George House practices in the field of environmental law. He has experience in virtually every substantive and procedural matter involving environmental law, with extensive litigation experience before administrative hearing offices, judges, juries, and appellate courts.
Some cases George has recently handled involved successfully obtaining permits based upon complex Environmental Impact Statements, the finalization of innovative agreements for the cleanup of contaminated properties, the litigation to favorable judgment of CERCLA cost recovery cases in North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Massachusetts, the successful litigation of several major insurance coverage cases in North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Tennessee and Massachusetts, the resolution of air permitting issues in New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, North Carolina, Georgia, Tennessee, Mississippi, and Florida, and the defense and favorable resolution of major Clean Water Act citizen suits.
George represents textile manufacturing companies, furniture manufacturing companies, foundries, mining companies, integrated forest products producing and manufacturing companies, real estate developers, metallurgical companies, oil products distribution companies, communication companies, and a large number of municipal governments on environmental matters.
Honors & Awards
- Served as Captain, U.S. Army Judge Advocate General's Corps (1969-76) and was awarded an MSM
- Listed in The Best Lawyers in America for Environmental Law, Natural Resources Law, Water Law, Litigation--Environmental, and Mining Law since 1989
- Recognized as a member of Business North Carolina magazine's "Legal Elite" Hall of Fame and recognized as "Legal Elite" for Litigation (2005), and Environmental and Natural Resources Law (2002-2004)
- Recognized by Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyers for Business for Environmental Law, (2004-2018)
- Recognized by North Carolina Super Lawyers in Environmental Law, 2006-2018; "Top 100" (2007-2008)
- Received the 2013 Ed Kitchen Award from Downtown Greensboro Inc. for Community Service and Leadership
Professional & Community Activities
- Board of Directors, Greensboro Science Center
- Board of Directors, Pisgah Astronomical Research Institute
- Chair (2001-02), Vice Chair (2000-01), Secretary (1999-2000), Treasurer (1998-99), of the Environmental and Natural Resources Law Section, North Carolina Bar Association
- Member, Board of Visitors, Guilford College, 2001--2009
- Appointment by the North Carolina Governor to Chair the Advisory Commission for the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, 2000--2013, and Member, 1995--2014
- Member, Board of Directors, Downtown Greensboro, Inc. (DGI), 2006--2014
- Director (1990-2002), Vice President for Development (2002), President (1997-99), and Recording Secretary/Legal Advisor (1990-95), Greensboro Opera Company
- President, UNC-G Angels Theatre Support Group, 1989-91
- Member, Board of Directors and Executive Committee, Legal Counsel, Greensboro United Arts Council, 1988-2003
- Director, Guilford County Cattleman's Association, 1988-90
- Trustee, New Garden Friends Meeting
- Various committee Chairmanships, Greensboro Kiwanis Club
Publications and Presentations
- "Public Participation in Constructing a Safer Building," Workshop on Building Vulnerability and Protection against Chemical and Biological Agents, North Carolina A&T State University, November 9, 2005
- Panel on DENR Reorganization, “State of the State and Playing by the New Rules,” North Carolina Bar Foundation, Continuing Legal Education, January 30, 2008
- Panel on “Due Diligence: What Can and Should be Done and How to Negotiate to Allocate Risk in Commercial Real Estate Transactions,” Annual Meeting of the Environment, Energy and Natural Resources Section of the North Carolina Bar Association, April 23-24, 2010
News
- Brooks Pierce Partner George House Awarded Certificate of Appreciation by EPA
- Brooks Pierce Attorney Receives Downtown Greensboro's Ed Kitchen Leadership Award
- Brooks Pierce Lawyers Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® 2014
- Brooks Pierce Earns Top Rankings in 2011 Chambers USA
- Best Lawyers Names Two Brooks Pierce Partners ‘Lawyers of the Year’, Best Lawyers in America
- Brooks Pierce Attorneys Named Super Lawyers, North Carolina Super Lawyers
- House Chairs N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences Advisory Commission
- Environmental Lawyers Successful in PCS Phosphate Permitting Matter
