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Les Oakes specializes in environmental law. A partner in our Environmental practice, Les works with clients on negotiations, litigation, permits and compliance concerns in a variety of environmental matters, including transactions.
Les advises clients in a wide range of environmental matters, including Resource Conservation and Recovery Act compliance and corrective action; Superfund cleanup matters and Brownfields limitations of liability; air and water permits; and environmental audits and transactions.
Previously, Les was an environmental engineer with the Environmental Protection Division of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources. In more than 11 years with the EPD, he worked in the air, hazardous waste and water branches, conducting compliance inspections, writing permits and participating in enforcement proceedings.
Les has been recognized by Chambers USA as a leading environmental lawyer in Georgia for more than 10 years.
J.D., Georgia State University
M.S., Georgia State University
B.M.E., Georgia Institute of Technology
Georgia
American Bar Association (Member, Natural Resources Section)
State Bar of Georgia (Member, Environmental Law Section)
September 16, 2022
King & Spalding Recognized for its Leadership in Atlanta-Area Deals of the Year
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
Negotiated RCRA permits and corrective action plans in the following jurisdictions: Nevada, Idaho, Arkansas, Florida, Tennessee, Alabama, South Carolina, Georgia, Kentucky and Puerto Rico.
Negotiated withdrawal without penalties of a $1 million claim brought against a chemical manufacturer for alleged air permit violations.
Successfully defended a PSD permit for the first coal-fired power plant to be built in Georgia in more than 25 years.
See more
January 18, 2023
EPA Releases a Cumulative Impacts Addendum to its Environmental Justice Tool Kit
June 5, 2020
EPA’s Revised Rule for Ethylene Oxide ("EtO") Manufacturers
July 1, 2014
Energy Newsletter – July 2014
September 16, 2022
King & Spalding Recognized for its Leadership in Atlanta-Area Deals of the Year
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
Negotiated RCRA permits and corrective action plans in the following jurisdictions: Nevada, Idaho, Arkansas, Florida, Tennessee, Alabama, South Carolina, Georgia, Kentucky and Puerto Rico.
Negotiated withdrawal without penalties of a $1 million claim brought against a chemical manufacturer for alleged air permit violations.
Successfully defended a PSD permit for the first coal-fired power plant to be built in Georgia in more than 25 years.
See more
January 18, 2023
EPA Releases a Cumulative Impacts Addendum to its Environmental Justice Tool Kit
June 5, 2020
EPA’s Revised Rule for Ethylene Oxide ("EtO") Manufacturers
July 1, 2014
Energy Newsletter – July 2014
September 16, 2022
King & Spalding Recognized for its Leadership in Atlanta-Area Deals of the Year
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., Georgia State University
M.S., Georgia State University
B.M.E., Georgia Institute of Technology
Georgia
American Bar Association (Member, Natural Resources Section)
State Bar of Georgia (Member, Environmental Law Section)