Scott Janoe > Baker Botts L.L.P. > Houston, United States > Lawyer Profile

With an impressive client roster including a number of well-known energy companies, Baker Botts L.L.P. is highly regarded for handling trial litigation involving environmental law issues. The firm’s deep environmental bench offers coast-to-coast expertise and is regularly involved in multi-media cases arising from natural resource damage claims, climate tort, class actions stemming from environmental accidents, and CERCLA cost-recovery matters. Practitioners bring to the table experience in every major environmental statute and regulatory program, and are often sought after by clients responding to crisis situations, including oil spills and chemical releases, Superfund cases and remedial work. Houston-based Scott Janoe, who has nearly two decades’ experience in environmental litigation, enforcement defense and crisis management, oversees the group with Megan Berge  in Washington DC. Berge stands out for her proficiency in permitting, climate change and ESG matters. Other key inidividuals to note in DC include Steve Solow, who is recommended for environmental incidents that are the subject of government investigations and criminal enforcement, and Nadira Clarke, who is often retained by oilfield services, refiners, manufacturing and chemical clients.

With a particular focus on the energy sector, Baker Botts L.L.P. ‘s environmental, safety, and incident response team remains a popular choice among a variety of clients, which are appreciative of its ‘incredible range of knowledge and experience‘ and ability to provide comprehensive services in the context of enforcement actions, permitting processes and crisis management. Offering coast-to-coast coverage, the team is experienced in all media (air, water and waste) and every major environmental statute and regulations, but garners praise for its notable presence in complex air emission programs and strategies, and site clean-ups. Permitting, compliance, enforcement and spill responses involving water quality issues are other typical mandates for the group, which is headed by Scott Janoe in Houston. Also based in the Houston office, Scott Elliott  is sought after by clients from the energy and chemical sectors in matters relating to crisis response and compliance obligations. Debra Jezouit, who works out of Washington DC, is recognised for her experience in Clean Air Act and climate change issues. The arrival in April 2021 of Alexandra Dunn, who formerly served as the Assistant Administrator for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention, enhances the firm’s capabilities in the rule-making and emerging contaminants fields.