News

Buzz Hines and Chris Locke Inducted as Fellows of the American College of Environmental Lawyers

October 27, 2017 Announcement

SAN FRANCISCO, October 27, 2017: Farella Braun + Martel LLP is proud to announce that partners Buzz Hines and Chris Locke were inducted as Fellows of the American College of Environmental Lawyers at the College’s October 2017 Annual Meeting in Charleston, South Carolina.

The ACOEL is a professional association of lawyers dedicated to maintaining and improving the ethical practice of environmental law, the administration of justice and the development of environmental law at the state and federal levels. Membership is by invitation and members are recognized by their peers as preeminent in their field.

Hines represents clients in complex governmental and private litigation and enforcement actions, including state and federal cost recovery actions, natural resource damage claims and assessments, air, water and hazardous waste actions, and multi-media agency proceedings. He is chair of Farella’s Air Quality and Climate Change Group. Hines is recognized by Chambers USA as a leading environmental lawyer in California, and is listed in Best Lawyers in America and Who's Who Legal. He serves in leadership capacities with both the ABA Section of Litigation and Environmental Law Institute. He formerly served as a trial attorney with the U.S. Department of Justice, Environment and Natural Resources Division. For more information, please see Hines’ bio at www.fbm.com/Robert_L_Hines.

Locke’s practice includes defense of federal and state enforcement actions, representation in actions involving CERCLA, RCRA, the Clean Water Act, the Clean Air Act, the Endangered Species Act, and other federal and state statutory and common law claims, as well as on class action litigation, cost recovery litigation, and private attorneys general actions and citizen suits. Drawing on his experience as a former federal prosecutor, his practice also includes grand jury representation, internal investigations and defense of criminal enforcement actions. He also assists clients with complex project development strategies and NEPA, CEQA and other land use entitlement proceedings. Locke is recognized by Chambers USA as a leading environmental lawyer in California, and is listed in Best Lawyers in America and Who's Who Legal. He is a former director of the Environmental Law Institute and serves on its Leadership Council. For more information, please see Locke’s bio at www.fbm.com/Chris_Locke.

In the College’s press release, James Bruen, ACOEL president and partner at Farella Braun + Martel, said, “I estimate that there may be upwards of 20,000 environmental lawyers in the nation today. The twenty lawyers elected to the College this year include top environmental lawyers in government service, academia, and private practice, drawn from across the country. These individuals, chosen by their peers, have earned this recognition based on achievements over a minimum 15-year period, during which they have led the field in diverse areas of environmental law and policy. The College is honored to have this distinguished class join its ranks.”

Farella Braun + Martel represents clients throughout the United States and abroad in sophisticated business transactions and complex commercial, civil and criminal litigation. Farella lawyers are known for their imaginative legal solutions to today’s business challenges, dynamism and intellectual creativity. With an unwavering service ethic and interdisciplinary team approach, the firm is committed to advancing clients' objectives in the most effective, coordinated and efficient manner. Founded in 1962, the firm is headquartered in San Francisco and maintains an office in the Napa Valley focused on the wine industry.

Contact:
Cheryl Loof
Farella Braun + Martel LLP
415.954.4433 / [email protected]
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