People
Adam Sowatzka is well known for his thorough grasp of environmental issues, gleaned from his experience as an EPA enforcement attorney, general counsel with an international manufacturing company, and lawyer with King & Spalding. In 2017, Chambers recognized him for his strength in defending civil and criminal enforcement matters describing him as "excellent in all aspects" of environmental practice. He has worked on precedent-setting cases and is at the forefront of some of the most significant environmental issues of the day.
With over 22 years of experience as an environmental lawyer, Adam offers pragmatic, business-minded solutions to clients facing complex problems in the ever-changing regulatory environment. He has litigated numerous cases in federal and state courts; represented companies in complex, high-stakes enforcement actions, and advocated before EPA and other regulatory agencies on dozens of rules, permits, and other administrative proceedings.
Adam has handled matters in all environmental media — from water, to air, to waste issues. He has particular expertise in handling matters involving emerging contaminants, including per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (“PFAS”). Adam was the lead attorney in one of the first major regulatory matters involving PFAS contamination of a municipal wastewater treatment plant, including the investigation and characterization of a three-county area in Northern Alabama impacted by biosolids from the plant. Adam is also often called on for his crisis management expertise in areas including accidents, explosions, derailments, spills, and responding to criminal and civil inspections and investigations.
Before entering private practice, Adam was an Associate Regional Counsel with the Environmental Protection Agency’s Southeastern Regional Office, and Vice President and General Counsel of a manufacturing and services subsidiary of Axel Johnson, Inc.
A published author and frequent speaker on environmental compliance and enforcement issues, Adam has been recognized as a leading environmental lawyer by Chambers USA. He has also been named a Georgia Super Lawyer by Georgia Super Lawyers magazine.
J.D., Vermont Law School, cum laude
M.S.E.L., Vermont Law School, magna cum laude
B.S., University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, cum laude
Alabama
District of Columbia
Georgia
U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Alabama
U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Alabama
Wisconsin
June 10, 2021
Legal 500 United States 2021 Ranks King & Spalding Practices Among the Top in the Nation
May 20, 2021
Chambers USA 2021 Names 179 K&S Lawyers and 65 K&S Practice Groups as Leaders in Their Fields
Counseling a major international manufacturer in responding to new PFAS legislation in states such as Washington, Colorado, New Hampshire and New York which is impacting their manufacturing operations and product sales.
Representing a large global corporation in response to an inquiry by a utility regarding the discharge of PFAS into the utility’s wastewater treatment plant resulting from the use and release of aqueous film forming foam (“AFFF”).
Representing a large international chemical manufacturer in response to an explosion at its largest U.S. manufacturing facility, including leading the incident response, internal investigation, and responding to regulatory inquiries by the State and Federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (“OSHA”), State and Federal environmental agencies, Chemical Safety Board, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (“ATF”), among others.
See more
March 10, 2022
Focus on Forever – March 10, 2022
January 26, 2022
Spotlight on PFAS and Other Substances in Cosmetics Likely to Grow in 2022
January 25, 2022
How New Laws Could Tighten FDA Regulation Of Cosmetics
June 10, 2021
Legal 500 United States 2021 Ranks King & Spalding Practices Among the Top in the Nation
May 20, 2021
Chambers USA 2021 Names 179 K&S Lawyers and 65 K&S Practice Groups as Leaders in Their Fields
Counseling a major international manufacturer in responding to new PFAS legislation in states such as Washington, Colorado, New Hampshire and New York which is impacting their manufacturing operations and product sales.
Representing a large global corporation in response to an inquiry by a utility regarding the discharge of PFAS into the utility’s wastewater treatment plant resulting from the use and release of aqueous film forming foam (“AFFF”).
Representing a large international chemical manufacturer in response to an explosion at its largest U.S. manufacturing facility, including leading the incident response, internal investigation, and responding to regulatory inquiries by the State and Federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (“OSHA”), State and Federal environmental agencies, Chemical Safety Board, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (“ATF”), among others.
See more
March 10, 2022
Focus on Forever – March 10, 2022
January 26, 2022
Spotlight on PFAS and Other Substances in Cosmetics Likely to Grow in 2022
January 25, 2022
How New Laws Could Tighten FDA Regulation Of Cosmetics
June 10, 2021
Legal 500 United States 2021 Ranks King & Spalding Practices Among the Top in the Nation
May 20, 2021
Chambers USA 2021 Names 179 K&S Lawyers and 65 K&S Practice Groups as Leaders in Their Fields
J.D., Vermont Law School, cum laude
M.S.E.L., Vermont Law School, magna cum laude
B.S., University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, cum laude
Alabama
District of Columbia
Georgia
U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Alabama
U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Alabama
Wisconsin