Overview
Andrew’s practice covers a diverse range of natural resource, environmental, marine resource, and land use issues critical to the operations of his clients. His experience allows him to bring insightful and practical advice to complex permitting, compliance and litigation matters. He is often called upon to provide key strategic advice on business strategy decisions, representation before agencies and courts, and counsel on external communications. He has helped shape jurisprudence at the intersection of environmental, energy, and marine resource laws to the benefit of the environment and the clients he serves.
Andrew works with clients when their activities involve wetlands, endangered species, federal lands, and waterfront and offshore resources. He has extensive experience navigating the complex natural resource and marine resource regulatory framework, drawing the connections to offer clients efficient strategies to tackle some of their most pressing environmental problems. He coordinates with regulatory agencies on behalf of clients, including with the US Environmental Protection Agency, US Fish and Wildlife Service, US Army Corps of Engineers, National Marine Fisheries Service, and various state regulatory bodies across the country.
Andrew offers proactive counseling to clients on matters involving the Clean Water Act (CWA) and CWA Section 404, National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), and Endangered Species Act (ESA), including Section 7. He is also valued for his reservoir of knowledge of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA), Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act (BGEPA) and National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) compliance. Andrew’s experience includes administrative rulemaking, permit administration, civil and criminal litigation, and federal regulatory agency practice. He regularly assists energy and water providers, state and local agencies, builders and developers, consumer product companies, offshore project proponents, vessel owners and operators and related trade associations.
Prior to joining the firm, Andrew served in the US Coast Guard Office of Maritime & International Law as Senior Counsel for Oceans and Environmental Affairs, and subsequently as the Coast Guard Chief of General Law. He also served in the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration Office of General Counsel, focusing on Endangered Species Act and Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) regulation and litigation, and in the US Air Force as an active duty and later a Reserve Judge Advocate.
Andrew is admitted to practice before the US Supreme Court, the District of Columbia Court of Appeals, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, and the US Courts of Appeals for the Eighth, Tenth, Eleventh, and District of Columbia Circuits.
Experience
- Co-lead counsel for mining company in litigation over Clean Water Act permit, developing key arguments that led to ruling on company’s favor by the US District Court for the Middle District of Florida, and a decision affirming that rule by the US Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit.
- Provides advice to one of the largest private landowners in the State of Florida regarding Clean Water Act section 404 permitting and associated environmental reviews and agency actions affecting real estate development projects.
- Advising a mining client on MBTA and BGEPA issues relating to the client's national operations.
- Provides long-term daily representation of an association of electric utilities on US water regulation developments, including development of many extensive technical and legal comments on US EPA regulatory proposals.
- Lead counsel for Florida land-owning companies in litigation over designation of critical habitat for the Florida panther, developing and presenting the arguments that led to successful dismissal of the suit by US District Court for Middle District of Florida, and a decision affirming dismissal by US Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit.
- Represented major global food products company in successful renewal of a federal permit and environmental and land use issues related to the collection and transport of spring water, and associated litigation.
- Assisted in representation of utility industry before the Supreme Court in critical CWA litigation associated with the scope of federally regulated "waters of the United States."
- Advises on CWA Section 404 Permitting and related ESA and NEPA issues for residential and commercial development projects.
- Advised on response to grand jury subpoena and internal investigation associated with CWA compliance. Represents energy and utility industry, waterfront facilities, vessel interests, developers, and state and local agencies in regulatory matters and litigation under the CWA, ESA, NEPA, MMPA, and other environmental, maritime and security laws
- Significant experience with federal environmental and maritime regulatory agencies, military departments and Department of Justice.
Accolades
Honors & Recognitions
- Recommended for Environment: Litigation (2019-2024) and Environment: Regulatory (2020, 2023), Legal 500 United States
- Recognized as a Leader in Environment, District of Columbia, Chambers USA (2023, 2024)
- Selected as a Best Lawyer for Environmental Law, Best Lawyers in America, 2024
- Selected for The Lawdragon Green 500: Leaders in Environmental Law (2023, 2024)
- Recognized as 2021 Environmental Group of the Year, Law360, January 2022
- 2021 and 2017 Chambers USA Environment Law Firm of the Year
Insights
Legal Updates
Events & Speaking Engagements
Publications
Blog Posts
News
Education
LLM, Environmental Law, The George Washington University, 2000
JD, West Virginia University, 1992
BBA, Florida Atlantic University, 1988
Admissions
District of Columbia
Pennsylvania
Courts
U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia
Government Service
Chief of General Law, US Coast Guard Headquarters
Senior Counsel for Oceans and Environmental Affairs, Office of Maritime & International Law, US Coast Guard Headquarters
Office of the General Counsel for Fisheries, National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
US Air Force JAG attorney; Air Staff at Pentagon and HQ units; prosecutor, defense counsel, environmental attorney and judicial clerk positions
Blogs
Areas of Focus
Additional Service Areas
- Crisis Management
- Energy
- Energy Litigation
- Energy Transition
- Environmental Compliance, Litigation and Defense
- Land Use
- National Environmental Policy Act
- Native American Trust Lands
- Pipeline
- Public Lands
- Retail and Consumer Products
- Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS)
- Water Quality, Wetlands, Groundwater, and Drinking Water