Best Lawyers in America for Natural Resources Law
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State
Trey McCowan represents local, regional, and multinational energy and petrochemical companies in a wide range of complex litigation matters in state and federal courts. Based in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, he focuses his practice on Commercial Litigation , Natural Resources Law, Oil and Gas Law, and Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants. His work frequently involves high-stakes disputes arising from energy development, operations, and environmental issues across Louisiana and the Gulf Coa...
R. Henry Moore is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Mining Law and Natural Resources Law. R. Henry, who practices law in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, has been recognized since 2009. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which R. Henry is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Scott B. Birkey is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Land Use and Zoning Law, Litigation - Land Use and Zoning and Natural Resources Law. Scott B., 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 Scott B. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Marty Banks is a partner of Stoel Rives’ Environmental Law practice group and Litigation practice group. His environmental practice includes counseling clients in cost-effective regulatory compliance and permitting strategies. He has broad experience with issues involving the Clean Air Act, the National Environmental Policy Act, the Endangered Species Act, the Clean Water Act, the Administrative Procedures Act and the clean-up and transfer of contaminated properties. Martin’s busi...
Lee H. Ayres is principally a trial lawyer. He has extensive experience in civil litigation, including business and commercial disputes, oil and gas litigation, property disputes, natural resources litigation, products liability claims, professional malpractice defense, trucking defense, personal injury claims, fraud claims, insurance coverage, and insurance bad faith defense. Lee received his undergraduate and law degrees at Louisiana State University Law Center, where he was a member of the...
Bland Williamson is a founding member of Pray Walker and has been affiliated with the firm and its predecessors since 1969. His legal practice has been concentrated in Oil and Gas law and related regulatory areas for over 30 years. During this period, he has been involved in the acquisition and disposition of oil and gas properties and mid-stream facilities on numerous occasions, involving various differing business structures and financing mechanisms.Bland has experience in the drafting and ...
Michael P. Darden is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Corporate Law, Energy Law, Mergers and Acquisitions Law, Natural Resources Law and Oil and Gas Law. Michael P., who practices law in Houston, Texas, has been recognized since 2007. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Michael P. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
W. James McAnelly III is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Energy Law, Natural Resources Law and Oil and Gas Law. W. James, who practices law in Houston, Texas, has been recognized since 2014. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which W. James is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
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 ...
Craig Moyer is a member of the firm’s Management Committee and leads Manatt Energy and Environmental. His practice focuses on all aspects of environmental and energy law. Among other honors, he was selected in 2014 as one of the Top 100 Lawyers in California by the Daily Journal. Craig has repeatedly been recognized by The Best Lawyers in America , and in 2013 received the “West Coast Law Firm of the Year” by Oil & Gas Awards. Craig has advised clients in connection with...
OVERVIEW Trevor practices in the areas of environmental and natural resources compliance, permitting, and litigation. Trevor advises clients on a variety of environmental topics, including federal, state, and local air programs; stormwater and SPCC compliance; and waste and hazardous waste management. Trevor has worked on various environmental issues in administrative appeals and in state and federal courts, as well as advised local administrative boards during appeals. Trevor also assists cl...
Based in the firm’s Bend, Oregon office, Ms. Desmond has developed a broad water, natural resources, and environmental law practice advising local irrigation, drainage, and water districts, municipalities, private landowners, and rural water users. Ms. Desmond counsels clients in Oregon, California, and Utah on a variety of water quality and water rights administration matters, including but not limited to issues involving water rights transfers, chain of title reports, adjudications, l...
“The object is not for me to win your case in court; the object is for us to win in such a way that we do not need to go to court.” The name Brian P. Barger is well known in the surface mining industry for his decades of work on its behalf which includes: twenty-five years as legal counsel to the Ohio Aggregates & Industrial Minerals Association. former executive with one of the state’s largest aggregates and industrial minerals producers where he was involved with all f...
Andrew B. Derman is a Partner and head of International Energy Practice Group for Thompson & Knight LLP and Chairman of Thompson & Knight Global Energy Services. He represents public and private companies and host governments in their strategic design, commercial execution, negotiations, contract preparation, and legal interpretation. Recent experience includes: acquisition and divestment efforts in North America, South America, Europe, Africa, Asia, and Australia; international finan...
Natural resources attorney focused on public lands, energy and water. Emerging leader in energy and water law in Colorado. Bringing deep insights on federal energy and climate policy, Courtney Shephard counsels energy companies operating on federal lands on compliance with federal environmental laws and regulations, including the National Environmental Policy Act and the Endangered Species Act. She also advises on water supplies and water-related infrastructure projects and represents clients...
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.