Gerald J Pels

Gerry is a leader in the Texas environmental legal community. His diverse practice of more than 30 years focuses on compliance, permitting, and enforcement defense, as well as risk management, agency negotiation, counseling, litigation, and ESG program development and reporting.

During his career, Gerry has led teams working on cutting-edge matters of environmental law, including resolving the well-known Cooper v. Aviall litigation and arguing Clean Air Act issues before the Fifth Circuit in litigation involving the Texas SIP. He was also an adjunct law professor for seven years, teaching both environmental law and an advanced RCRA seminar.

Gerry’s wide range of experience includes agency negotiations, assessing and counseling air, water, stormwater, and waste permit compliance and enforcement defense, and representing clients at contested permit, enforcement, and other hearings. He also provides comprehensive assistance and representation to potentially responsible parties and steering committees at both state and federal Superfund sites.

Gerry leads internal environmental investigations and provides strategic board-level guidance on ESG and sustainability initiatives, reporting, and board/management oversight of the ESG function, including risk minimization; corporate environmental compliance policies; stakeholder involvement, and community relations planning; as well as corporate risk assessment and mitigation.

Member, Association of Chemical Industry of Texas

Member, Houston Bar Association, Environmental Section

Member, Greater Houston Partnership

Member, American Bar Association, Natural Resources and Administrative Law and Regulatory Practice Sections and Cleantech and Climate Change Committee

Member, Texas Bar Association, Environmental and Natural Resources Section

Member, Houston Bar Association, Environmental Section

Member, Petro-Safe Planning Committee (1994-1995)