David Bernhardt has worked on Endangered Species Act matters for over twenty years; including while serving as the Solicitor of the Department of the Interior, as an attorney in private practice, and as a congressional aide. David has counseled the Secretary of the Interior and other Interior policymakers to help make challenging ESA decisions. He was also tasked with implementing and defending those decisions. In private practice, David has litigated against the federal agencies when failing to administer the act to protect species, as well as when administering the law in an arbitrary and capricious way. He also has extensive experience working with the Services to develop conservation plans, habitat conservation plans, and multi- species conservation plans.