Adam Sowatzka > McGuireWoods LLP > Atlanta, United States > Lawyer Profile

McGuireWoods LLP
1075 Peachtree St. NE
35th Floor
Atlanta, GA 30309-3900
United States
Adam Sowatzka photo

Position

Adam is currently the co-lead of both the Environmental Regulatory and Incident Response Practice Groups at McGuireWoods. Fortune 500 companies turn to Adam when they face major legal and reputational risk in environmental, health, and safety proceedings. With more than 25 years of experience as an EPA enforcement attorney, a general counsel with an international manufacturing company and a private practice lawyer, he has helped clients manage bet-the-company environmental matters in all media, including air, water and waste.

Adam also leads the response and investigation of catastrophic accidents, fires, explosions, and spills, and he handles environmental crisis management matters such as criminal and civil inspections and investigations. He defends clients in government inquiries following a crisis, such as investigations by the EPA, OSHA, ATF, the Chemical Safety Board, and state and local regulatory agencies.

He also counsels on matters involving emerging contaminants, including per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (e.g., PFAS). Adam was the lead attorney in one of the first major regulatory matters involving PFAS contamination from a manufacturing facility that impacted a municipal wastewater treatment plant.

Lawyer Rankings

United States > Environment > Environment: regulatory

McGuireWoods LLP‘s client roster features domestic companies from a breadth of industries across energy, transportation, manufacturing, and chemicals. Operating out of Charlotte, David Franchina is active across a breadth of regulatory issues, with his expertise spanning hazardous waste, water and air pollution, and chemical issues. Washington DC-based Makram Jaber predominantly focuses on matters relating to the the Clean Air Act, while Atlanta’s Adam Sowatzka leverages prior EPA experience to position himself as a key advisor on air, water, and waste issues. All co-lead the team. Key names in the DC office include Allison Wood, who leads the ESG Task Force, and Aaron Flynn, who aid utilities, manufacturers, and oil & gas clients on the Clean Air Act.