About

Provided by Troutman Pepper Locke LLP

Science, innovation, and litigation continue to outpace the laws and regulations affecting natural resources and environmental protection, presenting challenges across all regulated sectors. At the same time, divergent federal, state, and local laws create an uneven, increasingly complex, and rapidly changing regulatory landscape. Our team guides clients through the growing disconnect between these legal and business realities.

We offer comprehensive regulatory, policy, transactional, and litigation support to clients at the forefront of natural resources, environmental, and energy law. We deliver leading-edge advice regarding major project and infrastructure development, internal governance, auditing and assurance, enforcement defense, regulatory compliance and advocacy, complex transactions, and bet-the-company litigation. We handle bellwether proceedings across the U.S. involving major infrastructure initiatives, energy transition and fleet/grid modernization, carbon capture, e-mobility and electric vehicles, critical minerals, endangered species, NEPA compliance, permitting, federal lands, EPA and DOI rulemakings, DOE grants, PFAS regulations and litigation, and ESG strategies.

From market leaders to new entrants, we provide time-tested insights into the risks and challenges associated with environmental issues and regularly serve major public and private companies, utilities, developers, investors, local governments, and others across numerous sectors.

Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

Environment - Texas

2
Band 2

What the Team is Known For

Troutman Pepper Locke LLP fields an experienced group of practitioners who frequently handle environmental issues arising from transactions across a range of industries. The firm boasts a strong criminal investigation and brownfield remediation practice. The attorneys have a notable focus on traditional and renewable energy matters. The team is also particularly well versed serving real estate and construction clients as well as financial services entities.

On 1 January 2025, Troutman Pepper and Locke Lord merged to form Troutman Pepper Locke LLP.

Work Highlights

  • The firm acted as environmental counsel to American Campus Communities across its nationwide portfolio of student housing communities.

Strengths

Provided by Chambers

Notable Practitioners

Provided by Chambers

Elizabeth E Mack
2
Elizabeth E Mack
2
Band 2

Elizabeth Mack is co-chair of the firm's environmental group. Her extensive experience and expansive environmental practice includes air, water and toxic substances issues.

Elizabeth's wealth of knowledge, expertise and guidance separates her from any other environmental counsel.

Elizabeth has the best business judgment. She just gets results.

Elizabeth is so knowledgeable and practical. She goes above and beyond.

Elizabeth Mack is really good at coming up with solutions. She understands what we are looking for.

Elizabeth Mack is a truly great adviser. She is wicked smart and has a commonsense approach to a complicated area of law.

Gerald D Higdon
3
Gerald D Higdon
3
Band 3
Gerald Higdon has a diverse practice covering redevelopment and permitting as well as enforcement proceedings. He is regularly retained by energy industry clients.

Gerald Higdon is smart, diligent and thorough.

Gerald J Pels
3
Gerald J Pels
3
Band 3
Gerald Pels is co-chair of the firm's environmental group. He is well regarded in the field, commonly advising clients in the manufacturing and energy sectors across the full spectrum of environmental permitting, compliance and enforcement matters.

Gerald Pels goes above and beyond to look out for his clients.

Gerald Pels is creative, efficient and knowledgeable.

He digs deep to find a solution for every issue.

Gerald is well connected with the environmental agencies. He is practical and effective.

M Benjamin Cowan
3
M Benjamin Cowan
3
Band 3
Benjamin Cowan is well known for his expertise in environmental issues and particularly strong on endangered species matters.

Benjamin Cowan is very knowledgeable in the field and he has a good handle on technical aspects.

Benjamin Cowan is always very quick to get straight to the point. He has great knowledge of legislation on both a federal and state level and he can quickly devise solutions to address problems.

Benjamin is really responsive and easy to deal with. He is always timely.

Susan M Rainey
4
Susan M Rainey
4
Band 4
Susan Rainey is noted for her skilled management of the environmental aspects of real estate and corporate transactions as well as enforcement matters.

Susan is pragmatic and business-focused. She is able to distill complex risks down and clear a path forward.

Susan does really good work.

Susan is very knowledgeable on the legal end and she is technically adept.

Ranked Lawyers at
Troutman Pepper Locke LLP

Provided by Chambers
Filter by
Band

Texas

Environment

Elizabeth E Mack
2
Elizabeth E Mack
2
Band 2
Gerald D Higdon
3
Gerald D Higdon
3
Band 3
Gerald J Pels
3
Gerald J Pels
3
Band 3
M Benjamin Cowan
3
M Benjamin Cowan
3
Band 3
Susan M Rainey
4
Susan M Rainey
4
Band 4