Best Lawyers logo
  • Lawyers
  • Methodology
  • NEW! Ones to Watch
  • Partnerships
  • Nominate a Lawyer
  • Log In
  • Lawyers
    • Advanced Search
    • COVID-19 Assistance
    • Featured Ones to Watch
    • Lawyer of the Year
    • Highlighted Lawyers
    • Nominate a Lawyer
  • Methodology
    • Overview
    • Ones to Watch
    • Editorial Timelines
    • Practice Areas
    • Publicizing Guidelines
    • FAQ
  • Publications
    • Family Law
    • New York Area
    • Canada
    • South Florida
    • Southern California
    • Northern California
    • Tampa
    • Midwest
  • Legal Insights
    • Featured Articles
    • In the News
    • Advisory Board
    • Meet the Board
    • Press & Events
  • About
    • Global Presence
    • Company History
    • Leadership
  • Ones to Watch
  • Partnerships
  • Nominate a Lawyer
  • Log In Log In
  • Nominate a Lawyer
  • Log In

Lawyer Profile

Image of Christopher B. Power

Christopher B. Power

Babst Calland
  • Recognized Since:
    2003
  • Recognized in:
    Commercial Litigation
    Energy Law...
  • Website:
    http://www.babstcalland.com
  • Firm's Phone Number:
    (304) 357.0900
  • Gender:
    Male
  • Location:
    300 Summers Street, Suite 1000
    Charleston, WV 25301

Area of Emphasis

Kip Power is a shareholder in the Energy and Natural Resources and Litigation Services groups of Babst Calland. Mr. Power helps clients comply with environmental laws and defend related litigation while keeping their businesses running profitably. He represents companies when permitting and enforcement disputes arise, and he has successfully negotiated favorable resolutions of matters under a wide range of federal and state environmental programs.

Mr. Power also defends lawsuits by private parties claiming they have been harmed by natural resource extraction and other industrial operations. Recognizing the value of alternative dispute resolution, he has represented clients in mediation and arbitration, served as mediator in a variety of cases, and was a party-selected arbitrator in a major mineral development dispute that involved nearly 50 hearing days.

Mr. Power has served as counsel in several significant cases in federal and state courts. These include W.Va. Dept. of Transportation v. CDS Family Trust, LLC, No. 16-1163 (W. Va. Supreme Court; 2017) (addressing standards for determining just compensation owed by the government for property that could serve as an environmental compensatory mitigation area), EQT Prod. Co. v. Wender, No. 16-1938 (4th Circuit 2017) (finding county ordinance was preempted by state environmental laws); Ohio Valley Envtl. Coal. Inc. v. Maple Coal Company, Civil Action No. 3:11-0009 (S.D. W.Va. 2011) (obtained ruling that plaintiffs failed to establish standing to assert one of two Clean Water Act citizens suit claims); Citizens Coal Council v. Norton, 330 F.3d 478 (D.C. Cir. 2003) (representing amicus Interstate Mining Compact Commission in successfully defending an Interior Department policy addressing statutory set-backs); Hughes River Watershed Conservancy v. Johnson, 165 F.3d 283 (4th Cir. 1999) (successful defense of dam construction approvals issued to the client by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers); Arch Mineral Corp. v. Babbitt, 894 F. Supp. 974 (S.D.W.Va. 1995) (finding that the federal five-year statute of limitations applied to prohibit “permit-blocking” actions against the client by the U.S. Department of Interior); and Francis O. Day Co., Inc. v. West Virginia Reclamation Bd. of Review, 424 S.E.2d 763 (W.Va. 1992) (requiring that an appeal to a deadlocked environmental appeal board be heard by the circuit court).

Background

Mr. Power graduated, cum laude, from Washington and Lee University with his B.A. in Economics in 1983. He received his M.B.A from the West Virginia University College of Business and Economics in 1985 and his J.D. from the West Virginia University College of Law in 1986.

Memberships and Affiliations

Mr. Power is admitted to practice in West Virginia, Kentucky, the United States District Courts for the Northern and Southern Districts of West Virginia and the Eastern District of Kentucky, the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth, Sixth and Ninth and the District of Columbia Circuits, and the U.S. Supreme Court. He is a member of the West Virginia Manufacturers Association, Independent Oil and Gas Association of West Virginia, West Virginia Coal Association, West Virginia Oil and Natural Gas Association, Energy and Mineral Law Foundation, the Defense Trial Counsel of West Virginia, the Federalist Society and the Christian Legal Society. He is also a volunteer with HospiceCare, Inc. and Legal Aid of West Virginia.

Mr. Power has been ranked in Chambers USA’s America’s Leading Business Lawyers in the Natural Resources: Environment Section. He has been listed in The Best Lawyers of America© for Environmental Law since 2003 and is also listed for Natural Resources Law, Mining Law, Energy Law, Commercial Litigation, Litigation – Environmental, Litigation – Land Use and Zoning, Litigation – Municipal, Litigation – Regulatory Enforcement (SEC, Telecom, Energy), Oil and Gas Law. Mr. Power was named the Best Lawyers® 2019 Environmental Law “Lawyer of the Year” in Charleston, W.Va. He has also been recognized as a West Virginia Super Lawyer. Mr. Power is rated “AV Preeminent” (scoring 5 out of 5 – the highest rating for legal ability and ethical standards) by the Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review Rating System.

Continue Reading
  • Lawyer Bio
  • Client Comments
  • Lawyer Practice Areas
  • Firm Details

Lawyer Bio

Area of Emphasis

Kip Power is a shareholder in the Energy and Natural Resources and Litigation Services groups of Babst Calland. Mr. Power helps clients comply with environmental laws and defend related litigation while keeping their businesses running profitably. He represents companies when permitting and enforcement disputes arise, and he has successfully negotiated favorable resolutions of matters under a wide range of federal and state environmental programs.

Mr. Power also defends lawsuits by private parties claiming they have been harmed by natural resource extraction and other industrial operations. Recognizing the value of alternative dispute resolution, he has represented clients in mediation and arbitration, served as mediator in a variety of cases, and was a party-selected arbitrator in a major mineral development dispute that involved nearly 50 hearing days.

Mr. Power has served as counsel in several significant cases in federal and state courts. These include W.Va. Dept. of Transportation v. CDS Family Trust, LLC, No. 16-1163 (W. Va. Supreme Court; 2017) (addressing standards for determining just compensation owed by the government for property that could serve as an environmental compensatory mitigation area), EQT Prod. Co. v. Wender, No. 16-1938 (4th Circuit 2017) (finding county ordinance was preempted by state environmental laws); Ohio Valley Envtl. Coal. Inc. v. Maple Coal Company, Civil Action No. 3:11-0009 (S.D. W.Va. 2011) (obtained ruling that plaintiffs failed to establish standing to assert one of two Clean Water Act citizens suit claims); Citizens Coal Council v. Norton, 330 F.3d 478 (D.C. Cir. 2003) (representing amicus Interstate Mining Compact Commission in successfully defending an Interior Department policy addressing statutory set-backs); Hughes River Watershed Conservancy v. Johnson, 165 F.3d 283 (4th Cir. 1999) (successful defense of dam construction approvals issued to the client by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers); Arch Mineral Corp. v. Babbitt, 894 F. Supp. 974 (S.D.W.Va. 1995) (finding that the federal five-year statute of limitations applied to prohibit “permit-blocking” actions against the client by the U.S. Department of Interior); and Francis O. Day Co., Inc. v. West Virginia Reclamation Bd. of Review, 424 S.E.2d 763 (W.Va. 1992) (requiring that an appeal to a deadlocked environmental appeal board be heard by the circuit court).

Background

Mr. Power graduated, cum laude, from Washington and Lee University with his B.A. in Economics in 1983. He received his M.B.A from the West Virginia University College of Business and Economics in 1985 and his J.D. from the West Virginia University College of Law in 1986.

Memberships and Affiliations

Mr. Power is admitted to practice in West Virginia, Kentucky, the United States District Courts for the Northern and Southern Districts of West Virginia and the Eastern District of Kentucky, the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth, Sixth and Ninth and the District of Columbia Circuits, and the U.S. Supreme Court. He is a member of the West Virginia Manufacturers Association, Independent Oil and Gas Association of West Virginia, West Virginia Coal Association, West Virginia Oil and Natural Gas Association, Energy and Mineral Law Foundation, the Defense Trial Counsel of West Virginia, the Federalist Society and the Christian Legal Society. He is also a volunteer with HospiceCare, Inc. and Legal Aid of West Virginia.

Mr. Power has been ranked in Chambers USA’s America’s Leading Business Lawyers in the Natural Resources: Environment Section. He has been listed in The Best Lawyers of America© for Environmental Law since 2003 and is also listed for Natural Resources Law, Mining Law, Energy Law, Commercial Litigation, Litigation – Environmental, Litigation – Land Use and Zoning, Litigation – Municipal, Litigation – Regulatory Enforcement (SEC, Telecom, Energy), Oil and Gas Law. Mr. Power was named the Best Lawyers® 2019 Environmental Law “Lawyer of the Year” in Charleston, W.Va. He has also been recognized as a West Virginia Super Lawyer. Mr. Power is rated “AV Preeminent” (scoring 5 out of 5 – the highest rating for legal ability and ethical standards) by the Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review Rating System.

  • Education
  • Bar Admissions
  • Award List
  • Additional Information
  • Lawyer of the Year Badge
  • Lawyer of the Year Badge
  • Lawyer of the Year Badge

Education:

  • West Virginia University, graduated 1985
  • West Virginia University, graduated 1986
  • Washington and Lee University , graduated 1983

Bar Admissions:

  • Kentucky, Kentucky Bar Association
  • West Virginia, The West Virginia State Bar

Named "Lawyer of the Year" by Best Lawyers for:

  • Natural Resources Law, Charleston, WV (2021)
  • Litigation - Environmental, Charleston, WV (2020)
  • Environmental Law, Charleston, WV (2019)
 

Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America for work in:

  • Commercial Litigation
  • Energy Law
  • Environmental Law
  • Litigation - Environmental
  • Litigation - Land Use and Zoning
  • Litigation - Municipal
  • Litigation - Regulatory Enforcement (SEC, Telecom, Energy)
  • Mining Law
  • Natural Resources Law
  • Oil and Gas Law

Special Focus:

  • Administrative
  • Administrative/Regulatory
  • Clean Water Act
  • Coal
  • Counseling
  • Energy
  • Energy Companies
  • Enforcement Defense
  • Environmental
  • Environmental Permitting
  • Land Use and Zoning
  • Litigation
  • Mining
  • Permitting
  • Plaintiffs/Citizen's Suits
  • Regulatory
  • Toxic Tort
  • Water
 

Lawyer Client Comments

Lawyer Practice Areas

Key: Awarded in Best Lawyers Not Currently Awarded for this Area in Best Lawyers

Firm Details

Image for Babst Calland View Firm Profile
Babst Calland
http://www.babstcalland.com
 
Headquarters
Two Gateway Center, Sixth Floor
603 Stanwix Street
Pittsburgh, PA 15222
(412) 394.5400
6 Office Locations
in 1 Country

United States

United States

District of Columbia

District of Columbia

Washington, DC

505 Ninth Street, NW, Suite 700

Washington, DC 20004

United States

(202) 853.3455

Get Directions

New Jersey

New Jersey

Sewell, NJ

380-A Tylers Mill Road

Sewell, NJ 08080

United States

(856) 256.2495

Get Directions

Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania

State College, PA

330 Innovation Boulevard, Suite 302

State College, PA 16803

United States

(814) 867.8055

Get Directions

Texas

Texas

The Woodlands, TX

Suite 250

21 Waterway Avenue

The Woodlands, TX 77380

United States

(281) 453.2522

Get Directions

West Virginia

West Virginia

Charleston, WV

300 Summers Street, Suite 1000

Charleston, WV 25301

United States

(681) 205.8888

Get Directions

 
Add Comment
In making your comments, please do not refer to a pending legal matter.
(*) Required Fields
There was an error during saving, please try again.
If you continue to get this message, please contact us at info@bestlawyers.com or 803.648.0300 for assistance.
Please complete the captcha then submit.
Your comment was saved successfully!
Thank you for your feedback.
  • Find a Lawyer
  • Nominate a Lawyer
  • Legal Insights
  • Contact Us
Lawyers 
  • Advanced Search
  • COVID-19 Assistance
  • Featured Ones to Watch
  • Lawyer of the Year
  • Highlighted Lawyers
  • Nominate a Lawyer
  • Find a Lawyer
Methodology
  • Overview
  • Ones to Watch
  • Editorial Timelines
  • Practice Areas
  • Publicizing Guidelines
  • FAQ
Publications
  • Business Editions
  • Regional Editions
  • Partnerships
  • Become a Contributor
Legal Insights
  • Featured Articles
  • In the News
  • Advisory Board
  • Meet the Board
  • Press & Events
  • Best Law Firms
  • Subscribe
About
  • Global Presence
  • Company History
  • Leadership
  • Founders
  • Press Releases
  • Testimonials
  • Contact Us
  • Careers
My Account
  • Log In
  • Store
  • Marketing Guidance
Best Lawyers Best Lawyers logo +1-803-648-0300
801 Broad Street, Suite 950 Augusta, GA 30901
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • Facebook
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Lawyer Directory
  • Best Law Firms

© 2010-2021 Best Lawyers — All Rights Reserved.

BL Icon

LEGAL INSIGHTS

by Best Lawyers®



Get the latest insights on the news, trends, and people that shape the global legal field with our weekly email digest.

Please enter a valid email address.

You have already subscribed.





PRIVACY POLICY

Thank you for subscribing.