PNNL

RICHLAND, Wash.—Cindy Lovato-Farmer, a specialist in employment law with two decades of experience in legal and leadership positions at national laboratories, has been named general counsel at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory.

Lovato-Farmer joins the Department of Energy laboratory after serving as senior managing general law and litigation counsel at Sandia National Laboratories in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Prior to her time at Sandia, Lovato-Farmer led the Employment Law and Litigation Group at Los Alamos National Laboratory, also in New Mexico.

Lovato-Farmer has also been a partner at an Albuquerque law firm, where she handled employment law and civil rights defense litigation and appeals.

“Cindy is well regarded for her proactive risk management and strategic approach to solving complex problems,” said PNNL Director Steven Ashby. “She is respected by her colleagues for her legal acumen, management experience and relationship-building skills. She is a great addition to the laboratory’s senior leadership team and I look forward to her contributions to our continued success.”

PNNL’s Office of General Counsel provides legal services and guidance on a broad range of issues including negotiations involving PNNL’s operating contract, and drafting and negotiating legal agreements necessary to conduct business at PNNL. The office also oversees employee and labor relations, environmental safety and health regulatory compliance, human subjects research, protection of intellectual property rights, litigation, client counseling, and retention and management of outside counsel.

In her role as general counsel, Lovato-Farmer also provides support to Battelle's Pacific Northwest Division Board of Directors. Battelle manages and operates PNNL for DOE.

Lovato-Farmer earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism from New Mexico State University in Las Cruces, and a juris doctorate from the University of New Mexico School of Law in Albuquerque.