Barbara Rodriguez-Pashkowski, Chair of the firm’s Real Estate and Commercial Sections, concentrates her practice on environmental law, including WQARF, CERCLA, UST matters, due diligence, air quality, water quality, and RCRA. She brings her clients years of experience, including state and federal Superfund and litigation, UST compliance and appeals, air quality and water quality permitting and regulatory compliance, asbestos compliance, RCRA regulatory compliance, environmental rule writing, and legislation. Barbara works with various federal, state, and local governmental entities and private companies on a broad range of environmental issues.
Prior to joining Gust Rosenfeld, Barbara worked in the Environmental Enforcement Section of the Arizona Attorney General’s office as Chief Counsel for the Air, Game and Fish, Underground Storage Tanks and Agriculture (AGUA) Unit. She represented the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality in administrative hearings, litigation and litigation coordination, rule writing, legislation, the negotiation of complex environmental settlements, and training for its state Superfund, UST, State Assurance Fund and air quality programs.
Presentations & Publications
• Featured Speaker, MCBA Paralegal Conference, “Environmental Law - What is Trending, What is Your Role?”
• Featured Speaker, Transportation Research Board 55th Annual Workshop on Transportation Law, “Environmental Due Diligence”
• Featured Speaker, Condemnation Summit, “NEPA Challenges and Their Relevance to Acquisitions and Appraisal Practice”
• Featured Speaker, State Bar of Arizona 82nd Annual Convention, “Environmental Law Fundamentals: Water Quality”
• Featured Speaker, “UST Operator Training”
• Featured Speaker, “Environmental Considerations for Franchisors”
• Featured Speaker, “Effluent Guidelines for Discharge of Pollutants from Construction Sites”
• Featured Speaker, “Ins and Outs of Foreclosure - Environmental Considerations”
• New EPA Guidance on the Applicability of the Bona Fide Prospective Purchaser Defense to Tenants (January 2013)
• Asbestos in School, the Penalties, the Dangers (April 2012)
• Ins and Outs of Foreclosure, CERCLA and WQARF Environmental Considerations in Foreclosures, Chapter 16, 3rd Edition
Community Involvement
• ASU Mentorship Initiative in Sustainability Law (Board Member)
• Los Abogados (member)
• Community Housing Resources of Arizona (former Board Member)
• Aid to Adoption of Special Kids (former Board Member)
Professional Recognition
The Best Lawyers in America, Environmental Law; Natural Resources Law (2019-2026)• Phoenix Magazine 2022 Top Lawyers - Land Use & Environmental Law
• Maricopa County Bar Association’s Robert R. Mills Member of the Year (2021)
• AZ Business Leaders, Law - Real Estate (2021-2022)
• Top 100 Lawyers in Arizona, AZ Business Magazine (2020 and 2022)
• Most Influential Women in Real Estate by AZRE Magazine (2018)
• Republic Media Who’s Who in Business! (2016)
