Best Lawyers in America for Environmental Law

H.S. Bartlett III (“Tad”), who leads the firm’s Appellate Practice, focuses on appellate advocacy and brings deep experience across state and federal courts nationwide. An Appellate Practice Specialist certified by the Louisiana Board of Legal Specialization , he serves as the 2026-2027 Secretary of the LBLS Appellate Practice Advisory Commission . Tad has built a nationally recognized appellate practice, representing clients in all Louisiana state courts, multiple federal c...

Chris Berka is a nationally recognized trial lawyer with a practice focusing on environmental, real estate, energy, natural resources, product liability and contract matters. He has resolved more than two hundred cases for clients in a range of industries and sectors, including technology, aerospace, oil and natural gas, wind energy, real estate development, pharmaceuticals, higher education, transportation, news media, mining and consumer products. In addition to his litigation practice, Chr...

Alex Prochaska is special counsel in the Corporate and Litigation practice groups, where he focuses his practice on environmental law. Alex defends clients in enforcement actions brought by state and federal agencies alleging violations of environmental laws including the Clean Air Act (CAA), Clean Water Act (CWA), Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), Coastal Zone Management Act, and their state counterparts. Alex also counsels clients in responding to information requests from gove...

Deborah Schmall is widely recognized as one of the leading environmental law practitioners in California. She recently served as the Co-Chair of the Global Environment and Energy Practice at Paul Hastings. She is ranked Band One in Chambers for California Environmental Law. Starting with her career at the U.S. Justice Department’s Environmental Enforcement Section, where she prosecuted civil and criminal enforcement matters under a range of federal environmental laws, Deborah has practi...

Jill has a wide variety of experience in environmental and safety counseling and litigation. She has handled many Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) compliance and enforcement matters for clients across the country including matters involving fatalities and serious injuries, challenging Citations, advising on OSHA programs and procedures, and submitting comments on and challenging new OSHA standards. Jill’s environmental practice is equally varied and includes designin...

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 ...

Meghan Smith is co-team leader of the firm's environmental litigation team and a member of the Energy, Environmental & Natural Resources and Construction industry teams. She focuses her practice on environmental/toxic tort, construction and energy litigation and arbitration, as well as regulatory compliance. Meghan's blend of litigation and regulatory-compliance experience, as well as her focus on environmental, construction, and energy-related matters, has positioned her as a go-to lawye...

Daniel R. Golub is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Environmental Law and Land Use and Zoning Law. Daniel R., who practices law in San Francisco, California, has been recognized since 2023. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Daniel R. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

David J. Topping is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Environmental Law. David J., who practices law in New Orleans, Louisiana, has been recognized since 2024. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which David J. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Amanda J. Monchamp is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Environmental Law, Land Use and Zoning Law and Litigation - Environmental. Amanda J., who practices law in San Francisco, California, has been recognized since 2018. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Amanda J. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Thomas H. Prol is a Member of Sills Cummis & Gross. He practices business and litigation strategy with a focus on environmental, land use, and redevelopment law. Thomas Prol was appointed Chair of the New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission (ELEC) by New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy in June 2023. In that role, he and his fellow commissioners oversee fiscal monitoring of Garden State election candidates and campaigns, monitor state independent expenditure committees, and regulate sta...

Jeffrey D. Stemerick is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Commercial Litigation, Environmental Law and Litigation - Environmental. Jeffrey D., who practices law in Indianapolis, Indiana, has been recognized since 2025. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Jeffrey D. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Lisa Gilbreath is a partner in the Environmental, Land Use, and Energy Infrastructure Development, Acquisition & Financing practice groups. Lisa works on a wide variety of environmental and energy matters, offering clients strategic advice in regulatory, legislative, and judicial proceedings. In her environmental practice, Lisa assists clients with numerous issues including energy project development permitting, energy and environmental litigation, air quality legislative and regulatory a...

Environmental lawyer Jennifer Baker guides commercial and industrial clients and landowners through virtually all phases of remediation projects and environmental litigation. She assists clients in resolving their contaminated site issues, as well as provides strategic, cost-effective approaches to addressing potential and existing environmental liabilities and demands. Jennifer practices as part of the firm’s Environmental Department, which has been frequently recognized as Tier 1 for ...

Matthew G. Paulson is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Environmental Law and Litigation - Environmental. Matthew G., who practices law in Austin, Texas, has been recognized since 2014. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Matthew G. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

William H. Satterfield is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Environmental Law. William H., who practices law in Birmingham, Alabama, has been recognized since 1989. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which William H. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.