Environmental
Bass, Berry & Sims represents clients in a broad range of environmental matters. Our firm developed the first full-service environmental practice in Tennessee, and our practice is dedicated to helping clients navigate and manage complex environmental risks and disputes through comprehensive strategies tailored to their specific needs.
Areas of Focus
Our environmental attorneys represent clients in dispute resolution, transactions and regulatory matters concerning:
- Air and water pollution control
- Hazardous and solid waste management and disposal
- Energy including nuclear, oil and gas, and renewable
- Contaminated site remediation and management
- Brownfields and federal facility redevelopment
- Toxic and other regulated substances
- Underground storage tanks
- Drinking water treatment and source protection
- Water rights
- Protection of streams, wetlands, and threatened and endangered species
- National Environmental Protection Act
- Climate change and sustainability
We provide dispute resolution services, including regulatory enforcement and permit appeals, administrative actions and contested cases, citizen suit and toxic tort defense, cost recovery actions, FEMA funding appeals, water rights disputes, and environmental indemnity cases. We also regularly assist clients with environmental permitting and compliance.
In addition, we represent buyers, sellers, and lenders in corporate and real estate transactions with due diligence and evaluation of site contamination and regulatory compliance risks. Our work also includes advising clients with respect to response activities at contaminated sites under various regulatory programs such as Superfund, Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), and underground storage tank (UST). Furthermore, we are involved in drafting, lobbying for, and commenting on proposed environmental legislation and regulations, helping clients stay informed and prepared in this constantly evolving legal landscape.
What Sets Us Apart
- A Pioneering Environmental Practice: We were the first full-service environmental practice in Tennessee and actively contribute to the creation and reform of environmental laws and regulations, including air and water pollution regulations, Superfund laws, hazardous and solid waste laws, and UST laws and regulations, among others.
- Preeminent Dispute Resolution Experience: Our attorneys have extensive experience representing clients in matters related to environmental release management/crisis response, contaminated sites, water rights, toxic torts, citizens’ suits, compliance investigations, permit appeals and enforcement actions by federal and state environmental agencies.
- Prominence in Brownfield and Federal Facility Site Redevelopment Projects: We are renowned for our well-established experience in advising clients on brownfield redevelopment projects and contributing to brownfield land use law in the state of Tennessee. Our experience in Oak Ridge addressing clean-up of legacy issues is helping to pave the way for redevelopment to accommodate nuclear reindustrialization.
- Expansive Knowledge and Strong Contacts: We possess a deep understanding of environmental laws and regulations and maintain productive relationships with key personnel at the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and other federal, state and local regulators. Whether a resolution is reached through negotiation or litigation, our environmental attorneys are experienced in successfully resolving matters in a way that works for our clients and allows them to have good working relationships with the regulators going forward.
- Client-Focused: Our goal is to allow our clients to focus on making their businesses a success by using our experience and our approach to address environmental matters by managing risks, complying with applicable requirements, and resolving any issues in the least impactful manner possible.
Bass, Berry & Sims represents clients in a broad range of environmental matters. Our firm developed the first full-service environmental practice in Tennessee, and our practice is dedicated to helping clients navigate and manage complex environmental risks and disputes through comprehensive strategies tailored to their specific needs.
Areas of Focus
Our environmental attorneys represent clients in dispute resolution, transactions and regulatory matters concerning:
- Air and water pollution control
- Hazardous and solid waste management and disposal
- Energy including nuclear, oil and gas, and renewable
- Contaminated site remediation and management
- Brownfields and federal facility redevelopment
- Toxic and other regulated substances
- Underground storage tanks
- Drinking water treatment and source protection
- Water rights
- Protection of streams, wetlands, and threatened and endangered species
- National Environmental Protection Act
- Climate change and sustainability
We provide dispute resolution services, including regulatory enforcement and permit appeals, administrative actions and contested cases, citizen suit and toxic tort defense, cost recovery actions, FEMA funding appeals, water rights disputes, and environmental indemnity cases. We also regularly assist clients with environmental permitting and compliance.
In addition, we represent buyers, sellers, and lenders in corporate and real estate transactions with due diligence and evaluation of site contamination and regulatory compliance risks. Our work also includes advising clients with respect to response activities at contaminated sites under various regulatory programs such as Superfund, Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), and underground storage tank (UST). Furthermore, we are involved in drafting, lobbying for, and commenting on proposed environmental legislation and regulations, helping clients stay informed and prepared in this constantly evolving legal landscape.
What Sets Us Apart
- A Pioneering Environmental Practice: We were the first full-service environmental practice in Tennessee and actively contribute to the creation and reform of environmental laws and regulations, including air and water pollution regulations, Superfund laws, hazardous and solid waste laws, and UST laws and regulations, among others.
- Preeminent Dispute Resolution Experience: Our attorneys have extensive experience representing clients in matters related to environmental release management/crisis response, contaminated sites, water rights, toxic torts, citizens’ suits, compliance investigations, permit appeals and enforcement actions by federal and state environmental agencies.
- Prominence in Brownfield and Federal Facility Site Redevelopment Projects: We are renowned for our well-established experience in advising clients on brownfield redevelopment projects and contributing to brownfield land use law in the state of Tennessee. Our experience in Oak Ridge addressing clean-up of legacy issues is helping to pave the way for redevelopment to accommodate nuclear reindustrialization.
- Expansive Knowledge and Strong Contacts: We possess a deep understanding of environmental laws and regulations and maintain productive relationships with key personnel at the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and other federal, state and local regulators. Whether a resolution is reached through negotiation or litigation, our environmental attorneys are experienced in successfully resolving matters in a way that works for our clients and allows them to have good working relationships with the regulators going forward.
- Client-Focused: Our goal is to allow our clients to focus on making their businesses a success by using our experience and our approach to address environmental matters by managing risks, complying with applicable requirements, and resolving any issues in the least impactful manner possible.
Professionals
| Name | Phone | |
|---|---|---|
|
Elaina S. Al-Nimri Member |
(615) 742-7766 | eal-nimri@bassberry.com |
|
Blake E. Creekmur Associate |
(615) 742-6237 | Blake.Creekmur@bassberry.com |
|
John W. Dawson IV Member |
(615) 742-7796 | jdawson@bassberry.com |
|
Brian M. Dobbs Member |
(615) 742-7884 | bdobbs@bassberry.com |
|
Mallorie Kerby Senior Public Policy Attorney |
(615) 742-7877 | Mallorie.kerby@bassberry.com |
|
James Parkinson Member |
+1 (202) 827-2955 | James.Parkinson@bassberry.com |
|
Daniel J. Riley Associate |
(901) 543-5714 | Dan.Riley@bassberry.com |
|
G. Scott Thomas Member |
(615) 742-6243 | sthomas@bassberry.com |
|
Gregory T. Young Counsel |
(615) 742-6216 | Greg.Young@bassberry.com |
|
Jessalyn H. Zeigler Member |
(615) 742-6289 | jzeigler@bassberry.com |
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Publications
Past Events
Media Mentions & Firm News
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"Bass, Berry & Sims is an esteemed firm with significant strength in all aspects of environmental law, including permitting, investigations, enforcement actions and citizen suits. The firm represents public and private clients in negotiations with state and federal agencies, and advises on matters such as groundwater contamination, hazardous waste and emissions compliance. It further offers substantial expertise in brownfield land use and water rights issues." Client feedback: "Bass, Berry & Sims has experienced professionals at all levels and is able to adapt to the required expertise depending on the issue at stake."
From Chambers USA 2025
