Katherine Sorrell is an associate whose practice focuses on ESG, preservation, and Indigenous heritage. She advises clients on best practices and processes for managing social risk resulting from large infrastructure projects, with the aim of achieving consensus between project developers, Indigenous Peoples, government agents, and other stakeholders.

Environmental, Social, and Governance

Katherine assists clients in aligning their practices, policies, and agreements with internationally recognized frameworks such as the Equator Principles, IFC Standards, and the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. She also helps clients understand the changing ESG landscape domestically, as agencies like the SEC increasingly move toward mandatory disclosure of ESG performance metrics. Specifically, she focuses on the application of these standards to developing site-specific strategies on the ground to mitigate the impact of projects on local communities and Indigenous groups.

Indigenous Heritage

Katherine advises tribal clients on governance issues, developing policies that enhance tribal sovereignty. She also advocates for tribal clients through engaging local, state, and federal officials in efforts to improve legislation related to protecting both tangible and intangible cultural heritage.

Section 106 Consultation

Katherine works with clients to reach agreement at all stages of the consultation process under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act. She assists clients in assessing project impacts and generating innovative solutions that mutually benefit developers, local governments, and tribes.

About Katherine

Prior to entering the legal field, Katherine spent over ten years developing expertise in program development, communications, research, and constituent engagement through work in international development and philanthropy. Her passion is discovering and implementing solutions for organizations facing real-world obstacles.

Katherine earned her Juris Doctor from William & Mary Law School. She has earned a Masters in Urbanisation and Development from the London School of Economics, a Masters in Sociology from the University of Notre Dame, and a Bachelor of Arts in Literature from Davidson College. Before joining CHP full time, she worked as a legal intern for the Immediate Office of the Registrar at the Kosovo Specialist Chambers in The Hague, Netherlands.