As counsel for Google Inc.’s $1.3 billion renewable energy and alternative investment portfolio, Yana Kravtsova has helped the tech giant pour money into solar and wind projects around the state and around the globe. Kravtsova came to the legal profession back in her home country of Russia in the 1990s. “At that time it was a very dynamic field. The country was going through many political and economic changes and the legal system had to reform itself to meet the demands of a new society,” she says. “I found that fascinating and wanted to be part of that change in the rules.” When she moved to the U.S. and began practicing in Washington, D.C., she wanted to focus on transactional work, where she was drawn to the tangible impact. After practicing at firms for nearly a decade, she went in-house, joining First Wind as associate general counsel in 2010. She left for Google a year and a half later.
What do you enjoy most about your work? I love that the renewable energy industry is constantly evolving. It’s a very dynamic area that keeps me learning every day both legal and industry issues and that makes it interesting and intellectually challenging. On a personal note, I really enjoy working with our Google team—it’s a smart and creative crew, people are very friendly and have a great sense of humor, so that makes your daily routine more fun.
