Energy Law Environmental Law Mining Law Natural Resources Law
William T. "Bill" Gorton III
Recognized in Best Lawyers since 2007 Awarded Practice Areas
Biography
Bill Gorton is Chair of the Environmental, Natural Resources & Energy Service Group for the firm. He is national counsel to numerous clients on environmental regulatory and land and water resources matters. He advises healthcare clients in permitting, acquisitions and environmental compliance matters. Bill has represented clients in the waste management sector including acquisitions, due diligence, compliance and contracting. He has been counsel in the development of numerous independent gas, solar and waste-coal power plants. He has been Lead Counsel to numerous surety companies regarding over $4 billion in financial guarantees on bankrupt and/or defaulting mining operations, hazardous waste facilities and solid waste disposal facilities throughout the United States. He has been primary environmental counsel in the development of interstate pipeline associated with major natural gas resource development. He also counsels on large natural resource and energy, waste industry, business or corporate transactions, and project development assessing and addressing environmental regulatory issues and accomplishing clients' goals. Bill is also an Adjunct Professor of Environmental Law at the University of Kentucky's Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation program.
Before embarking on a law career, Mr. Gorton managed many projects as an environmental consultant on projects throughout the U.S.
Overview
- English
- University of Kentucky, J.D., with distinction, graduated 1988
- Penn State, B.S., Man-Environment Relations, emphasis in Natural Systems, graduated 1976
- Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania Bar Association
- Kentucky, Kentucky Bar Association
- American Bar Association - Member
- Kentucky Bar Association - Member
- Pennsylvania Bar Association - Member
- Energy and Mineral Law Foundation - Trustee
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky
- U.S. District Court for the Western District of Kentucky
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania
- U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania
- English
- Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania Bar Association
- Kentucky, Kentucky Bar Association
- American Bar Association - Member
- Kentucky Bar Association - Member
- Pennsylvania Bar Association - Member
- Energy and Mineral Law Foundation - Trustee
- University of Kentucky, J.D., with distinction, graduated 1988
- Penn State, B.S., Man-Environment Relations, emphasis in Natural Systems, graduated 1976
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky
- U.S. District Court for the Western District of Kentucky
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania
- U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania
Client Testimonials
Awards & Focus
Named "Lawyer of the Year" by Best Lawyers® for:
- Environmental Law, Lexington (2024)
- Environmental Law, Lexington (2022)
Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® 2026 for work in:
- Energy Law
- Environmental Law
- Mining Law
- Natural Resources Law
Additional Areas of Practice:
- Oil and Gas Law
Special Focus:
- Administrative
- Coal
- Contract
- Energy
- Energy Companies
- Environmental
- Legislative
- Mining
- Project Development
- Regulatory
- Timber
Awards:
- Martindale-Hubbell AV-rated
- ChambersUSA America's Leading Lawyers for Business
- Benchmark Litigation magazine, Litigation Star (2015-present)
- International Law Office and Lexology, Client Choice Award for Excellence in Client Service (2015)
News & Media
Additional Information
Case History
Cases
- Major U.S. Coal Company Bankruptcies
Represented many national sureties in bankruptcies of major coal company bankruptcies including Peabody Energy, Arch Coal, Alpha Natural Resources, Patriot Coal and others, working with debtors, federal and state regulatory agencies to develop plans for addressing $ billions in outstanding environmental and land reclamation liabilities.
- Gas Pipelines
Represented national pipeline company in environmental permitting under state and federal law and easement acquisitions for interstate pipeline from PA en route through TN.
- Landfills/Waste Beneficial Uses
Represent landfill operators in permitting and compliance issues, solid waste management planning with local governments, and landfill gas utilization. facilitated numerous projects utilizing CCR in land reclamation and other beneficial uses.
- Gold and other hard rock mining
Advise and represent surety clients in numerous defaults and/or bankruptcies of western U.S. gold mining/processing companies.
- Montana and Wyoming Powder River Basin Coal Company
- Advised and developed the state and federal reclamation financial assurance replacement program ($150 million) including permit transfer, owner/controller notice and collateral releases associated with Montana and Wyoming Powder River Basin Coal Company sales.
- New York Department of Insurance as Rehabilitator of Frontier Insurance Co.
- Acted as national counsel in coordinating matters for the New York Department of Insurance as Rehabilitator of Frontier Insurance Co. regarding surety exposure on over $1 billion for hazardous waste treatment, storage and disposal facilities, underground and surface coal mines, gold mines and processing facilities, solid waste disposal facilities, recycling facilities and other regulated industries throughout the United States.
- Timber Investment Management Organizations
- Counsel to major Timber Investment Management Organizations in the acquisition of large Appalachian timer tracts and surface rights.
- Major U.S. surety industry client
- Lead counsel to major U.S. surety industry client with the United States Department of Interior, Office of Surface Mining in federal rulemaking regarding “owner/controller” liability under the Surface Mine Control and Reclamation Act.
- Horizon Natural Resources bankruptcy
- Led a team of lawyers on behalf of a major surety company in the bankruptcy of Horizon Natural Resources, the largest coal company bankruptcy in U.S. history. The team developed strategies to assure land reclamation on over 400 mines under federal and five state regulatory programs while mitigating over $125 million in surety exposure.
- Power Plants
- Environmental counsel in development and/or financing of numerous independent power plant.
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