Best Lawyers in America for Natural Resources Law

Maribel Nicholson-Choice's practice focuses on various aspects of environmental, real estate, and financial institution representations, and governmental affairs. Maribel had more than 20 years of experience negotiating and resolving complex environmental regulatory, permitting, and litigation matters. Maribel's practice consists of environmental matters for financial institutions. She advises lending clients on environmental liability including permitting and remediation projects associated ...

Affie Ellis is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice areas of Native American Law and Natural Resources Law. Affie practices law in Cheyenne, Wyoming Best Lawyers has recognized Affie Ellis since 2024. 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 Affie Ellis is held by other lawyers.

James M. Saxton represents real estate developers, owners, property managers, tenants, financial institutions and investors involved in commercial and retail development projects in Arkansas, Kansas, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Tennessee and Texas. He assists clients with all types of transactions from routine purchase agreements to complicated development plans, companies locating new facilities in the state, multi-state sales, acquisition and financing construction...

G. Alan Rafte is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice areas of Energy Law, Natural Resources Law, Oil and Gas Law and Project Finance Law. G. Alan practices law in Houston, Texas Best Lawyers has recognized G. Alan Rafte since 2007. 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 G. Alan Rafte is held by other lawyers.

Chris Carr is widely regarded as one of the leading project development, environmental, and energy lawyers in the United States. Drawing on his experience with the U.S. Department of the Interior and the U.S. Department of State, Mr. Carr represents businesses, land developers, public agencies, and nonprofits in all areas of environmental and natural resource law, including energy, transportation, water, forestry, mining, coastal and marine resources, and agriculture. In particular, his pract...

For over four decades, Chris has been a leader in the fields of water law, land use law, natural resources law, constitutional law, and road and public access law. He has extensive litigation experience at the administrative, district court and appellate levels (including 21 Idaho Supreme Court cases). Best Lawyers in America has named him “Lawyer of the Year” 11 times in the fields of water, land use, and natural resources. Three times, Super Lawyers placed Chris in the “To...

John B. Weldon, Jr. is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice areas of Environmental Law, Native American Law, Natural Resources Law and Water Law. John B. practices law in Phoenix, Arizona Best Lawyers has recognized John B. Weldon, Jr. since 1993. 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 B. Weldon, Jr. is held by other lawyers.

William A. Horn received his bachelor's degree with honors from the University of Wisconsin and graduated cum laude from the University of Wisconsin Law School. Bill specializes in environmental, oil and gas, eminent domain, water and riparian rights, land use and public utility law, as well as civil and administrative litigation, and has been representing and counseling private and public sector clients in these areas since 1982. In addition to having served as an adjunct professor for a law...

Area of Emphasis Kevin Garber is a shareholder in the Environmental and Energy and Natural Resources groups of Babst Calland, practicing out of the firm’s Pittsburgh and State College offices. Mr. Garber concentrates much of his practice in the areas of natural resources law and water law. He represents mining and oil and gas companies in the conventional and unconventional industries on a broad range of environmental issues including permitting, water supply and treatment, and resource...

Strategic thinker skilled in navigating complex environmental, land, and water issues. Known by clients for insightful solutions and negotiating skills. Mike Smith helps clients untangle increasingly complex regulatory regimes and resolve disputes. Clients turn to Mike for help navigating a range of challenging natural resources matters, often involving water rights, water quality, solid and hazardous waste, protected species, land use, floodplains, and oil and gas royalty disputes. His diver...

Stan Harris is a shareholder with Modrall Sperling and has twenty years of litigation experience. Stan practices in the areas of public lands, natural resources, and commercial litigation. He has advised clients at the judicial, administrative, and legislative levels on federal, state, and local issues. Stan has extensive experience in the representation of parties in their disputes involving cultural property, public lands, Indian lands, oil and gas industry, environmental infrastructure mat...

Scott B. Birkey is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice areas of Land Use and Zoning Law, Litigation - Land Use and Zoning and Natural Resources Law. Scott B. practices law in San Francisco, California Best Lawyers has recognized Scott B. Birkey 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 Scott B. Birkey is held by other lawyers.

Area of Emphasis Kevin Douglass is a shareholder in the Firm’s Litigation, Energy and Natural Resources, and Emerging Technologies groups. Mr. Douglass currently serves as chair of the Firm’s Litigation Group. He is a complex commercial litigator with significant trial experience in a variety of forums including federal, state and bankruptcy courts and private arbitrations. In addition, he is a certified mediator and has served as an arbitrator in commercial and oil and gas disput...

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 ...

Edward A. Hogan is Co-Chair of the Environmental Law Group. Edd represents and counsels developers, redevelopers, manufacturers, commercial entities, and highly-regulated service businesses in all aspects of environmental law and litigation. For over twenty-five years, Edd has been at the forefront of site remediation issues in New Jersey. He has partnered with clients and served as a trusted advisor, delivering integrated strategies for responding to governmental mandates, pursuing cost reco...

Nora Sheriff is a Shareholder in Buchalter’s San Francisco office and a member of the Firm’s Energy & Natural Resources Practice Group. With decades of experience in the energy industry, Ms. Sheriff focuses her practice on electric and natural gas regulatory and administrative litigation, legislative efforts, and end-use contractual transactions; she works to ensure clean energy tools are available for large end-use customer use to help mitigate the impacts of the high cost of...