Stites & Harbison, PLLC

As part of a full service law firm, our Environmental, Natural Resource and Energy law practice, based in our Kentucky and Tennessee offices but providing services in other states as well, is integrated with many other aspects of law and business. Along with providing routine advice on regulatory issues such as permitting and compliance or defending enforcement actions in the air, water, waste and mining programs, we assist in a variety of business ventures involving environmental law.

Examples include negotiating key environmental covenants and coordinating due diligence in corporate transactions or counseling in the development and operation of gas- or coal-fired power plants. Finding and supporting beneficial uses for major industrial waste streams is another example of our attorneys working creatively for clients in ways that minimize disposal costs and protect the environment. In the surety field, environmental law means advising underwriters and claims counsel on environmental surety risk and mitigation strategies and protecting their interests in bankruptcy. Clients with assets or operations having an environmental component rely on attorneys at Stites & Harbison to listen and then identify and resolve issues to assure compliance, mitigate risk and limit exposure to environmental liability.

Natural resource and energy related clients rely on our expertise and advice to support compliance while protecting investments and optimizing production. We routinely advise clients in natural resource sales, acquisitions and corporate and commercial transactions, including the complicated aspects of mineral and related property rights. In representing private clients and trade associations, we also have significant experience in developing or challenging state and federal rule making under numerous environmental and natural resources related statutes.

Since the inception of the environmental movement and the recognition of environmental law as a unique field of practice, Stites & Harbison attorneys have been involved in both the development and implementation of numerous state and federal regulatory programs and protocols. We are familiar with and represent clients in matters where sustainability or green construction are central concerns. These areas of law are often highly technical and many of our attorneys have science degrees and technical backgrounds and were professionals in those fields prior to their legal careers. Some were regulatory attorneys prior to joining the firm. Several are LEED-accredited professionals. With significant representations in the manufacturing, agriculture, surety, construction, power generation, waste and the extractive industries, including minerals, coal, oil and gas along with timber and water, our attorneys work with the business and regulatory communities.

Whether in the context of corporate, contract, construction, bankruptcy, tort or administrative law, our backgrounds and experience provide clients with the confidence that their interests have been understood and well represented. We encourage you to review our qualifications and experience throughout our website.

Click here to visit our Tennessee Environmental Law blog.

Stites & Harbison is a proud partner in the Law Office Climate Challenge Program, a joint effort of the American Bar Association and the EPA targeted at developing and implementing sustainable business practices in a law office setting.

Service Group Leader

• W. Patrick Stallard
  email: pstallard@stites.com