Shannon Varner

Career

Shannon’s blend of legislative work, public service, and decades of experience positions him to provide innovative strategies to address environmental issues ranging from development of market-based environmental compliance programs to facilitation of property transactions while limiting liability exposure.

Shannon joined the firm in 1999 after serving as a senior environmental attorney to the Virginia General Assembly, where he provided environmental and natural resources legal and policy guidance to all General Assembly members and drafted some of Virginia’s most significant environmental legislation during the 1993-1999 sessions.

Shannon regularly advises clients on a wide range of environmental issues, including creation and use of market-based approaches to environmental compliance, such as stream, wetland, and nutrient mitigation banks; environmental due diligence; brownfield redevelopment; voluntary remediation programs; permitting; and compliance issues. Working for entrepreneurs, he gained passage of Virginia’s stormwater nutrient-trading statute and has been active in its implementation, including with respect to certification of the first nutrient bank and first sale of nonpoint nutrient credits in Virginia.

He also facilitates property transactions throughout the U.S. by handling due diligence matters; species, wetlands, stormwater, and cultural resources issues; environmental permitting; and risk reduction and allocation of liabilities through contracts and other mechanisms. Further, Shannon leverages his years of public service to develop and advocate for legislative and regulatory initiatives to promote his clients’ objectives.

Professional Memberships

Member, Virginia Bar Association

Member, Environmental Law Section, Richmond Bar Association (vice chair, 2000-2001; chair, 2001-2002; executive committee, 2001-2002)

Member, Natural Resource Committee, Virginia Chamber of Commerce