Taylor, Porter, Brooks & Phillips, L.L.P.

Taylor Porter environmental lawyers have the legal, technical and practical experience to service the environmental needs of business and industry in all media (air, water and waste), in all facets (regulatory, remediation, litigation, property transactions, contracts and root cause investigations) and in all stages of the process (legislative, regulatory, administrative and litigation), and we do so in an effective, creative and efficient manner with the highest quality of scholarship, advocacy, ethics and professionalism.

Having varied and in-depth experience in all areas of permitting, members of our practice group obtain authorizations needed by facilities for operation, change and expansion. We handle significant litigation arising out of the issuance or denial of environmental operating permits including solid waste, hazardous waste, air, water and radiation permits as well as permits issued by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Louisiana Department of Natural Resources and others. We have vast experience with contested permits and are particularly poised to establish complete and effective administrative records in favor of our clients - from the beginning of the permitting process through the appeal process – that will withstand final judicial scrutiny.

We also defend clients in enforcement actions brought by the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the Louisiana State Police, the U.S. Corps of Engineers, the Louisiana Department of Natural Resources and other regulatory agencies both in administrative and judicial settings. We have handled numerous contested administrative hearings and have achieved successful results that have been upheld by the district and appellate courts. When appropriate, we have successfully negotiated consent decrees and/or cooperative agreements to resolve disputes with agencies.

Members of our group also defend class action and multi-party litigation for owners and operators of Superfund sites, chemical manufacturing plants, solid waste landfills, hazardous waste treatment, storage and disposal facilities and others. Defense of these lawsuits includes not only the defense of claims for personal injury and property damage, but also the defense of assertions of violations of environmental law and regulations and demands for remediation. Because our lawyers have experience in environmental law and regulations as well as litigation, we can provide the optimal defense in these cases. We also interface with regulatory agencies, including the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality, the U.S.Environmental Protection Agency, the Department of Natural Resources and the Department of Health and Human Resources, as appropriate during the course of litigation to provide needed advocacy to insure an effective defense on all fronts and to address related regulatory issues.

We represent industrial and commercial clients in litigation involving contaminated property and resources. This type of litigation often involves a combination of tort, contract, redhibition, CERCLA and Louisiana Hazardous Substances Remediation law issues. Whether we are representing plaintiffs or defendants in these suits, our combination of experience in environmental regulatory law and all aspects of litigation allow us to service our clients at the highest levels of competency and efficiency.

For many of our clients, we advise with respect to contracts having environmental implications, and we have been involved in litigation involving contract interpretation and other contract disputes, including major contracts subject to multi-million dollar claims.

We actively monitor environmental legislation and regulatory developments and become involved in this process to represent the best interests of our clients. Our lawyers participate actively with the Environmental Council of the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry (LABI) and are networked with all major environmental professional groups in the state.

Selected matters handled by the Environmental Law group include:

• Obtaining an operating permit for Louisiana's largest commercial hazardous waste treatment, storage and disposal facility.

• Representing the corporation that is remediating one of the nation's largest Superfund sites.

• Counseling in complex air permitting matters and defending major enforcement actions brought under the Clean Air Act and Louisiana Air Control Law.

• Handling permits, contracts and regulatory compliance issues for the nation's largest commercial collector and transporter of solid waste and operator of solid waste landfills.

• Advising chemical manufacturers, recyclers and businesses in regulatory compliance and permitting in all areas including air quality, hazardous waste, solid waste, water quality and radiation protection.

• Representing clients in challenges to agency actions, including mandamus and injunction actions against the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality.

• Defending clients in private environmental litigation.

• Representing lenders and borrowers in real estate transactions involving environmental issues.

Taylor Porter values and embraces diversity in the workplace. We believe that our 100-year tradition of excellence in client service is strengthened by our differences in perspective, talents and interests, as well as socio-economic and cultural backgrounds. Our diversity commitment is fostered through our efforts to recruit and employ exceptional talent without regard to age, race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, ethnicity or disability. We firmly believe that our inclusive culture encourages collaboration among our members—which is necessary to achieving superior client outcomes.

We actively encourage a diverse, inclusive firm environment by:

* Recruiting and retaining diverse attorneys and staff

*Promoting an inclusive, understanding, welcoming culture

*Maintaining a cooperative, all-for-one, firm-first spirit

*Respecting the dignity and contributions of our colleagues

*Recognizing individual talents and contributions

*Providing equal opportunities for professional and personal growth • Treating others like we want to be treated

*Seeking enduring relationships with our clients and with each other

In our experience, a strong, growing diversity commitment helps us:

*Better serve our clients – Close working relationships give Taylor Porter unique insight into our clients’ organizational, demographic, cultural, economic and social needs. And as our clients grow, our own diverse culture will help them succeed in an increasingly inclusive national and global economy.

*Enrich our community – Demonstrating our diversity commitment benefits not only the firm and our profession, but also the community in which our members and their families live and work. Our participation in non-profit and professional organizations also helps us advance and promote diversity locally, regionally and nationally.

*Position the firm for long-term success – The varied backgrounds and experiences of our attorneys and staff directly influence our ability to provide exceptional service and creative solutions.That’s why recruiting and retaining diverse members is so essential to firm growth and prosperity.