Best Lawyers in America for Environmental Law

Jeffrey B. Wagenbach is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Environmental Law and Litigation - Environmental. Jeffrey B., who practices law in Madison, New Jersey, has been recognized since 2003. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Jeffrey B. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Michael K. Stagg is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Environmental Law. Michael K., who practices law in Nashville, Tennessee, has been recognized since 2015. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Michael K. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

James A. Byram Jr. is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Commercial Litigation, Environmental Law, Insurance Law, Litigation - Environmental and Litigation - Real Estate. James A., who practices law in Montgomery, Alabama, has been recognized since 2007. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which James A. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Thomas L. Casey III is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Environmental Law and Litigation - Environmental. Thomas L., who practices law in Birmingham, Alabama, has been recognized since 2016. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Thomas L. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Ms. Johnson is active in the defense of complex environmental, toxic tort, chemical exposure, carbon monoxide, insurance coverage, medical monitoring, naturally occurring radioactive material (“NORM”) occupational injury cases, oyster, oil spill, pesticide, personal injury, property damage, and class action litigation. She also has an active mediation and appellate practice in the same areas. Ms. Johnson has particular abilities in defending premises owners, employers and their executive offi...

David N. Luder is the firm's managing partner. He maintains a varied arbitration and litigation practice covering a broad spectrum of industries and disputes. A key focus of David’s practice is financial services arbitration and litigation. He regularly represents domestic and international broker-dealers, banks, hedge funds and registered investment advisors in FINRA and AAA arbitrations across the country and institutional clients and individuals before regulatory bodies at all stages...

Amy leads the Environmental practice with a focus on the environmental aspects of real estate and business transactions, including coastal development. She has built trust with her clients by providing practical business advice regarding regulatory compliance; conducting due diligence; remediating contaminated properties; meeting the requirements of water, wetland, and stormwater permitting standards; and, devising strategies for sensitive and contaminated properties through Brownfields redev...

Bob King has more than 30 years of experience in a variety of litigation and environmental matters, and has been widely recognized as a leading litigator and trusted advisor by clients and peers. Representative examples of Bob’s work can be found in the "Experience" tab. Bob also serves as the Firm's General Counsel and previously served as the Chair of the Firm’s Associates Committee. Bob has been honored by election as a Fellow in the American College of Trial Lawyers. Bob has e...

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...

Letitia D. Moore is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Environmental Law and Land Use and Zoning Law. Letitia D., 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 Letitia D. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Craig Isenberg is a trial and appellate lawyer focusing on complex litigation matters, including commercial disputes, mass and toxic torts, environmental, product liability and securities matters. Craig has extensive trial experience in high-stakes litigation—trying jury and bench trials in Louisiana and across the country. He has tried a significant Clean Water Act case against the Department of Justice, dozens of toxic tort trials involving hundreds of plaintiffs, and a variety of com...

Mr. Van Wyngarden has successfully defended a large variety of Fortune 100 and Fortune 500 companies in connection with claims arising out of the release of hazardous chemicals, business, corporate and real estate disputes, product liability, and the alleged violation of federal and state statutes, including the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA), the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), the Clean Air Act, the Petroleum Marketing Practices ...

David represents companies ranging from Fortune 500 businesses to regional companies and local governments on a broad range of federal and state environmental matters and related litigation, and on water rights appropriations and transfers.

Brian Rayback focuses his practice on environmental and land use law, with expertise in all aspects of water, air, natural resources, solid waste, and zoning regulation. Brian provides cost-effective, strategic advice on project permitting, enforcement matters, appeals of agency decisions, regulatory compliance, and legislative issues for property developers and owners, trade associations, utilities, construction companies, and industrial and manufacturing facilities. He regularly appears bef...

Amy L. Edwards is a partner in Holland & Knight's Public Policy & Regulation Group, where she serves as co-chair for the firm's national Environment Team, as well as its Military Installation Redevelopment Team. Ms. Edwards has been practicing environmental and energy law for more than 25 years. She routinely counsels developers, lenders and corporations about effective strategies for structuring real estate and corporate transactions to minimize environmental and financial risk. Ms. ...

Area of Emphasis Sean McGovern is a shareholder and co-chairman of the Energy and Natural Resources Group of Babst Calland. He is also a member of the Firm’s Environmental Group. Mr. McGovern’s practice involves counseling a wide variety of energy clients on a variety of federal, state, and local regulatory and compliance issues related to mining, renewable, and oil and natural gas development, production, transmission, storage, plugging and restoration in the Appalachian Basin. H...