Best Lawyers in America for Environmental Law
State
Kimberley J. Hale is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area of Environmental Law. Kimberley J. practices law in Atlanta, Georgia Best Lawyers has recognized Kimberley J. Hale since 2018. The Best Lawyers recognition is based on a peer-review survey of lawyers in the same geographic region and legal practice area. The recognition reflects the professional regard in which Kimberley J. Hale is held by other lawyers.
Jonathan Spergel is the immediate past managing partner of Manko, Gold, Katcher & Fox LLP in Bala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania, the environmental and energy law firm with which he started his legal career in 1993. He handles a wide variety of environmental legal issues, including the environmental aspects of commercial transactions and brownfields sites, environmental insurance procurement and coverage issues, public funding opportunities, regulatory compliance counseling, and litigation for comm...
Lisa’s litigation practice spans a broad range of complex environmental, energy, land use, real estate, insurance, and business matters. On behalf of private and public sector clients, she practices in state and federal courts at both the trial and appellate levels. In addition, she handles contested administrative proceedings, alternative dispute resolution matters, and sensitive regulatory compliance negotiations. She co-chairs the firm’s Environmental and Energy Law and Real Es...
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...
Buck B. Endemann is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice areas of Energy Law, Energy Regulatory Law and Environmental Law. Buck B. practices law in San Francisco, California Best Lawyers has recognized Buck B. Endemann since 2023. The Best Lawyers recognition is based on a peer-review survey of lawyers in the same geographic region and legal practice area. The recognition reflects the professional regard in which Buck B. Endemann is held by other lawyers.
Companies rely on Meaghan Boyd to develop their complex environmental and toxic tort litigation defense strategy. She also guides companies through the hoops of compliance with federal statutes such as CERCLA, the Clean Water Act, and RCRA and their state counterparts. Meaghan is co-chair of Alston & Bird’s Environment, Land Use & Natural Resources Group. She defends companies in complex environmental and toxic tort litigation in federal and state courts. She also routinely coun...
Gordon Polozola draws on decades of experience representing public utilities and industrial clients across a wide range of regulated industries, including electric generation and project development , telecommunications, water and sewer services, gas and petroleum pipeline regulation, and trucking and transportation companies. Based in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Gordon focuses on helping clients align legal strategy with business objectives while addressing regulatory, compliance, and operationa...
Douglas A. Donnell graduated magna cum laude from Miami University with a bachelor's degree in Economics and received his law degree with honors from Boston College Law School. Doug specializes in environmental law and commercial litigation and has represented both public and private sector clients and individuals in these areas since 1979. He is a member of the Environment, Energy and Natural Resources Section of the American Bar Association and the Environmental Law Section of the Michigan ...
Area of Emphasis Kip Power is a shareholder in the Energy and Natural Resources and Litigation groups of Babst Calland. Mr. Power helps clients comply with environmental laws and defend related litigation while keeping their businesses running profitably. He regularly represents companies when permitting and enforcement disputes arise and prosecutes civil actions and appeals challenging unlawful agency actions. Over the course of his career, he has successfully negotiated favorable resolution...
Ronald E. Van Buskirk is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice areas of Environmental Law and Litigation - Environmental. Ronald E. practices law in San Francisco, California Best Lawyers has recognized Ronald E. Van Buskirk since 2021. The Best Lawyers recognition is based on a peer-review survey of lawyers in the same geographic region and legal practice area. The recognition reflects the professional regard in which Ronald E. Van Buskirk is held by other lawyers.
Michelle C. DeVoe is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area of Environmental Law. Michelle C. practices law in Denver, Colorado Best Lawyers has recognized Michelle C. DeVoe since 2025. The Best Lawyers recognition is based on a peer-review survey of lawyers in the same geographic region and legal practice area. The recognition reflects the professional regard in which Michelle C. DeVoe is held by other lawyers.
John D. Papageorge is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice areas of Commercial Litigation, Environmental Law and Litigation - Environmental. John D. practices law in Indianapolis, Indiana Best Lawyers has recognized John D. Papageorge since 2013. The Best Lawyers recognition is based on a peer-review survey of lawyers in the same geographic region and legal practice area. The recognition reflects the professional regard in which John D. Papageorge is held by other lawyers.
Will Gardner is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice areas of Energy Law, Environmental Law and Litigation - Environmental. Will practices law in Indianapolis, Indiana Best Lawyers has recognized Will Gardner since 2025. The Best Lawyers recognition is based on a peer-review survey of lawyers in the same geographic region and legal practice area. The recognition reflects the professional regard in which Will Gardner is held by other lawyers.
Barbara Schussman, a partner in the firm's Environment, Energy & Resources practice, focuses on securing federal, state and local agency approvals needed to develop a wide range of private and public projects, including industrial scale solar facilities, university campuses, hospitals, research and development facilities, water supply and storage projects, oil refineries, maritime port and airport expansions, and numerous industrial, commercial, housing and mixed use developments. Barbara...
Thomas L. Casey III is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice areas of Environmental Law and Litigation - Environmental. Thomas L. practices law in Birmingham, Alabama Best Lawyers has recognized Thomas L. Casey III since 2016. The Best Lawyers recognition is based on a peer-review survey of lawyers in the same geographic region and legal practice area. The recognition reflects the professional regard in which Thomas L. Casey III is held by other lawyers.
Our Methodology
Recognition by Best Lawyers is based entirely on peer review. Our methodology is designed to capture, as accurately as possible, the consensus opinion of leading lawyers about the professional abilities of their colleagues within the same geographical area and legal practice area.
The Process
Best Lawyers employs a sophisticated, conscientious, rational, and transparent survey process designed to elicit meaningful and substantive evaluations of the quality of legal services. Our belief has always been that the quality of a peer review survey is directly related to the quality of the voters.
