Russell Lewis > Baker Botts L.L.P. > Houston, United States > Lawyer Profile

Leveraging the expertise of litigators and environment specialists primarily based out of its Houston headquarters, as well as from Washington DC, Baker Botts L.L.P. is particularly accomplished at representing energy and utilities clients in toxic tort issues arising in the course of their business. The scope of this work is broad and includes consolidated private litigation alleging personal injury and property damage as a result of groundwater and soil contamination, as well as regularly responding to major high-profile environmental incidents –  where the firm is able to provide a tailored crisis response service aimed at minimizing reputational damage and to efficiently respond to attendant regulatory investigations, as well as resulting litigation. In Houston, Russell Lewis excels in handling multi-faceted mandates and is often front-and-centre in assisting major manufacturing and energy companies respond in the aftermath of major environmental incidents; he continues to represent Intercontinental Terminals Company in crisis response, governmental enforcement defense, and multiple class actions and private party lawsuits arising out of Deer Park terminal fire. As well as providing regulatory compliance advice, Washington DC-based partner Kent Mayo also regularly handles class action litigation arising from environmental issues, as well as responding to governmental enforcement actions – an area that he is able to provide particular insight as a result of his previous tenure as a trial lawyer at the Environmental Enforcement section of the DOJ. Joshua Frank and Ty Buthod co-head the team alongside Mayo from Washington DC and Houston, respectively.