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Environmental Compliance & Enforcement Defense

Practices

  • Environmental Justice

If you’re operating an industrial facility, dealing with state and federal environmental regulators is simply a requirement of doing business. And because “perfect” compliance is typically beyond reach, enforcement actions happen. At Liskow, our Environmental Compliance & Enforcement Defense team helps clients achieve the highest level of environmental compliance and assists in managing the complexity, cost, and risk of both state and federal enforcement.

Overview

In this setting, we’re known as lawyers who roll up our sleeves, dig deep into the regulations and technical details at issue – and who leverage our hands-on knowledge of the nitty-gritty to give our clients every possible advantage. We master details in a field where details really matter. Whether a client is operating a refinery, a chemical plant, or some other kind of industrial facility, we know the territory, the rules, and the players. We’ve worked with clients in industries ranging from plastics to fertilizer manufacturing to hazardous waste. Our broad and deep experience is our differentiator.

Long-term guidance for long-term partnerships

Typically, our clients have protracted dealings with regulatory agencies – they are often connected for years and years. Perhaps the biggest value we offer our clients is our guidance in managing this ongoing relationship. Experience and insight drive our ability to negotiate issues, resolve them quickly, and build a productive, long-term working association with regulators who can, and will, have a major impact on your business.

Problem-solvers and solution-builders

Liskow builds upon its experience. For example, Liskow has developed processes and procedures to efficiently evaluate potential penalties . Regulations require consideration of multiple criteria for every alleged violation. By quantifying and organizing the range of potential penalties based on the applicable criteria then identifying areas of agreement and disagreement, we focus our efforts on the subjects that matter, saving our clients time, money, and distraction.

Helping clients navigate a changing landscape

We also keep our clients out in front of what’s coming next. Environmental enforcement is an ever-changing landscape – for example, over the past several years, the fossil fuel industry has faced increasing regulatory scrutiny which has created a greater risk of enforcement actions. Additionally, environmental justice is now a more significant issue, in many facility permitting matters and can factor into agencies’ enforcement action decisions. Our knowledge of these trends helps our clients anticipate and manage them.

Notable Experience

  • We counseled a petroleum refinery and evaluated enforcement actions initiated against them. We analyzed the allegations, and resolved all potential violations for the facility going back five years to a settlement that was a favorable resolution.
  • For a client in the hazardous waste industry preparing for a sale, we helped them execute a self-audit and uncovered substantial compliance issues. We helped them self-disclose to a regulatory agency, and over a two-year period, settled issues initially evaluated at $1 million for $45,000.

We are known for these strengths

  • Providing accurate, actionable evaluation of potential compliance violations, including fact-based evaluation of potential penalty ranges.
  • Developing effective disclosure strategies.
  • Effectively negotiating with regulatory agencies, both with respect to immediate and long-term issues, and successful, effective working relationships with them.
  • Efficient and accurate management of the administrative elements of settlements.
  • Strategic guidance to clients regarding potential or upcoming regulatory focus, including novel or emerging areas of scrutiny and enforcement.
I have used Liskow & Lewis for multiple environmental activities from litigation to assistance in facilitating agency approval. They are very knowledgeable of environmental regulations and use this expertise to their client's advantage. They fully understand the importance of timely responses. Liskow & Lewis is an extremely solid environmental law firm that can handle negotiations for settlement or full litigation.
Best Lawyers Client Comment
Environmental Law, 2019

Initial Contacts

  • Greg Johnson
    gljohnson@liskow.com
    504.556.4115504.556.4115
  • Lou Buatt
    lbuatt@liskow.com
    337.267.2343337.267.2343
  • Clare Bienvenu
    cbienvenu@liskow.com
    504.556.4128504.556.4128

Our Team

Shareholders

  • Media item displaying: Clare M. Bienvenu

    Clare M. Bienvenu

    Shareholder

    New Orleans
    504.556.4128504.556.4128
    995
  • Media item displaying: Lou E. Buatt

    Lou E. Buatt

    Shareholder

    Lafayette
    337.267.2343337.267.2343
    995
  • Media item displaying: Hunter Chauvin

    Hunter Chauvin

    Shareholder

    Baton Rouge
    225.341.4313225.341.4313
    995
  • Media item displaying: Greg L. Johnson

    Greg L. Johnson

    Shareholder

    New Orleans
    504.556.4115504.556.4115
    995
  • Media item displaying: Amy Allums Lee

    Amy Allums Lee

    Shareholder

    Lafayette
    337.267.2366337.267.2366
    995
  • Media item displaying: Michael C. Mims

    Michael C. Mims

    Shareholder

    New Orleans
    504.556.4143504.556.4143
    995
  • Media item displaying: Court C. VanTassell

    Court C. VanTassell

    Shareholder

    Lafayette
    337.267.2380337.267.2380
    995
  • Media item displaying: Elizabeth S. Wheeler

    Elizabeth S. Wheeler

    Shareholder

    New Orleans
    504.556.4013504.556.4013
    995

Associates

  • Media item displaying: Emily von Qualen

    Emily von Qualen

    Associate

    New Orleans
    504.556.4129504.556.4129
    995
Liskow & Lewis, APLC
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