J. D. Head is managing partner of the Firm. Mr. Head has practiced environmental and administrative law in Texas for over representing regulated entities, governmental bodies and individuals in areas of water quality and water rights permitting, solid and hazardous waste permitting, regulation and remediation, air quality and enforcement actions covering all environmental media. Mr. Head formerly served as Director of the Legal Division and General Counsel of the State of Texas' environmental regulatory agency. Mr. Head was listed by Chambers USA in 2004, 2005, 2006, and 2007 as one of the leading environmental attorneys in the State of Texas. Mr. Head was also listed as a "Super Lawyer" in the environmental area by Texas Monthly Magazine for 2006-2007 and recognized in Best Lawyers in America for environmental law.

Experience and Accomplishments

• Represented numerous clients in administrative penalty enforcement actions for alleged violations of environmental laws. Successful in obtaining substantial reductions in proposed penalty amounts.
• Representation of numerous clients in civil enforcement cases brought by Texas Attorney General's Office.
• Represented large waste management company in negotiating a unique and cost-effective closure of an industrial waste disposal site, saving the client substantial closure costs from those initially requested by regulating agency.
• Successfully defended a municipal solid waste company in numerous appeals of its new landfill permit.
• Counsel to underground water conservation district with responsibility for drafting its groundwater protection and permitting rules.
• Assisted various clients in water rights permitting.
• Successfully represented numerous governmental entities and industrial facilities in obtaining wastewater discharge permits.
• Represented citizens group and various governmental entities in successfully protesting a proposed hazardous waste injection well facility, the permit application being denied by the regulatory authority.
• Represented a Texas county opposed to an industrial solid waste landfill, convincing the state environmental agency to cease processing the application and return it to applicant.
• Represented client in cost recovery action involving remediation of soil and groundwater contaminated by tenant's dry cleaning business. Case settled in mediation.
• Obtained numerous regulatory agency approvals for clients engaged in novel waste recycling project.
• Obtained numerous regulatory agency approvals for client involvement in river sand and gravel dredging projects.
• Experience in environmental due diligence and preparation of legal documents related to real estate transactions.
• Frequent expert witness on environmental matters in state court and administrative proceedings.
• Representation of clients in environmental rulemaking proceedings.

Professional Qualifications

Memberships

• State Bar of Texas (1980)
• Texas State Bar College
• U.S. District Court, Southern and Western Districts of Texas
• American Bar Association
• Austin Bar Association
• Air & Waste Management Association
• Texas Water Conservation Association
• Advisory Board for Austin Bar Association's Environmental, Natural Resources and Water Law Section

Education

• Stanford University (B.A. Psychology 1976)
• University of Texas (J. D. 1980)

Articles

• "Federal Agency Responsibility to Assess Extra Territorial Environmental Impacts" 14 Texas International Law Journal 425-452 (1979).