Varun Shekhar

Area of EmphasisVarun Shekhar is a shareholder in Babst Calland’s Environmental and Pipeline and HazMat Safety groups. Mr. Shekhar’s Environmental practice emphasizes federal, state and local regulatory matters arising under the Clean Air Act (CAA). He counsels facilities across the country regarding permitting, compliance determination and assurance, CAA Section 114 information requests, enforcement actions by federal and state agencies, environmental audits, and emerging air quality issues including climate change and regulation of greenhouse gas emissions, to help clients develop compliance solutions that are practically, technically, and legally sound.

Mr. Shekhar’s Pipeline and HazMat Safety practice emphasizes advising clients within a variety of industries regarding the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Administration’s (PHMSA’s) regulations under the Pipeline Safety Act and the Hazardous Materials Transportation Act.

Background

Mr. Shekhar received his Juris Doctor cum laude from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2013, also attending the University of Michigan Law School during his course of study. During law school, he served as a summer law clerk to Justice Ann Walsh Bradley of the Wisconsin Supreme Court, and as a research assistant to Professor Linda S. Greene of the University of Wisconsin Law School. Mr. Shekhar also worked with the Great Lakes Environmental Law Center in conjunction with the Wayne State University Transnational Environmental Law Clinic.

Mr. Shekhar earned his M.S. in Biomedical Engineering in 2013 from Wayne State University, where he also previously received his Bachelor’s degree in 2007.

Memberships and Affiliations

Mr. Shekhar is admitted to practice in the District of Columbia and Pennsylvania, as well as before the U.S. Supreme Court, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, and the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania. He is a member of the American Bar Association’s Section of Environment, Energy and Resources, the Pennsylvania and Allegheny County Bar associations, and the Air and Waste Management Association.

Mr. Shekhar received a 2025 Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America recognition for Environmental Law.