William T. "Bill" Gorton III

William T. "Bill" Gorton III


Stites & Harbison, PLLC

Recognized since 2007

Lexington, Kentucky

Practice Areas

Energy Law

Environmental Law

Mining Law

Natural Resources Law

Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2024 - Environmental Law
Send William T. "Bill" Gorton III an email at wgorton@stites.com Navigate to map location for William T. "Bill" Gorton III
Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2024 - Environmental Law Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2022 - Environmental Law
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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.

Location
  • 250 West Main Street, Suite 2300
    Lexington, KY 40507-1758
Languages
  • English
Education
  • University of Kentucky, J.D., with distinction, graduated 1988
  • Penn State, B.S., Man-Environment Relations, emphasis in Natural Systems, graduated 1976
Bar Admissions
  • Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania Bar Association
  • Kentucky, Kentucky Bar Association
Affiliations
  • American Bar Association - Member
  • Kentucky Bar Association - Member
  • Pennsylvania Bar Association - Member
  • Energy and Mineral Law Foundation - Trustee
Court Admissions
  • 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

Stites & Harbison, PLLC
Headquarters: Louisville, Kentucky

98 The Best Lawyers in America® awards

26 Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America awards

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Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2024 - Environmental Law Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2022 - Environmental Law
Named "Lawyer of the Year" by Best Lawyers® for:
  • Environmental Law, Lexington (2024)
  • Environmental Law, Lexington (2022)
Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® 2024 for work in:
  • Energy Law
  • Environmental Law
  • Mining Law
  • Natural Resources Law
Special Focus:
  • Administrative
  • Coal
  • Contract
  • COVID-19
  • 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)
Additional Areas of Practice:
  • Oil and Gas Law

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Publications

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