Morgan Lewis today announced that Kenneth Komoroski—a lawyer with more than 25 years of experience in environmental compliance, enforcement and litigation, and in the energy industry—has joined the firm, resident in Pittsburgh and Southpointe. He will be joined by a team of associates.
Mr. Komoroski, an engineer by training, concentrates his practice on oil and gas and environmental law. He represents clients—including oil and gas production and exploration, midstream, and downstream companies—in matters such as land use and zoning, permits, water usage and wastewater treatment, environmental issues, royalties, lease terms, local ordinances, and related litigation. Mr. Komoroski represents clients throughout Pennsylvania, Ohio, West Virginia, New York, and Maryland. For the last eight years, he has played a key role in the development of the Marcellus and Utica Shales. He and his team join the firm from Norton Rose Fulbright.
“Development of natural gas reserves in the Marcellus, Utica, and Upper Devonian Shales present exciting opportunities and will have enormous impact on U.S. energy independence and on economic development for the surrounding regions,” said Firm Chair Francis M. Milone. “Ken is at the center of the legal and business communities in this area, playing key roles not only in advising clients that have an interest, but also in serving as a leader in related associations that are moving thought leadership and related policy forward. Our clients will find his knowledge here incredibly valuable.”
Mr. Komoroski is active in many industry associations, including the Marcellus Shale Coalition, the American Iron and Steel Institute, and the American Coke and Coal Chemicals Institute. On July 1, 2012, Mr. Komoroski was elected chairman of the Ohio River Valley Water Sanitation Commission (ORSANCO). President George W. Bush appointed him to ORSANCO in 2003.
“Ken’s practice is a natural fit for our firm’s platform,” said Jami McKeon, Chair-Elect and Leader of the Litigation Practice. “He adds depth to our already robust environmental litigation services and a strategic complement to other practices globally, including our practices focusing on transactions, regulatory issues, and private equity in the energy industry.”
“We are excited to welcome Ken and his team to our Pittsburgh office, where we know that clients, our office, and our firm will benefit from his great knowledge of legal and business issues relating to the Marcellus Shale region and of other environmental and energy issues,” said Marlee Myers, Managing Partner of Morgan Lewis’s Pittsburgh office.
Mr. Komoroski and his associates join a team of nearly 700 trial lawyers working from 20 offices around the world. The firm’s environmental litigators handle high-stakes Superfund cost-recovery matters; mass toxic torts; defense against citizen suits; defense against government enforcement actions; appeals; and insurance recovery disputes. The Environmental Litigation team includes former high-ranking federal and state government lawyers, including the U.S. Department of Justice’s former Assistant Attorney General for the Environment and Natural Resources Division, several former U.S. Attorneys, and the former chair of the Pennsylvania Environmental Hearing Board.
