The international law firm Greenberg Traurig LLP added shareholder Christopher L. Bell in the environmental, energy and litigation practice groups, including environmental & toxic tort litigation.
“Christopher’s wealth of experience and knowledge in the environmental sector make him a great addition to our team. We are excited to have him join us,” said Doug Atnipp, co-managing shareholder of the firm’s Houston office. “Chris’s robust environmental practice bolsters Greenberg Traurig’s environmental capabilities in Texas and is a great complement to our strong energy practice,” added Atnipp
“Chris adds depth to our environmental practice. His longstanding presence at the forefront of industrial environmental law and his learning on regulation of toxics and hazardous waste help us serve all our clients. Chris’s home in Houston and decades of ties in Washington further consolidate our environmental strength where our clients need us,” said David G. Mandelbaum, jointly with Kerri Barsh and David B. Weinstein, co-chairs of Greenberg Traurig’s environmental practice.
Bell has been representing clients in civil and criminal investigations, enforcement litigation, and compliance counseling for over 25 years. His practice includes air, water, waste chemicals (e.g., TSCA and FIFRA) and cleanup requirements (e.g., CERCLA and RCRA). Chris actively participates in legislative and rulemaking advocacy on a wide range of issues, and evaluates and assists clients in the implementation of corporate compliance and ethics programs, as well as environmental management and compliance systems in North America, South America, Europe and Asia. Chris also advises clients on the environmental aspects of transactions.
Internationally, Bell was one of the lead U.S. international negotiators responsible for creating the ISO 14001 EMS standard—and has assisted facilities throughout the world with implementing EMS. He also advises clients on international issues, including climate change, product regulation and stewardship, and value chain management (including the EU’s REACH and CLP Regulations and WEEE, ROHS, and ELV Directives), international movement of raw materials and wastes (e.g., the Basel Convention), in addition to sustainable development issues.
Most recently, Bell has been working on leading-edge issues such as the regulation of nanotechnology, including currently serving on the U.S. international negotiating team working on developing ISO standards for nanotechnologies. He has several years of manufacturing experience; he is a certified Manufacturing Technician and a member of the Society of Manufacturing Engineers.
Bell received his J.D. from The University of Michigan Law School, magna cum laude, and is a member of the Order of the Coif. He is listed by Chambers USA America’s Leading Lawyers for Business (environment), the PLC Cross-Border Handbook on The Law and Leading Lawyers Worldwide (environment) and the Legal 500 U.S. (litigation).
