Recognized by Chambers as one of "the absolute best at the white collar bar," Mr. Starr's practice focuses on corporate governance and compliance initiatives for corporate clients facing serious and complex environmental contingencies.
An equally strong focus in representing corporations and individuals under investigation for environmental and other white collar offenses.
For over a decade, Mr. Starr chaired Venable's Environmental Practice group -- the only practice group in the nation that continues to also focus exclusively on representing clients facing environmental crimes issues.
He is one of two former Chiefs of the U.S. Department of Justice's Environmental Crimes Section now at Venable. A value derived from their accumulated experience is an up-to-date knowledge base on environmental issues -- environmental crimes cases, plea agreements, pleading and other form files and data banks.
While serving as Chief, Mr. Starr, along with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, created, developed and directed the federal environmental crimes programs and policies. He also served as the Justice Department's chief spokesperson for the program and as the government's lead coordinator for all federal prosecutors and federal, state and local law enforcement agencies.
Significant Matters
Mr. Starr represents domestic and international corporations engaged in a wide variety of industries. His clients include companies that produce chemicals, aircraft, energy, pulp and paper, food products, natural gas, oil and other petroleum products. Recent corporate clients have included:
· one of the world's largest cruise lines;
· a market leader in the petroleum maritime shipping industry;
· one of the nation's largest manufacturers of cast iron pipes;
· a multi-national steel company;
· a FORTUNE 50 waste-management company;
· a leading manufacturer of farm equipment;
· one of the nation's largest sugar refineries; and
· several of the top defense contractors.
His individual clients have included environmental lawyers, corporate officers and general counsels.
Activities
Mr. Starr is active in local, national and international bar associations and chairs various committees on environmental issues. He co-chairs the annual ALI-ABA Conference on Environmental Crimes.
He is a member of the Board of Directors at Georgetown University Hospital.
He also serves on the Advisory Board of Georgetown University Law Center's Corporate Counsel Institute.
He served as a member of the Environmental Crimes Advisory Group, U.S. Sentencing Commission.
Mr. Starr is a member of Venable's Management Board.
Government Experience
Chief, Environmental Crimes Section, United States Department of Justice, Environment and Natural Resources Division
Director, Environmental Crimes Unit, United States Department of Justice, Environment and Natural Resources Division
News
May 7, 2012, Legal Bisnow features annual ALI-ABA course on Criminal Enforcement of Environmental Laws
May 3, 2012, Washington, DC edition of Super Lawyers 2012 honors 18 Venable attorneys
April 19, 2012, Georgetown Law magazine quotes Jud Starr on the Law Firm Challenge
January 12, 2012, Monica Derbes Gibson, formerly with EPA Office of General Counsel and Justice Department, Joins Venable Environmental Group
December 5, 2011, Venable announces new Government Division leadership team
November 29, 2011, 11 Venable attorneys included in Washingtonian's "Washington's Best Lawyers"
September 14, 2011, 75 Venable attorneys listed in The Best Lawyers in America® 2012
June 10, 2011, Chambers Ranks Record Number of Venable Attorneys
May 2, 2011, Washington, DC edition of Super Lawyers 2011 honors 17 Venable attorneys
March 10, 2011, Law360 highlights sentencing for former U.S. District Judge
February 28, 2011, Jud Starr quoted in an article discussing the Department of Justice's new misconduct unit
October 26, 2010, Five Venable Attorneys Named "Lawyer of the Year" by Best Lawyers
October 4, 2010, Law360 quotes Jud Starr on environmental crimes prosecution
October 1, 2010, BNA quotes Jud Starr in coverage of ALI-ABA criminal enforcement of environmental laws event
September 13, 2010, Jerry Block, Jud Starr featured in National Law Journal article
August 23, 2010, 65 Venable attorneys receive 2011 Best Lawyers honors
August 23, 2010, Venable Hosts 16th Annual ALI-ABA Conference on Criminal Enforcement of Environmental Laws
July 17, 2010, Venable Makes Big Gains on Chambers USA 2010 Rankings with Forty-Eight Attorneys Listed as Among the Best in Their Fields
January 4, 2010, Jud Starr quoted in "New Top Cop for Pollution"
November 23, 2009, 13 Venable attorneys included in Washingtonian's "Washington's Top Lawyers"
November 5, 2009, Best Lawyers recognizes 24 Washington-area Venable attorneys in Washington Post supplement
July 16, 2009, Thirty-Nine Venable Attorneys Recognized By Clients and Peers as Among Best in Their Practice Areas in 2009 Chambers USA Rankings
May 19, 2009, Jud Starr and Jerry Block quoted in Law360 article on pace of Obama administration's environmental reform
May 18, 2009, Jud Starr and Jerry Block discuss implications of high-profile prosecutorial misconduct as DOJ prepares to step up enforcement
April 22, 2009, Jud Starr and Jerry Block quoted in National Law Journal article on Crime Victims Act use in environment cases
April 9, 2009, Venable Hosts ALI-ABA Conference on Environmental Enforcement under Obama Administration
November 4, 2008, Venable's "Election Watch Group" Assesses Presidential Election's Impact on Multiple Industries
August 25, 2008, Fifty-nine Venable Attorneys Earn Best Lawyers in America Honors
June 16, 2008, Chambers USA Releases 2008 Rankings: 37 Venable Attorneys Identified By Clients and Peers as Among Best in Practice Areas
November 29, 2007, 14 Venable Lawyers Named to Washingtonian Magazine's 2007 List of D.C.-Area's Top Attorneys
September 12, 2007, Fifty-five Venable Attorneys Earn Best Lawyers in America Honors
June 4, 2007, Environmental-Regulatory Attorneys Douglas Green and William Weissman Join Venable, Bringing Major Utility Industry Experience in Chemical, Solid and Hazardous Waste
October 2, 2006, Forty-Seven Venable Lawyers Cited Among The Best Lawyers in America
April 27, 2006, Seventeen Venable Lawyers Cited Among "Best Lawyers in America" in the Washington Area
April 18, 2006, Venable Partners Judson Starr and Jerry Block to Chair ALI-ABA Conference on Environmental Crimes
October 5, 2005, Forty Venable Lawyers Cited Among "Best Lawyers in America"
June 10, 2005, Venable Makes Impressive Gains on Latest Chambers USA Rankings
March 14, 2005, Venable Environmental Lawyers Contribute to National Ocean Policy Report
December 13, 2004, 23 Venable Partners Cited Among "Best Lawyers in America" in Bi-Annual Peer-Reviewed Survey
November 24, 2004, 14 Venable attorneys named "Top Lawyer" by Washingtonian
April 26, 2004, Venable Lawyers and Practice Groups Score On Latest Chambers USA Rankings
May 28, 2002, Defensive Move: Robert Wilkins, Ex-Chief of Special Litigation in DC Public Defender's Office, Joins Venable as a Partner in Corporate Defense/White Collar Group
October 8, 2001, Deputy Attorney General to Speak on Environmental Crimes Issues
November 21, 2000, Venable Attorneys Author Environmental Handbook for Marine Industry
Honors
Listed in Who's Who Legal, Environment, 2011
Named Washington, DC Environmental "Lawyer of the Year," Best Lawyers, 2011
AV® Peer-Review Rated by Martindale-Hubbell
Who's Who in America, 2007-2010
Who's Who in American Law, 2003-2004, 2007-2008
Who's Who Legal: The International Who's Who of Business Lawyers, 2006, 2008, 2009
Who's Who Legal: The International Who's Who of Environmental Lawyers, 2003-2010
Madison Who's Who Among Executives and Professionals "Honors Edition," 2006-2009
The United Who's Who Registry, 2005-2006
Listed in The Best Lawyers in America for Criminal Defense: White Collar and Environmental Law, (Woodward/White, Inc.), 2006-2011
Corporate Counsel's Best Lawyers: Criminal Defense Law, 2004
Corporate Counsel's Best Lawyers: Environmental, 2010
Recognized in 2004, 2007, 2009 and 2011 by Washingtonian magazine as one of "Washington's Top Lawyers"
Selected for inclusion in District of Columbia Super Lawyers, 2007-2012
Recognized in the 2011 edition of Chambers USA, (Band 1), Environment, District of Columbia
Recognized in the 2010 edition of Chambers USA, (Band 1), Environment, District of Columbia: "the absolute best at the white collar Bar; he has environmental criminal matters locked up."
Recognized in the 2009 edition of Chambers USA, (Band 1), Environment, District of Columbia: "has helped build an environmental criminal defense practice that few can match."
Recognized in the 2008 edition of Chambers USA, (Band 1), Environment, District of Columbia: "Widely believed to be the best environmental criminal defense lawyer in [Washington, DC]."
Recognized in the 2007 edition of Chambers USA, (Band 2), Environment, District of Columbia: "a fabulous criminal defense lawyer and a great litigator."
Recognized in the 2006 edition of Chambers USA, (Band 2), Environment, District of Columbia: "Effective, experienced and knowledgeable, with an extremely commanding presence."
Recognized in the 2005 edition of Chambers USA, (Band 2), Environment, District of Columbia: "the dean of the environmental crimes Bar"
Recognized in the 2004 edition of Chambers USA, (Band 4), Environment, District of Columbia: "the gold standard for white collar crime"
Recognized in the 2003 edition of Chambers USA, (Band 5), Environment, District of Columbia
National Law Journal named Mr. Starr one of the nation's "top white collar crime experts"
Publications
September 6, 2011, Fracking: Can 20th Century Regulations Cope With 21st Century Technology?
Joseph G. Block, Judson W. Starr, Justin W. Curtis
BNA Daily Report for Executives
March 2011, Contributing author, Environmental Aspects of Real Estate, Fourth Edition
Judson W. Starr
February 2011, Contributing author, Environmental Issues in Business Transactions, Third Edition
Judson W. Starr
February 2011, Coast Guard and EPA Tackle Enforcement Issues for Vessel General Permit Requirements
Judson W. Starr, David G. Dickman
Environmental Alert
January 2011, Strong Civil and Criminal Enforcement Emphasized in Department of Justice's 2011 Environmental Enforcement Authorities
Joseph G. Block, Douglas H. Green, Thomas M. Lingan, Robert G. Smith, Judson W. Starr, M. Rosewin Sweeney
Environmental Alert
July 2010, The Arc of Environmental Criminal Enforcement
John F. Cooney, Judson W. Starr, Joseph G. Block
Natural Resources & Environment, Summer 2010
January 14, 2009, New Vessel General Permit Means New Record-Keeping Headaches for Industry
David G. Dickman, Judson W. Starr
Environmental Alert
January 12, 2009, EPA Issues Final General Permit for Discharges Incidental to the Normal Operation of Vessels
Judson W. Starr, David G. Dickman, Joseph G. Block, Thomas J. Kelly, Jr.,Margaret N. Strand, W. Warren Hamel, M. Rosewin Sweeney
Environmental Alert
January 8, 2009, A New Intersection: Environmental Crimes and Victims' Rights
Judson W. Starr, Allison D. Foley
Natural Resources & Environment Journal
May 2, 2008, To Voluntarily Disclose Or Not: That Is Still The Question For Regulated Businesses
Judson W. Starr, David L. Feinberg
Legal Backgrounder
November 2, 2007, Globalizing Serious Environmental Offenses: Now It's a Crime, Too
Judson W. Starr, Amy J. McMaster
June 20, 2005, "Waiving" Goodbye to the Internal Investigation
Judson W. Starr
May 8, 2003, The New Rules in Environmental Criminal Enforcement
Judson W. Starr, W. Warren Hamel
ALI-ABA Criminal Enforcement of Environmental Laws Course Materials,
January 15, 2003, Environmental Crimes in Perspective
Judson W. Starr
The Environmental Counselor
October 29, 2002, Environmental Criminal Liability In the United States: A Handbook for the Marine Industry
David G. Dickman, Judson W. Starr
July 30, 2002, U.S. Senate Hearing: "Criminal and Civil Enforcement of Environmental Laws: Do We Have All The Tools We Need?"
Judson W. Starr
Testimony
October 17, 2001, The Process and Pitfalls of the EPA/DOJ Voluntary Disclosure Program
Judson W. Starr
Presentation at October 2001 National Association for Environmental Management's Environmental Management Forum
May 1, 2001, Environmental Criminal Enforcement: Then and Now
Judson W. Starr
Presentation at May 2001 ABA-EPA Conference
March 8, 2001, The Government's Insistence on a Waiver of Privileges
Judson W. Starr
February 23, 2001, DOJ Must Address White Collar Prosecutors' Disrespect for Privileged Communications
Judson W. Starr
Washington Legal Foundation's "Legal Backgrounder"
March 1, 2000, The Increase of Criminal Exposure in the American Workplace
Judson W. Starr
Natural Resources and Environment, ABA Section of the Environment, Energy and Resources
August 23, 1999, Environmental Aspects of Real Estate Transactions: From Brownfields to Green Buildings, edited by James B. Witkin
Judson W. Starr, Margaret N. Strand
May 12, 1999, The Knock on the Door: Preparing For, and Responding To, a Criminal Investigation
Judson W. Starr
March 5, 1999, What Price Cooperation: Government Demands and the Attorney-Client Privilege
Judson W. Starr, Joshua N. Schopf
December 1, 1997, Environmental Criminal Sanctions for Oil Spills: The 'Stormy Night' May Not Be Over As Soon As You Think
Gregory S. Braker, Judson W. Starr
July 1, 1997, EPA's Voluntary Disclosure Policy
Judson W. Starr
April 30, 1997, Sentencing Guidelines For Corporate Environmental Crimes: Is it Fine Having No Fine Guidelines?
Gregory S. Braker, Judson W. Starr
1996, Environmental Crimes Deskbook
Gregory S. Braker, John F. Cooney, Joseph G. Block, Judson W. Starr, Thomas J. Kelly, Jr.
Environmental Law Institute
Events/Speaking Engagements
Mr. Starr has been quoted often on environmental enforcement issues in the national media. He has appeared on 60 Minutes and other national news sources.
He is a frequent speaker on environmental topics and has often testified before federal and state legislative bodies.
Past Events
April 26, 2012, ALI-ABA's 17th Annual Course on Criminal Enforcement of the Environmental Laws, hosted by Venable LLP
Judson W. Starr, Joseph G. Block, Thomas J. Kelly, Jr., W. Warren Hamel
October 22, 2011, "Marcellus Shale: Legislative and Legal Realities" for the Washington & Jefferson Pre-Law Advisory Committee
Judson W. Starr
March 18, 2011, "The State of Criminal and Civil Environmental Enforcement," Environment, Health & Safety Legal Council
Judson W. Starr
September 23, 2010, ALI-ABA's 16th Annual Course on Criminal Enforcement of the Environmental Laws, hosted by Venable LLP
Joseph G. Block, Judson W. Starr, W. Warren Hamel, Thomas J. Kelly, Jr.
May 14, 2009, ALI-ABA's 15th Annual Course on Criminal Enforcement of the Environmental Laws, hosted by Venable LLP
Joseph G. Block, W. Warren Hamel, Thomas J. Kelly, Jr., Judson W. Starr
October 4, 2007 - October 5, 2007, 14th Annual Advanced ALI-ABA Course of Study on Criminal Enforcement of Environmental Laws
Judson W. Starr
February 2, 2007, 21st Annual Institute on White Collar Crime
Judson W. Starr
October 10, 2006, Delaware Valley Association of Corporate Counsel Fifth Annual General Counsel Forum
Judson W. Starr
May 18, 2006 - May 19, 2006, 13th Annual Advanced ALI-ABA Course of Study on Criminal Enforcement of Environmental Laws
Judson W. Starr, Joseph G. Block, David G. Dickman, W. Warren Hamel, Thomas J. Kelly, Jr.
April 6, 2006 - April 9, 2006, ABA Section of Business Law Spring Meeting
Judson W. Starr
September 14, 2005, Fourth Annual DELVACCA General Counsel Forum
Judson W. Starr
September 30, 2004 - October 1, 2004, 12th Annual Advanced ALI-ABA Course of Study on Criminal Enforcement of Environmental Laws
Judson W. Starr, Joseph G. Block, David G. Dickman, W. Warren Hamel, Thomas J. Kelly, Jr.
May 8, 2003 - May 9, 2003, 11th Annual Advanced ALI-ABA Course of Study on Criminal Enforcement of Environmental Laws
Judson W. Starr, Joseph G. Block, David G. Dickman, Thomas J. Kelly, Jr., W. Warren Hamel
April 3, 2003 - April 6, 2003, ABA Section of Business Law Spring Meeting
Judson W. Starr
March 14, 2003, Joint Air & Waste Management Association and State Bar of Georgia Environmental Law Section Luncheon
Judson W. Starr
March 6, 2003 - March 7, 2003, 17th Annual National Institute on White Collar Crime 2003
Judson W. Starr
July 30, 2002, Testified before the United States Senate Judiciary Committee Subcommittee on Crime and Drugs on the Criminal and Civil Enforcement of Environmental Laws
Judson W. Starr