Leah J. Knowlton, who has more than 20 years of experience advising clients in environmental regulatory matters and litigation, has joined Ballard Spahr as a partner in the Atlanta office, firm Chair Mark Stewart announced today.
Ms. Knowlton defends clients in criminal and civil litigation arising from chemical contamination and other environmental regulations. She develops and implements corporate environmental compliance programs and negotiates contracts and remediation plans in corporate and real estate transactions.
Ms. Knowlton represents manufacturing clients across a wide range of industries in litigation and enforcement actions under Superfund and the Clean Water Act, as well as property owners in litigation arising from the environmental impact of construction projects. In addition to environmental litigation, she has experience with products liability, toxic tort, and general commercial litigation.
“Leah’s arrival continues the growth of our Atlanta office and broadens the array of services we can offer to clients in the Southeast, a growing legal market,” Mr. Stewart said. “She will be a tremendous asset, bringing strong relationships with larger companies, lending support to our Atlanta-based Korea Initiative, and giving a foothold in the region to our environmental practice.”
Said Glenn L. Unterberger, Practice Leader of the Environment and Natural Resources Group: “We’re excited to have an attorney of Leah’s caliber in the firm to help the Group take advantage of the opportunities presented by such a fertile business climate in the Southeastern United States. Environmental enforcement is a particularly promising area for us in this region, and we believe her regulatory and litigation experience is an excellent fit.”
Ms. Knowlton comes to the firm from the Atlanta office of Miller & Martin, where she led the environmental practice. At Ballard Spahr, she is a member of the Litigation Department and the Environment and Natural Resources Group.
“Ballard Spahr has an impressive environmental practice with experienced attorneys at all levels, and I knew the firm would give me the best platform to grow my own practice Atlanta,” Ms. Knowlton said. “The practice areas in the Atlanta office have become remarkably diversified since it opened five years ago, and I look forward to the opportunity to help it—and the firm—continue to grow and flourish.”
