M.C. Hammond

M.C. Hammond has been practicing nuclear energy law for nearly 10 years at both Pillsbury and the Department of Energy (DOE). She recently returned to Pillsbury from the DOE, where she advised on over $2.9 billion in nuclear loans and awards within the past three years.

While at DOE, M.C. served as the lead nuclear regulatory counsel for the Department’s $1.52 billion loan guarantee for the first-of-a-kind restart of the Palisades Nuclear Generating Station. M.C. was also nuclear regulatory counsel for the DOE’s Civil Nuclear Credit Program’s $1.1 billion award to Diablo Canyon Power Plant, including extensive advice on National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) issues.

She also co-led the development of a groundbreaking $300 million Advanced Reactor Demonstration Program award for Kairos Power at the DOE.

During her time at Pillsbury, M.C. advised clients on complex licensing and enforcement proceedings before the NRC, including license renewals, license transfers and the first below-ground-interim-storage facility for spent nuclear fuel.

M.C. is also a leading practitioner in nuclear liability law and has—by invitation of the International Atomic Energy Association—taught workshops on nuclear liability law and regulation to nuclear newcomer countries, including in the Baltics, Southeast Asia and the Middle East.

Representative Experience

Lead nuclear regulatory counsel for DOE’s Loans Program Office $1.52 billion loan guarantee for the restart of Palisades Nuclear Generating Station.
Lead nuclear regulatory and NEPA counsel for DOE’s Civil Nuclear Credit Program $1.1 billion award to Diablo Canyon Power Plant.
Co-lead on development and award of $300 million first-of-a-kind, milestone-based-project award for DOE’s Advanced Reactor Demonstration Program.

Provided nuclear liability advice and counsel on DOE’s Price Anderson Act and the Convention on Supplementary Compensation for Nuclear Damage, including analyses of foreign nuclear liability laws.

Representing the United States in the negotiation of civil nuclear treaties and international agreements.

Assisted the Energy Infrastructure & Projects team with FERC and state Public Utility Commission compliance.

Advised utilities and advanced reactor companies on nuclear export control compliance, including DOE Part 810 and NRC Part 110 export controls.

Professional Highlights

Northwestern University Law Review, Editor-in-Chief

Publications
- Bridging the Gap: How Nuclear-Derived Zero-Carbon Fuels Can Help Decarbonize Marine Shipping, Clean Air Task Force (Aug. 2021), Authors, Mike Fowler, Meghan Claire Hammond, Jonathan Lewis, Jeffrey Merrifield and Bret Rampal
- Advanced Reactors: Pathways to Demonstration and Commercialization, Clean Energy for Biden (Nov. 2020), Authors, Meghan Claire Hammond, Suzanne Hobbs Baker, Jessica R. Lovering, Jennifer T. Gordon, Jackie Kempfer, Daniel M. Kammen and Juan Vitali
- Preliminary Feasibility Study for Small Modular Reactors and Microreactors for Puerto Rico, prepared for the Department of Energy (May 2020). Contributor.
- A Brexit Blindspot? U.S. Retransfer Consent Rights, Nuclear Engineering Int’l (Feb. 8, 2019), Authors, Jim Glasgow and Meghan Claire Hammond
- Without Unnecessary Delay: Using Army Regulation 190-8 to Curtail Extended Detention at Sea, 110 NW. U. L. REV. 1303 (2016). Author.

Presentations & Media Appearances
- The Argument with Jane Coaston, Opinion: Should America Go Nuclear?, N.Y. Times (Apr. 21, 2021)
- Deployment of Advanced Technologies at Nuclear Facilities: Ethical and Legal Considerations, World Institute of Nuclear Security (Vienna, Austria), Autonomous and Remotely Operated Systems: Benefits and Challenges to Nuclear Security (Apr. 4, 2019)
- Pursuing Advanced Nuclear in the Millennial Economy, New Leader’s Council (Chicago), Millennial Compact with America (Sept. 15 & 16, 2017)

Professional International Affiliations
- Chair, Technical Working Group, Convention on Supplementary Compensation for Nuclear Damage
- Member, Nuclear Liability and Insurance Working Group, International Nuclear Law Association
- Member, Working Party on Nuclear Liability and Transport, Nuclear Law Committee, OECD Nuclear Energy Agency

Education

J.D., Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law, 2016
cum laude

B.S., University of Tennessee, 2006
magna cum laude

Admissions

District of Columbia

Virginia

Courts

U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia

Clerkships

Law Clerk, Hon. G. Michael Harvey, U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, Washington, DC, October 2017 – October 2018

Areas of Focus

Practices

Representative Experience

Professional Highlights

M.C.'s Insights