My practice entails a wide range of energy and environmental matters. I have successfully represented landowners, companies, municipalities, counties and environmental groups all over Texas. These matters generally involve disputes in District Court and before Texas agencies such as the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, Railroad Commission, and Groundwater Conservation Districts. Subject matters entail land use, oil and gas and renewable energy operations, water rights, water quality, landfills, mining, and air quality matters. The litigation experience helps draft contractual agreements and counsel clients on permitting requirements and regulatory compliance.

Before joining McElroy, Sullivan, Miller & Weber, L.L.P., I practiced in Houston with a distinguished environmental litigation firm working on high profile environmental conflicts often overcoming big challenges to obtain big results. I then relocated back to my hometown of Austin to join the largest water practice group in Texas, assisting governmental and commercial interests with groundwater permitting, surface water rights, water quality and any related disputes that often resulted.

Upon returning to Austin, I served as an Officer for the Austin History Center Association. This role provided a platform to help spread the word about the evolution of this great city. I currently serve as an Executive Committee Member for the State Bar of Texas – Environmental and Natural Resource Section.

notable representations

• Represented renewable energy company in dispute over competing uses of the surface. Obtained favorable summary judgment and favorable rulings on appeal affirming dismissal of the lawsuit.
• Represented group of landowners before the TCEQ opposing an air quality permit for an industrial facility near Fort Worth. Obtained denial of permit.
• Represented oil and gas company’s appeal in Travis County District Court challenging decision by the State agency. Obtained favorable ruling that reversed and remanded the decision back to agency.
• Represented landowner in dispute over use of a private road. Obtained favorable jury verdict.
• Represented renewable energy company through TCEQ permitting process to convert a retired landfill into solar facility. Obtained permit from TCEQ.
• Represented a Texas county before TCEQ and EPA regarding Class III injection well application and aquifer exemption for a new uranium mine. Obtained recommendation for permit denial and a reduced aquifer exemption.
• Represented oil and natural gas exploration and production company before the Railroad Commission of Texas regarding protested applications for CO₂ enhanced recovery operations. Obtained all permits.
• Represented Texas General Land Office in Federal District Court regarding use of beachfront property under the Texas Open Beaches Act. Obtained settlement prior to trial.
• Represented City of Eagle Pass, Texas, a consortium of landowners and Environmental Defense Fund before 3rd Court of Appeals challenging surface coal mining permit issued by the Texas Railroad Commission and in a TCEQ hearing challenging disposal of coal mining wastewater into tributaries of the Rio Grande River. Obtained recommendations that TCEQ discharge permit include heightened protections not initially required by draft permit.

CIVIC ORGANIZATIONS

• State Bar of Texas Environmental and Natural Resources Section – Executive Committee Member, 2022-present.
• Austin Bar Association Environmental Law Section – Member
• Austin Bar Association Oil and Gas Law Section – Member
• Houston Bar Association Environmental Law Section – Board Member, 2009 – 2011
• Austin History Center Association – Treasurer, 2015-2021
• Galveston Bay Foundation – Executive Committee Member, 2011–2012

PUBLICATIONS AND PRESENTATIONS

• Speaker, Air Quality and Environmental Justice, Texas A&M School of Law Environmental Justice Conference, March 2022
• Speaker, Induced Seismicity and Potential Liability, Permian Basin Water in Energy Conference, February 2022
• Speaker, Why and How to Reuse Oil and Gas Wastewater, TexasBarCLE Advanced Oil, Gas and Energy Resources Law, September 28-29, 2017.
• Author, Recycling Flowback and Produced Water – Can Texas Do More to Throw Away Less?, State Bar of Tex., Section Report of the Oil, Gas & Energy Resources Law, Vol. 41, No. 1, Page 73 (2016).