Erin J. Greten, an attorney with nearly two decades of experience working for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and in other preparedness, response, and recovery roles with the federal government, has joined Baker Donelson as a member of the Firm's Disaster Recovery and Government Services Team in the Washington, D.C. office.
Joining as Of Counsel, Ms. Greten focuses her practice on disaster response and recovery assistance laws, government contracting, and public policy.
Prior to joining Baker Donelson, Ms. Greten served as the career senior executive Chief Counsel of the First Responder Network Authority, where she proactively managed and resolved legal issues of all types for the federal agency responsible for the nationwide public safety broadband network known as FirstNet. Prior to that, she served as FEMA's Associate Chief Counsel for Regional & Field Operations, where she was responsible for the delivery of legal services to FEMA at all presidentially-declared disasters and emergencies nationwide, as well as FEMA's ten regional offices. Ms. Greten also served as FEMA's Deputy Associate Chief Counsel for Recovery, where she was principal legal advisor for FEMA's more than $5 billion disaster recovery programs. In addition, she served as FEMA's Assistant Chief Counsel for Regulation & Policy, where she developed, implemented, and managed FEMA's regulatory program.
Before joining FEMA, Ms. Greten worked with the U.S. Coast Guard as a regulatory attorney and practiced commercial litigation in a private law firm.
"Given her substantive experience, Erin is uniquely qualified to advise clients on their disaster preparedness, response, and recovery efforts," said Ernest B. Abbott, Co-Leader of Baker Donelson's Disaster Recovery and Government Services Team. "Her knowledge of FEMA's programs and broad practical understanding of federal operations will be invaluable to clients in their efforts to leverage, maximize, and maintain vital disaster assistance."
With attorneys and advisors across the Firm's footprint, Baker Donelson's Disaster Recovery and Government Services Team provides legal and regulatory advice, training and consulting services in the areas of disaster mitigation, preparedness, response, recovery, and insurance. These professionals work proactively with the government and non-profit entities eligible for FEMA assistance. They also support contractors providing both disaster grant services and construction of federally funded recovery projects, to provide legal and regulatory advice, compliance, and services that maximize access to federal funding, assure its effective use and, as needed, coordinate and negotiate with other governmental entities to maintain funding previously received. Team members have helped manage large-scale grants involving billions of dollars in post-disaster FEMA and U.S. Housing and Urban Development (HUD) funding across the nation, including successful collaborative response and recovery efforts in Louisiana, Tennessee, Texas, Mississippi, New York, New Jersey, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.