People
Adam is the deputy practice group leader of the firm’s Environmental Health and Safety (“EHS”) practice, which has over 30 lawyers located throughout the US and in Europe. He is well known for his thorough grasp of environmental issues, developed from his over 25 years of experience as an EPA enforcement attorney, general counsel with an international manufacturing company, and lawyer with King & Spalding. Chambers recognizes him for his strength in defending civil and criminal enforcement matters describing him as "excellent in all aspects" of environmental practice. Adam has managed environmental matters in all 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 the leader of the Firm’s EHS Emergency Response team, which is part of the Firm’s broader Crisis Management practice. Adam has led the response and investigation of catastrophic accidents, fires, explosions, and spills, and crisis management matters such as criminal and civil inspections and investigations. In the last several years, he has helped clients recover over $2B in insurance proceeds to aid in rebuilding after experiencing an EHS-related crisis. Many of Adam’s matters have involved defending clients in government investigations following an EHS crisis such as investigations by the Chemical Safety Board (“CSB”), the United States Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”), the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (“OSHA”), Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (“ATF”), and numerous state and local regulatory agencies.
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. Adam was named a 2020 Daily Report Georgia Trailblazer for his work in crisis management.
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.
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
Texas
U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Alabama
U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Alabama
Wisconsin
June 8, 2022
Legal 500 United States 2022 Recognizes King & Spalding Practices and Lawyers Among the Top in the Nation
June 1, 2022
Chambers USA 2022 Recognizes 188 K&S Lawyers and 75 K&S Practice Groups as Leaders in Their Fields
Representative EHS Matters
Counsel to a Fortune 100 company defending a criminal and civil enforcement action involving EPA’s Lead Renovation, Repair and Painting (“RRP”) Rule under the Toxic Substances Control Act (“TSCA”), resulting in the largest ever settlement in a TSCA enforcement case by EPA.
National counsel to one of the largest U.S. homebuilders, providing counsel to the company on environmental matters throughout the country, such as stormwater and wetlands compliance under the Clean Water Act, environmental management systems, self-disclosure of environmental violations, natural resources, and endangered species.
Representing a major international manufacturer in a national industrial storm water enforcement action by EPA headquarters, the DOJ and several states initially involving over 400 manufacturing locations.
See more
June 13, 2022
Focus on Forever – June 13, 2022
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
June 8, 2022
Legal 500 United States 2022 Recognizes King & Spalding Practices and Lawyers Among the Top in the Nation
June 1, 2022
Chambers USA 2022 Recognizes 188 K&S Lawyers and 75 K&S Practice Groups as Leaders in Their Fields
Representative EHS Matters
Counsel to a Fortune 100 company defending a criminal and civil enforcement action involving EPA’s Lead Renovation, Repair and Painting (“RRP”) Rule under the Toxic Substances Control Act (“TSCA”), resulting in the largest ever settlement in a TSCA enforcement case by EPA.
National counsel to one of the largest U.S. homebuilders, providing counsel to the company on environmental matters throughout the country, such as stormwater and wetlands compliance under the Clean Water Act, environmental management systems, self-disclosure of environmental violations, natural resources, and endangered species.
Representing a major international manufacturer in a national industrial storm water enforcement action by EPA headquarters, the DOJ and several states initially involving over 400 manufacturing locations.
See more
June 13, 2022
Focus on Forever – June 13, 2022
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
June 8, 2022
Legal 500 United States 2022 Recognizes King & Spalding Practices and Lawyers Among the Top in the Nation
June 1, 2022
Chambers USA 2022 Recognizes 188 K&S Lawyers and 75 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
Texas
U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Alabama
U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Alabama
Wisconsin