Innovative. Pragmatic. Collaborative.
Rachael Becker McEntee is a Shareholder at Bernstein Shur, specializing in energy, environmental, and land use law, with significant experience guiding renewable energy projects through development in New England.
She advises project sponsors, investors, and financial institutions on the development, acquisition, and sale of renewable energy projects, including solar, hydro, biomass, wind, landfill gas, anaerobic digestion, and transmission. She also represents clients before state public utilities commissions and provides counsel on environmental compliance and permitting.
Rachael helps clients navigate complex regulatory landscapes in New England and beyond with expertise with federal and state energy and environmental regulatory regimes, . She identifies risks early, anticipates challenges, and charts a path forward so clients can move ahead with confidence and deliver successful, profitable projects.
What she's great at
Rachael provides practical, end-to-end legal support across all phases of a project, from initial diligence through permitting, acquisition, and sale. Her core strengths include:
Renewable Energy Projects:
- Guiding clients through the lifecycle of renewable energy projects, from initial development to acquisition and sale.
Regulatory Representation:
- Advocating for clients in administrative and adjudicatory proceedings before regulatory bodies, including the Maine Public Utilities Commission.
Environmental Compliance:
- Advising on large-scale environmental remediation projects, permitting, and compliance with state and federal environmental regulations, including CERCLA, the Clean Water Act, and the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act.
How she delivers
Rachael takes a pragmatic, outcomes-focused approach. She prioritizes what will move a project forward—not theoretical wins—and is quick to pivot when a different path will get a better result. Drawing on experience in private practice, startups, and academia, she brings a multidisciplinary perspective and an unrelenting focus on solutions that align with her clients’ business objectives.
Why you'll enjoy working with her
Clients appreciate Rachael’s direct, no-nonsense style, her innovative thinking, and her collaborative approach. That combination of candor and persistence is what makes her a trusted advisor on the projects that matter most.
Who she is off the clock
Outside of her legal practice, Rachael enjoys hiking, traveling, and restoring her 130-year-old farmhouse with her husband and three children.