clients in relation to the complex array of environmental laws to which they are subject, especially in the rapidly-developing area of air quality regulations.
Frances most recently was Vice President of the California Council for Environmental and Economic Balance (CCEEB), advocating for policies that protect public health while maintaining a strong economy. She led the South Coast Air Project and the Bay Area Project as Project Manager, with additional responsibilities in strategic management across all CCEEB projects.
Prior to joining CCEEB, Frances represented industrial, energy, and shipping companies before multiple regulatory entities, including air pollution control agencies, the California Air Resources Board, the California State Lands Commission, and the US Environmental Protection Agency. She has extensive experience in state and federal Clean Air Acts; district, state and federal regulatory development; permitting, credit trading, global climate change, the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), and environmental compliance auditing.
Before entering private practice, Frances held numerous positions at the South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD), including positions with enforcement and district counsel. Frances has been involved in the development of air quality management plans and rules that implement the plan, has extensive experience in permitting, compliance and CEQA issues, and was actively involved in the state and federal programs to regulate non-road sources such as locomotives, marine vessels and ground support equipment.
Frances has held numerous leadership roles in environmental and community capacities and continues her involvement in several associations including the Environmental Law Section of the State Bar of California, CSU Maritime Foundation, Women’s International Shipping and Trading Association, Maritime Lawyers Association (MLA), and the Harbor Association of Industry and Commerce (HAIC), among others. She is admitted into practice before the U.S. Supreme Court, the Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia and the California Courts.
