Martha Thomsen > Baker Botts L.L.P. > Washington DC, United States > Lawyer Profile

Baker Botts L.L.P. Offices

Baker Botts L.L.P.
700 K Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20001-5692
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
United States
Visit website 1 202 639 7700 1 202 639 7890

Martha Thomsen

Martha Thomsen photo
+1 202 639 7863 martha.thomsen@bakerbotts.com View profile

Work Department

Litigation / Environmental, Safety & Incident Response

Position

Partner

Career

Martha Thomsen represents and advises clients in complex environmental litigation and regulatory compliance matters, with a focus on CERCLA, RCRA, the CWA, and related state laws. Her experience spans numerous industries, including traditional and renewable energy, chemicals, and manufacturing. Ms. Thomsen’s career at Baker Botts includes bringing and defending complex CERCLA suits, and successful litigation of such suits through trial. Most recently, Ms. Thomsen was a member of the trial team that successfully obtained a $20.3 verdict for cleanup costs against the federal Government associated with World War II-related contamination. Exxon Mobil Corp. v. United States, 2020 WL 5573048 (Sept. 16, 2020).

Ms. Thomsen also has specific expertise in matters related to coal combustion residuals, and helps companies navigate compliance and liability risks in a complex and versatile regulatory landscape. Ms. Thomsen regularly engages with state and federal agencies on a variety of waste and water issues, and has negotiated numerous successful resolutions and settlements. Finally, Ms. Thomsen is actively engaged in helping companies and agencies identify long-term issues and solutions associated with increased reliance on renewable energy sources.

Memberships

Ms. Thomsen is admitted in Washington DC and Maryland, as well as in the following courts: the US Supreme Court, the US Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, the US Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, the US Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit, the US District Court for the District of Columbia, the US District Court for the District of Maryland, and the US Court of Federal Claims.

Education

JD, cum laude, University of Michigan Law School 2012

BA, cum laude, Carleton College 2007

Personal

Publications

Key PFAS Provisions in Defense Bill to Impact Military, Industry Handling, Bloomberg Law (December 2019) (with J. Barton Seitz and Jennifer Golinsky)

Justices Weigh Property Rights Against Superfund Plans, Law360 (December 2019) (with Joshua Frank)

Lawyer Rankings

United States > Environment > Environment: regulatory

The environmental, safety, and incident response team at Baker Botts L.L.P. offers services coast-to-coast and has particular strength in crisis response and prevention. Permitting, compliance, investigations and enforcement are also key tenets of the practice, and it is particularly experienced in the air, water and waste sectors. In Houston, Scott Janoe heads the team, while Scott Elliott is recommended for environmental, and health and safety issues, in the chemical and energy industries. In Washington DC, Debra Jezouit is recommended for CAA and climate change matters, as well as ESG issues, while Alexandra Dunn, who was a former Assistant Administrator for the EPA’s Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention, is a key name for EPA issues, particularly those pertaining to Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and PFAS chemicals. Martha Thomsen and Allison Watkins Mallick were both promoted to partner in DC and San Francisco respectively, in early 2022. Kimberly White left for EOG Resources and Jennifer Keane retired.

United States > Environment > Environment: litigation

Baker Botts L.L.P. has a strong track record in environmental litigation, acting for oil and gas, chemical and water companies in relation to crisis situations, as well as defense before regulatory agencies. The team includes alumna from the Department of Justice’s (DoJs) Environment and Natural Resource Division, Environmental Crimes Section, and Environmental Enforcement Section and is led by Houston’s Scott Janoe. Janoe is well versed in multi-state litigation and acts for clients in the energy, mining, and manufacturing sectors. Steve Solow is a key Environmental Health Safety (EHS) practitioner, Nadira Clarke is a name for white-collar crime and civil matters, and Megan Berge is recommended for climate change issues, including permitting issues and the development of Environmental, Sustainability, and Governance (ESG) programs. Martha Thomsen and Allison Watkins Mallick were both promoted to partner; Mallick is name for government enforcement actions and CAA issues, while Thomsen handles both litigation and compliance. Kimberly White left for an in-house role at EOG Resources and Jennifer Keane retired. All attorneys are based in Washington DC unless otherwise stated.

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