Brian Clark has a diverse and extensive practice that spans 25 years and covers three primary areas: environmental counseling, administrative and toxic tort litigation and governmental relations.
As co-chair of the firm's Environmental Practice Group, Brian handles a variety of complex energy transactions, permitting compliance issues, litigation involving oil and gas producers and midstream companies, and transactions involving Brownfield properties for commercial, industrial and energy clients ranging from family-owned businesses to Fortune 100 companies. He counsels energy clients on corporate governance and environmental permits, as well as state funding sources.
Brian's accomplishments include:
- Negotiated a federal Clean Water Act consent agreement involving groundwater contamination with EPA Region 3 at a major petroleum distribution facility on behalf of a large petroleum transportation company.
- Represented and litigated a major energy producer in a dispute with the Department of Environmental Protection involving agency handling of abandoned gas wells.
- Litigated a natural gas gathering line dispute before the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission involving a case of first impression.
- Represented coal company on asset sale to private equity firm involving complex pre-existing mine discharge obligations.
- Handled and oversaw environmental due diligence at major Pennsylvania energy generation plant.
- Litigated third party appeals of permits issued to Pennsylvania quarry operation.
- Represented several petroleum companies in legacy cleanups across Pennsylvania involving complex multi-party cleanup obligations and legacy issues for both soils and groundwater cleanup.
- Represented landfill owner in federal Superfund cost recovery case involving multiple parties.
- Resolved federal and state claims at major petroleum pipeline release on Allegheny River.
- Represented company subject to anthrax contamination at its corporate office, involving federal, state and local agencies and third party claims.
- Handled storage tank litigation cases under the Pennsylvania Storage Tank Act and claims before the Pennsylvania tank indemnification fund.
- Defended industry clients in environmental criminal prosecution before the Pennsylvania Attorney General's Office involving criminal charges under the Pennsylvania Solid Waste Management Act and Clean Streams Law.
Brian has also been involved in landmark environmental and energy legislative initiatives for business clients for over 25 years. Brian has assisted industry groups in providing valuable input in the development of the Pennsylvania Land Recycling Act, regulations and technical guidance. Brian was involved in the development of deregulation programs for natural gas and electricity before the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission and the General Assembly.
Brian has served as an advisor on Pennsylvania environmental and energy policy issues to three gubernatorial candidates. He recently served on Pennsylvania Governor Tom Corbett's Energy and Environment Transition Team.
Brian formerly was majority counsel to the Pennsylvania Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee. In this capacity, he drafted major state environmental laws, including the Oil and Gas Act, state Superfund Act, the Storage Tank Act, and the Municipal Waste Planning, Waste Reduction and Recycling Act.
An active lecturer on environmental topics for the Pennsylvania Bar Institute and the Chamber of Business and Industry, he has authored a variety of articles, book chapters and handbooks. In 2007, Brian was selected by his peers for the
Pennsylvania Super Lawyers® list and has also been selected for inclusion in
The Best Lawyers in America since 2007.