CHRIS provides firm clients with a seasoned perspective on government relations, environmental and regulatory issues, as well as a unique understanding of both state and federal environmental law enforcement agencies.
Chris has 20 years of experience in the environmental field-- six years as Director of the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, four years as chief of the Ohio Attorney General’s Environmental Protection Agency, and a decade as an environmental attorney in the private sector. Chris began his career as an aide to State Senator Mike DeWine and then went to Washington, D.C. to serve as Congressman DeWine’s legislative director. While Director of Ohio EPA, Chris was the only two-term elected president of the Environmental Council of the States (ECOS), a national organization of all of the directors of state environmental agencies. In this role, he served as the primary liaison between the U.S. EPA and the states.
This experience gives Chris a unique understanding of both state and federal environmental regulatory agencies, and allows Chris to provide firm clients with a seasoned perspective on environmental and regulatory matters as well as government relations issues. A problem-solver by nature, Chris uses his strategic skills to provide guidance and design solutions for businesses trying to comply with environmental regulations and to overcome other legislative challenges. In addition, Chris has represented clients in prosecutions under the Clean Water Act and the Clean Air Act.
Chris is currently a member of the board of trustees of the Nature Conservancy, Ohio Chapter, and is a member of the board of directors of the Environmental Research Institute of the States (ERIS), and Greater Ohio. In the past Chris has served as chairman of the Lake Erie Commission, as a governor-appointed member of the Great Lakes Commission, as a member of the Ohio Air Quality Development Authority, the Ohio Water Development Authority, and the State Power Siting Board. Chris is also a member of the Ohio and Columbus Bar Associations and has been recognized as one of America’s Leading Lawyers in Chambers USA.