Brooks M Smith

Nationally recognized as a leader in the law, Brooks is involved in cutting-edge environmental and natural resources proceedings in Virginia and around the U.S., including litigation, enforcement defense, project development, and compliance counseling.

Brooks is managing partner of the firm’s Richmond office, which has more than 150 attorneys spread out over the full array of practice areas, along with the Strategies group, which is the firm’s full-service government relations subsidiary. He helps lead the firm’s Environmental and Natural Resources Practice Group, which spans offices from coast to coast. Prior to joining the firm in August 2013, Brooks co-chaired the global environmental practice at Hunton & Williams (now Hunton Andrews Kurth).

Brooks has written and spoken extensively on developments arising under the Clean Water Act, Endangered Species Act, NEPA, and other environmental laws. In addition, he has chaired several national conferences and given more than 300 presentations to audiences across the U.S. and Canada.

In the courtroom, Brooks is a formidable presence, having defended scores of permit appeals, citizen lawsuits, environmental tort claims, and agency enforcement actions.

Outside the courtroom, Brooks is a trusted advisor to clients in the development of major projects, including manufacturing facilities, mines, pipelines, solar and wind facilities, and other energy infrastructure, as well as the development and implementation of a range of different compliance assurance programs. Brooks has led more than 1,000 third-party EHS compliance audits and has handled scores of internal investigations and agency self-disclosures. He also regularly counsels clients on navigating NEPA reviews, ESA consultations, and federal/state permitting for new projects.