William J. Jackson
Partner
State and local government entities and agencies are facing an increasing number of environmental issues impacting public health, economic, and commercial interests, scarcity of resources, and environmental quality.
Public sector clients face complex political and practical challenges and need attorneys who develop innovative solutions that address multifaceted concerns regarding regulatory compliance, operational issues, and crisis management assistance.
Kelley Drye has developed a deep understanding of the environment in which public sector clients operate, the details of their decision-making processes, and the myriad legal and policy factors that influence their litigation strategies.
Representing public entities demands an understanding of the political and public relations issues public entities regularly face. We zealously guard our clients’ broader public interests in high-profile litigation, in appearances before other public bodies, and in doing business with the public. While our attorneys are aggressive litigators and shrewd negotiators, we are ever mindful of our clients’ public status and goals, which are often distinct from those of private entities.
We have been fortunate to help our public sector clients navigate difficult and incredibly complex environmental contamination cases of all kinds. In total, Kelley Drye’s public clients have recovered billions of dollars in remediation costs, property damages, natural resource damages, and lost tax revenues in a variety of complex environmental matters, and we have created the nation’s preeminent environmental practice group for states, attorneys general, and local governments. In doing so, we have been creative in our approach and tenacious in our efforts to get the best result for the public.
In addition to traditional theories of liability in contamination cases, such as under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA), the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), and state law equivalents and common law claims, Kelley Drye also has pursued novel theories of liability including products liability.
For almost 20 years, our lawyers served as co-national counsel for a tier-one railroad on hundreds of cost-recovery matters. Currently, the Firm is prosecuting cost-recovery and contribution claims under CERCLA and state equivalents for government entities, states, and energy-sector clients.
We bring nationally recognized qualifications and experience to contamination of natural resources, and are on track to have evaluated, prosecuted and/or resolved more environmental cost-recovery matters than any other firm.
Kelley Drye lawyers are involved in many of the most complex environmental litigation and natural resource damages matters in the country, often navigating a unique blend of state and federal environmental laws and regulations.
Kelley Drye is currently representing the State of New Mexico regarding the contamination of the Animas and San Juan Rivers resulting from the Gold King Mine disaster. Our lawyers previously served as special counsel to the Attorney General of New Jersey in litigation associated with the contamination of—and natural resource damages to—the Passaic River, one of the most significant and high-profile water pollution cases in the country. Kelley Drye’s lawyers also represented the State of Louisiana, the Jindal Administration, and the Louisiana Oil Spill Coordinator’s Office (LOSCO) in assessing and responding to the unprecedented natural resource damages caused by the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill in the Gulf of Mexico.
Representing government agencies, particularly in high stakes environmental matters, has provided our attorneys with a rare understanding of the diverse concerns and perspectives that influence complex environmental and natural resource damages litigation, and the rare perspective of trustee agencies.
As part of our Public Sector and Government practice, Kelley Drye provides needed service and advice on the laws and regulations that apply to state, municipal and county operations, including permitting, contaminated site remediation, wastewater and storm water management, environmental liability, and release reporting.
We assist public sector clients in resolving regulatory and operational issues. Our regulatory representation spans a wide spectrum including advising clients on applicable law, guidance during spills or releases, and negotiations to resolve administrative and enforcement actions. Our attorneys have sustained experience in regulatory compliance, reporting and cleanup of contaminated sites, agency inspections and investigations, and similar issues.
Our firm also evaluates permitting requirements and secures permits for air emissions, wastewater discharges, and waste generation, storage, and disposal.
Partner
Partner
Partner
Partner
Partner
Special Counsel
Special Counsel
Special Counsel
Special Counsel
Associate
Associate
Kelley Drye has perhaps the most sophisticated, experienced and successful public sector environmental practice in the country. For decades, our lawyers have successfully represented public entities—including states, local governments, and port authorities—in groundbreaking environmental and natural resource damages cases of all kinds.
The scope and breadth of our experience in representing states, public entities, and natural resource trustees in precedent-setting environmental and NRD matters set us apart and includes:
- | Santa Fe, NM