Christopher B Power
USA Guide 2023
Band 1 : Environment
Email address
[email protected]Contact number
681-265-1362Share profile
Band 1
About
Provided by Christopher B Power
Practice Areas
Kip Power is a shareholder in the Energy and Natural Resources and Litigation groups of Babst Calland. Mr. Power helps clients comply with environmental laws and defend related litigation while keeping their businesses running profitably. He regularly represents companies when permitting and enforcement disputes arise and prosecutes civil actions and appeals challenging unlawful agency actions. Over the course of his career, he has successfully negotiated favorable resolutions of many sensitive and company-critical matters under a wide range of federal and state environmental programs.
His regulatory practice encompasses counseling and representation on issues arising under, among other laws, the federal Clean Water Act, Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (SMCRA), Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act of 1980 (Superfund), National Environmental Policy Act, Endangered Species Act, and related state analogues. He has also represented natural resource and utility clients in proceedings before the West Virginia Public Service Commission and before local planning and zoning authorities. Mr. Power is a member of the firm’s Renewables Group and has assisted clients on matters such as the siting of renewable energy projects on post-mining properties, the West Virginia Underground Carbon Dioxide Sequestration and Storage Act, and related federal and state programs.
Mr. Power also defends lawsuits by private parties claiming they have been harmed by natural resource extraction and other industrial operations, including suits based on Superfund, RCRA, and the Clean Water Act, and related common law claims. Among the cases in which Mr. Power has served as counsel are: West Virginia Land Resources, Inc., et al. v. W. Va. Dept. of Environmental Protection, et al., No. 21-0845 (W.Va. Sup. Court, 2023) (addressing challenges to reissuance of underground injection control permit based on increased mine pool maintenance costs); W.Va. Dept. of Transportation v. CDS Family Trust, LLC, 807 S.E.2d 780 (W.Va. 2017) (addressing standards for determining just compensation owed by the government for property that could serve as an environmental compensatory mitigation area), EQT Prod. Co. v. Wender, 870 F.3d. 322 (4th Cir. 2017) (finding county ordinance was preempted by state environmental laws); and Ohio Valley Envtl. Coal. Inc. v. Maple Coal Company, 808 F.Supp.2d 868, 880 (S.D. W.Va. 2011) (successfully asserting that plaintiffs failed to establish standing to bring one of two Clean Water Act citizens suit claims). He also represents clients in mediation and arbitration, and was a party-selected arbitrator in a major mineral development dispute that involved nearly 50 hearing days.
Professional Memberships
Mr. Power is a member of the West Virginia Manufacturers Association, Gas and Oil Association of West Virginia, West Virginia Coal Association, Energy and Mineral Law Foundation, and the Defense Trial Counsel of West Virginia. He is also a volunteer with Trellis Supportive Care (KBR Hospice Home) and Legal Aid of West Virginia, and a member of Fairness West Virginia.
Expert in these Jurisdictions
Mr. Power is admitted to practice in West Virginia, Kentucky, and North Carolina. He is also admitted to the following federal courts: the United States District Courts for the Northern and Southern Districts of West Virginia and the Eastern District of Kentucky, the United States Courts of Appeals for the Fourth, Sixth, Ninth, and District of Columbia Circuits, and the U.S. Supreme Court.
Education
Washington and Lee University
B.A.
1979 - 1983
West Virginia University
M.B.A.
1983 - 1985
West Virginia University College of Law
J.D.
1983 - 1986
Awards
Environmental Law Section
The Best Lawyers of America©
2003
Environmental Law Section
The Best Lawyers of America©
2004
Environmental Law Section
The Best Lawyers of America©
2005
Environmental Law Section
The Best Lawyers of America©
2006
Environmental Law Section
The Best Lawyers of America©
2007
Environmental Law Section
The Best Lawyers of America©
2008
Environmental Law Section
The Best Lawyers of America©
2009
Environmental Law Section
The Best Lawyers of America©
2010
Environmental Law Section
The Best Lawyers of America©
2011
Environmental Law Section
The Best Lawyers of America©
2012
Environmental Law Section
The Best Lawyers of America©
2013
Environmental Law Section
The Best Lawyers of America©
2014
Environmental Law Section
The Best Lawyers of America©
2015
Environmental Law Section
The Best Lawyers of America©
2016
Environmental Law Section
The Best Lawyers of America©
2017
Environmental Law Section
The Best Lawyers of America©
2018
Environmental Law Section
The Best Lawyers of America©
2019
Environmental Law Section
The Best Lawyers of America©
2020
Environmental Law Section
The Best Lawyers of America©
2021
Environmental Law Section
The Best Lawyers of America©
2022
Natural Resources Law Section
The Best Lawyers of America©
2006
Natural Resources Law Section
The Best Lawyers of America©
2007
Natural Resources Law Section
The Best Lawyers of America©
2008
Natural Resources Law Section
The Best Lawyers of America©
2009
Natural Resources Law Section
The Best Lawyers of America©
2010
Natural Resources Law Section
The Best Lawyers of America©
2011
Natural Resources Law Section
The Best Lawyers of America©
2012
Natural Resources Law Section
The Best Lawyers of America©
2013
Natural Resources Law Section
The Best Lawyers of America©
2014
Natural Resources Law Section
The Best Lawyers of America©
2015
Natural Resources Law Section
The Best Lawyers of America©
2016
Natural Resources Law Section
The Best Lawyers of America©
2017
Natural Resources Law Section
The Best Lawyers of America©
2018
Natural Resources Law Section
The Best Lawyers of America©
2019
Natural Resources Law Section
The Best Lawyers of America©
2020
Natural Resources Law Section
The Best Lawyers of America©
2021
Natural Resources Law Section
The Best Lawyers of America©
2022
Mining Law Section
The Best Lawyers of America©
2008
Mining Law Section
The Best Lawyers of America©
2009
Mining Law Section
The Best Lawyers of America©
2010
Mining Law Section
The Best Lawyers of America©
2011
Mining Law Section
The Best Lawyers of America©
2012
Mining Law Section
The Best Lawyers of America©
2013
Mining Law Section
The Best Lawyers of America©
2014
Mining Law Section
The Best Lawyers of America©
2015
Mining Law Section
The Best Lawyers of America©
2016
Mining Law Section
The Best Lawyers of America©
2017
Mining Law Section
The Best Lawyers of America©
2018
Mining Law Section
The Best Lawyers of America©
2019
Mining Law Section
The Best Lawyers of America©
2020
Mining Law Section
The Best Lawyers of America©
2021
Mining Law Section
The Best Lawyers of America©
2022
Energy Law Section
The Best Lawyers of America©
2009
Energy Law Section
The Best Lawyers of America©
2010
Energy Law Section
The Best Lawyers of America©
2011
Energy Law Section
The Best Lawyers of America©
2012
Energy Law Section
The Best Lawyers of America©
2013
Energy Law Section
The Best Lawyers of America©
2014
Energy Law Section
The Best Lawyers of America©
2015
Energy Law Section
The Best Lawyers of America©
2016
Energy Law Section
The Best Lawyers of America©
2017
Energy Law Section
The Best Lawyers of America©
2018
Energy Law Section
The Best Lawyers of America©
2019
Energy Law Section
The Best Lawyers of America©
2020
Energy Law Section
The Best Lawyers of America©
2021
Energy Law Section
The Best Lawyers of America©
2022
Litigation – Environmental Section
The Best Lawyers of America©
2011
Litigation – Environmental Section
The Best Lawyers of America©
2012
Litigation – Environmental Section
The Best Lawyers of America©
2013
Litigation – Environmental Section
The Best Lawyers of America©
2014
Litigation – Environmental Section
The Best Lawyers of America©
2015
Litigation – Environmental Section
The Best Lawyers of America©
2016
Litigation – Environmental Section
The Best Lawyers of America©
2017
Litigation – Environmental Section
The Best Lawyers of America©
2018
Litigation – Environmental Section
The Best Lawyers of America©
2019
Litigation – Environmental Section
The Best Lawyers of America©
2020
Litigation – Environmental Section
The Best Lawyers of America©
2021
Litigation – Environmental Section
The Best Lawyers of America©
2022
Litigation – Land Use and Zoning Section
The Best Lawyers of America©
2011
Litigation – Land Use and Zoning Section
The Best Lawyers of America©
2012
Litigation – Land Use and Zoning Section
The Best Lawyers of America©
2013
Litigation – Land Use and Zoning Section
The Best Lawyers of America©
2014
Litigation – Land Use and Zoning Section
The Best Lawyers of America©
2015
Litigation – Land Use and Zoning Section
The Best Lawyers of America©
2016
Litigation – Land Use and Zoning Section
The Best Lawyers of America©
2017
Litigation – Land Use and Zoning Section
The Best Lawyers of America©
2018
Litigation – Land Use and Zoning Section
The Best Lawyers of America©
2019
Litigation – Land Use and Zoning Section
The Best Lawyers of America©
2020
Litigation – Land Use and Zoning Section
The Best Lawyers of America©
2021
Litigation – Land Use and Zoning Section
The Best Lawyers of America©
2022
Litigation – Municipal Section
The Best Lawyers of America©
2011
Litigation – Municipal Section
The Best Lawyers of America©
2012
Litigation – Municipal Section
The Best Lawyers of America©
2013
Litigation – Municipal Section
The Best Lawyers of America©
2014
Litigation – Municipal Section
The Best Lawyers of America©
2015
Litigation – Municipal Section
The Best Lawyers of America©
2016
Litigation – Municipal Section
The Best Lawyers of America©
2017
Litigation – Municipal Section
The Best Lawyers of America©
2018
Litigation – Municipal Section
The Best Lawyers of America©
2019
Litigation – Municipal Section
The Best Lawyers of America©
2020
Litigation – Municipal Section
The Best Lawyers of America©
2021
Litigation – Municipal Section
The Best Lawyers of America©
2022
Oil and Gas Law Section
The Best Lawyers of America©
2011
Oil and Gas Law Section
The Best Lawyers of America©
2012
Oil and Gas Law Section
The Best Lawyers of America©
2013
Oil and Gas Law Section
The Best Lawyers of America©
2014
Oil and Gas Law Section
The Best Lawyers of America©
2015
Oil and Gas Law Section
The Best Lawyers of America©
2016
Oil and Gas Law Section
The Best Lawyers of America©
2017
Oil and Gas Law Section
The Best Lawyers of America©
2018
Oil and Gas Law Section
The Best Lawyers of America©
2019
Oil and Gas Law Section
The Best Lawyers of America©
2020
Oil and Gas Law Section
The Best Lawyers of America©
2021
Oil and Gas Law Section
The Best Lawyers of America©
2022
Environmental Law “Lawyer of the Year” in Charleston, W.Va.
Best Lawyers®
2019
Litigation – Environmental Law “Lawyer of the Year” in Charleston, W.Va.
Best Lawyers®
2020
Natural Resources Law “Lawyer of the Year” in Charleston, W.Va.
Best Lawyers®
2021
West Virginia Super Lawyers
Thomson Reuters
2007
West Virginia Super Lawyers
Thomson Reuters
2008
West Virginia Super Lawyers
Thomson Reuters
2009
West Virginia Super Lawyers
Thomson Reuters
2010
West Virginia Super Lawyers
Thomson Reuters
2011
West Virginia Super Lawyers
Thomson Reuters
2012
West Virginia Super Lawyers
Thomson Reuters
2013
West Virginia Super Lawyers
Thomson Reuters
2014
West Virginia Super Lawyers
Thomson Reuters
2015
West Virginia Super Lawyers
Thomson Reuters
2016
West Virginia Super Lawyers
Thomson Reuters
2017
West Virginia Super Lawyers
Thomson Reuters
2018
West Virginia Super Lawyers
Thomson Reuters
2019
West Virginia Super Lawyers
Thomson Reuters
2020
West Virginia Super Lawyers
Thomson Reuters
2021
West Virginia Super Lawyers
Thomson Reuters
2022
Environmental Law Section
The Best Lawyers of America©
2023
Natural Resources Law Section
The Best Lawyers of America©
2023
Mining Law Section
The Best Lawyers of America©
2023
Energy Law Section
The Best Lawyers of America©
2023
Litigation - Environmental Section
The Best Lawyers of America©
2023
Litigation - Land Use and Zoning Section
The Best Lawyers of America©
2023
Litigation - Municipal Section
The Best Lawyers of America©
2023
Oil and Gas Law Section
The Best Lawyers of America©
2023
Arbitration Section
The Best Lawyers of America©
2024
Commercial Litigation Section
The Best Lawyers of America©
2024
Energy Law Section
The Best Lawyers of America©
2024
Environmental Law Section
The Best Lawyers of America©
2024
Litigation - Environmental Section
The Best Lawyers of America©
2024
Litigation - Land Use and Zoning Section
The Best Lawyers of America©
2024
Litigation - Municipal Section
The Best Lawyers of America©
2024
Litigation - Regulatory Enforcement (SEC, Telecom, Energy) Section
The Best Lawyers of America©
2024
Mining Law Section
The Best Lawyers of America©
2024
Natural Resources Law Section
The Best Lawyers of America©
2024
Oil and Gas Law Section
The Best Lawyers of America©
2024
Mining Law “Lawyer of the Year” in Pittsburgh, Pa.
The Best Lawyers of America©
2024