An El Paso Corporation lawyer has rejoined Fulbright’s Pennsylvania office, which serves companies working within the Marcellus Shale. Janet McQuaid returns to Fulbright as an environmental law partner focusing on energy clients. She previously was a partner in the firm’s Austin office for seven years before going in-house at El Paso in 2008. McQuaid spent 15 years at Fulbright, where she represented energy, chemical, and waste disposal companies in waste, water, toxic substance control, and remediation matters.
“Through her time working in-house, Janet gained a greater knowledge of the oil and gas field and has expanded her practice,” said Steven B. Pfeiffer, the Chair of Fulbright’s Executive Committee. “Janet is a great lawyer who intrinsically understands our clients’ needs. We are thrilled to welcome her home and back to our team.”
Originally from Pennsylvania, McQuaid’s background and legal experience will nicely complement the firm’s Pennsylvania office. McQuaid spent the first decade of her career working as an engineer for Exxon, where she helped design, permit, build, and operate oil and gas exploration, production and refining facilities; scheduled crude oil and raw material mix and transportation to the company’s domestic refineries; and provided technical support for tax and royalty audits and litigation.
After receiving her law degree, McQuaid joined Fulbright, where she guided clients through civil litigation and transactions involving solid and hazardous waste management, underground injection control, contaminated site remediation, new chemical regulation, toxic substance control and reporting, wastewater and storm water management and water rights and water supply regulation.
“In recent years, Janet’s practice has expanded to include air quality compliance counseling, audits, enforcement defense, as well as climate change legal support in legislation, permitting, and financial reporting,” said Eva Fromm O’Brien, the head of Fulbright’s environmental practice. “She is a highly experienced environmental lawyer with a diverse background. Her knowledge of our firm’s culture will allow her to seamlessly rejoin our team and have an immediate impact with our clients.”
When the opportunity arose to return to Fulbright, McQuaid said it was a chance she could not let pass her by.
“Having the option to return to a firm I know and ability to once again work alongside my colleagues at Fulbright was a very exciting proposition in itself,” McQuaid said. “When combined with practicing law in Pennsylvania—in in my home town—I couldn’t believe my good fortune. I am thrilled to have rejoined such a well regarded firm—one that I gained an even deeper respect for while working in-house.”
McQuaid is licensed to practice in Pennsylvania, Texas and Colorado. She received her J.D. from The University of Texas School of Law in 1992 and an M.B.A. from Houston Baptist University in 1989. She received her undergraduate degree in chemical engineering in 1978 from the University of Pittsburgh.
“Janet’s experience as an engineer at Exxon and as a lawyer with Fulbright and El Paso adds substantially to our office’s depth and bench strength,” said Ken Komoroski, the head of Fulbright’s Pittsburgh-Southpointe office. “Her unique background really helps her understand and tackle the tough issues clients face. We are excited to have her.”
