Best Lawyers in America for Litigation - Environmental

Maureen T. Coghlan is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Litigation - Environmental. Maureen T., who practices law in Voorhees, New Jersey, has been recognized since 2026. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Maureen T. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Weston Adams III is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Appellate Practice, Energy Regulatory Law, Litigation - Environmental and Litigation - Regulatory Enforcement (SEC, Telecom, Energy). Weston, who practices law in Columbia, South Carolina, has been recognized since 2011. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Weston is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Mike Carlton worked as a trial attorney at the U.S. Department of Justice in Washington, D.C., representing the EPA and other government agencies. Thereafter, he worked as a senior attorney and policy analyst with the Environmental Law Institute, and then as Wisconsin counsel for a national environmental organization. Mike has taught and studied environmental law and policy in Washington, D.C., London, and the University of Wisconsin Law School. Mike heads the firm’s Environmental Law P...

Francis A. Citera is Co-Chair of the firm's Products Liability & Mass Torts Litigation Group and Co-Chair of the Chicago Litigation Practice. Frank has 30 years of experience defending purported class actions, toxic tort actions, and other complex litigation in both federal and state courts. He has tried many cases, including an action by the Government to enforce a unilateral administrative order, an allocation case among potentially responsible parties, and a complex product liability, ...

For nearly 30 years, Chris has focused his practice on high-profile civil and criminal environmental investigations and enforcement actions throughout the United States. A nationally-recognized Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) practitioner, Chris represents national trade associations, oil and gas companies, manufacturers, and mine operators on issues involving the identification and management of solid and hazardous wastes, financial assurance, corrective action, permitting, boi...

Area of Emphasis Mark Shepard is a shareholder in the Litigation Group of Babst Calland and currently serves as general counsel to the Firm. Prior to joining the firm, he served as chair of the litigation group for one of Pittsburgh’s largest law firms. Background as a Litigator Mr. Shepard focuses his practice in the areas of commercial, toxic tort, products liability and environmental litigation. He has represented clients as lead trial counsel in a variety of complex commercial litig...

Robin G. Laurie is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Commercial Litigation, Government Relations Practice and Litigation - Environmental. Robin G., who practices law in Montgomery, Alabama, has been recognized since 2020. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Robin G. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Larry Shea works primarily in the energy industry representing oil and gas producers and pipeline companies. He has handled numerous matters involving legacy litigation, environmental issues, oil and gas leasing rights, and operations. He commonly represents defendants, including the defense of clients in class actions and mass joinder litigation. Larry has played an integral role in landmark cases, such as AmCom v. Patterson, one of the first modern era decisions of the Louisiana Supreme Cou...

Thomas C. McGowan is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Commercial Litigation, Corporate Law and Litigation - Environmental. Thomas C., who practices law in Omaha, Nebraska, has been recognized since 2007. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Thomas C. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Scott C. Oostdyk is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Bet-the-Company Litigation, Commercial Litigation, Environmental Law, Insurance Law, Litigation - Environmental and Product Liability Litigation - Defendants. Scott C., who practices law in Richmond, Virginia, has been recognized since 2009. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Scott C. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and le...

Rick Horder has engaged in the practice of environmental law and litigation for nearly forty years. As an Assistant United States Attorney from 1974 to 1977, he represented the U.S. EPA in numerous water and NEPA cases. From 1978 to 1989, he was Regional Counsel, and later Associate General Counsel, for Georgia-Pacific Corporation, where he was responsible for all environmental and toxic tort compliance and litigation company-wide. In 1989, he joined Kilpatrick Stockton LLP, a large Atlanta l...

Lisa Helton’s practice areas include estate and trust litigation, appellate practice, general and commercial litigation, environmental litigation, landlord/tenant law, representation of homeowners and homeowner associations (HOAs) in HOA disputes, and IRS tax litigation and controversy. Lisa was recognized by Best Lawyers ® as the 2025 “Lawyer of the Year” in Nashville for Trust and Estate Litigation and as the 2023 “Lawyer of the Year” in Nashville for both ...

Mike Brown is the head of the Real Estate Litigation Team at the firm. Mike is a member of the firm’s Environmental and Toxic Tort Practice Group and the General Litigation Practice Group. Mike’s emphasis in both practice groups is on real property and land use matters. Because of this emphasis in his practice, Mike also works very closely with the Real Estate Group. For the past several years, Mike has served as an adjunct Professor at the University of Alabama School of Law wher...

Joel Kuehnert's primary areas of practice include complex environmental litigation, enforcement actions and citizen suits, franchising, licensing, appeals, and patents. He has represented clients in many different industries ranging from those with global operations to the small, local business. Joel has a technical background in civil and environmental engineering and is a registered member of the patent bar of the United States Patent and Trademark Office. His intellectual property experien...

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

Charles G. Curtis, Jr. is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Appellate Practice, Commercial Litigation, Litigation - Antitrust, Litigation - Environmental, Litigation - First Amendment, Litigation - Intellectual Property and Litigation - Regulatory Enforcement (SEC, Telecom, Energy). Charles G., who practices law in Madison, Wisconsin, has been recognized since 2003. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in ...