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John B. King
Danielle L. Borel

John B. King

Partner - Baton Rouge

John B. King is a partner in the Baton Rouge office of Breazeale, Sachse & Wilson, L.L.P. Mr. King’s extensive environmental practice includes: air, water, and waste permitting; regulatory compliance and assessment; remediation and response action assessment and coordination; transaction due diligence and auditing; and enforcement counseling and defense.

Chambers USA has stated that “John King has a wealth of experience advising clients on a variety of environmental regulatory matters including air and water permitting, enforcement actions and remediations.” John is part of a team at BSW that clients have described as “an experienced team with extensive environmental law expertise, acting for a range of clients including chemical manufacturers, production companies and oil and gas companies. Offers notable strengths in regulatory matters, enforcement and compliance. Capabilities include damage claims, cost recovery and environmental permitting.”

Clients have stated to Chambers that John is:

  • “one of the most impressive legal professionals I have ever worked with,”
  • “a great communicator and negotiator who is extremely knowledgeable,"
  • “a real treat to work with. With his extensive knowledge and practical experience, he always delivers what is needed," and
  • “always responsive, comprehensive, strategic, and insightful when dealing with defendants, regulators and opposite-side attorneys."

Mr. King was formerly Director of Regulatory & Legal Affairs for a large oil and gas waste disposal company and responsible for its environmental and safety programs. He also served for many years as Chief Attorney for Enforcement with the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality. While with the LDEQ, Mr. King personally prosecuted, or oversaw the prosecution of, enforcement actions issued by the LDEQ, handled major permitting matters, and successfully litigated matters in state courts, federal courts, and administrative tribunals.

Environmental Regulatory Matters

Mr. King regularly counsels clients in a variety of regulatory matters, including:

  • Environmental permitting with state and federal agencies, such as the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality, the Louisiana Department of Natural Resources, the EPA, and the US Corps of Engineers
  • Defense and resolution of enforcement actions issued by regulatory agencies, such as LDEQ and EPA, and citizen suits
  • Compliance assurance with environmental statutes and regulations relating to air, water, waste, and wetlands
  • Industrial site development, including site selection issues, permitting, and environmental justice issues, and navigating the public hearing and comment process

Environmental Litigation

Mr. King represents clients in a variety of matters, including:

  • Oil spills and releases
  • Odor and nuisance claims
  • Class action claims regarding environmental releases or contamination

Due diligence

Mr. King represents buyers or sellers in mergers and acquisition matters, including:

  • Environmental due diligence
  • Seller protections, such as the bona fide prospective purchaser defense
  • Addressing non-compliance and contamination upon purchase

Representative Client Sectors

Mr. King represents international, national, and local companies in the following sectors:

  • Oil and gas production and refining
  • Liquid and bulk storage
  • Chemical production and processing
  • Waste disposal and transportation
  • Construction

Education

Paul M. Hebert Law Center, Louisiana State University, J.D., 1985

Louisiana State University, B.S. in Marketing, 1981
Certified Public Manager (Presented by the Division of Administration, Comprehensive Public Training Program, in conjunction with the LSU Public Management Program)

Admissions

Louisiana, 1985

U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals

U.S. District Courts (Western, Middle & Eastern)

Experience

Partner, 2003-2007, 2008 - present Breazeale, Sachse & Wilson, L.L.P.

Director of Regulatory & Legal Affairs, 2007-2008 CCS Midstream Services, LLC.

Attorney, 2001-2003 LeBlanc & Waddell

Chief Attorney, 1989-2001 Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality

Attorney, 1985-1989 Reina & LeBlanc

Professional Associations

Member of the Air and Waste Management Association

Member of the Louisiana Solid Waste Management

Member of the Louisiana Environmental Health Association (past board member)

Member of the Louisiana State Bar Association, Environmental Section

Past member of the Vestry, Trinity Episcopal Church

Past President, Trinity Episcopal Day School Board (served two terms)

Adult Leader, Boy Scout Troop 505

Honors and Awards

Selected by his peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® (Since 2024)

Ranked in Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyers for Business for Louisiana in Environmental (2021)

AV® PreeminentTM Peer Review Rated

Received LDEQ’s Employee of the Year Award

Received a "Special Commendation Award" from the U.S. Department of Justice

Received the LDEQ Service Award

Received the National Bureau of Affairs Law Student Award for Scholastic Achievement

Publications

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Presentations

  • Environmental Due Diligence, International Liquid Terminals Association Annual Conference, June 2019
  • Recent EPA Air Memoranda and Policy Changes, Air & Waste Management Association 112th Annual Conference, June 2019
  • The Definition of “Waters of the United States”, Louisiana Water Environment Association, March 2019
  • Federal Regulatory Update, Louisiana Solid Waste Association Annual Conference, March 2019
  • The Regulation of Oil and Gas Under Trump, 4C Environmental Conference, February 2019
  • Recent Regulatory and Legal Developments Impacting Environmental Compliance, A&WMA Annual Conference, New Orleans, Louisiana, June, 2016
  • Environmental Compliance: A Continuously Evolving Landscape, International Liquid Terminal Association Annual Conference, Houston, Texas, June, 2016
  • Clean Power Plan, Electric Power Conference, New Orleans, Louisiana, March, 2016
  • The Definition of Solid Waste, Environmental Conference, Lafayette, Louisiana, March, 2016
  • The Definition of 'Waters of the United States', Louisiana Water Conference, Shreveport, Louisiana, March, 2016
  • Going Clear: How EPA's Transparency Trend Impacts Environmental Compliance, 4C HSE Conference, Austin, Texas, February, 2016
  • Recent Regulatory and Legal Developments Impacting the Environment, Air & Waste Management Association's 2015 Annual Conference
  • An Exploration of EPA's Cost-Benefit and Regulatory Impact Analyses, 35th Annual International Operating Conference & Trade Show for International Terminals Association (ILTA)
  • “Proposed Definition of Waters of the United States”, 2015 Louisiana Conference Co-host Louisiana Water Environment Association (LWEA)
  • “Fracking – Safer Than You've Heard”, 4C Environmental Conference
  • "The Clean Air Act And The Basis For Regulation Of Greenhouse Gases", Louisiana Section of the Air & Waste Management Association's Environmental Focus 2014
  • "The Clean Air Act And The Basis For Regulation Of Greenhouse Gases", 2014 International Conference on Thermal Treatment Technologies & Hazardous Waste Combustors (IT3/HWC)
  • “Recent Decisions Impacting the Environment and Environmental Regulation”, International Liquid Terminals Association
  • "What Have the Feds Been Up To? Federal Legal Developments", Louisiana Solid Waste Association
  • “Will the Regulatory Noose Choke Fracking?”, Air & Waste Management Association
  • “Recent CAA Initiatives", Air & Waste Management Association
  • "NAAQS – How Low Can We Go”, Air & Waste Management Association
  • "Boiler MACT – The Cost of the Benefits", Air & Waste Management Association
  • "Sackett v. EPA", Environmental Regulatory Compliance Conference
  • "UIC – Site Selection, Permitting, and Compliance”, Environmental Regulatory Compliance Conference
  • “Oil and Gas NSPS – Green Completions”, Louisiana Solid Waste Association
  • “The Continuing Redefinition of the Definition of Solid Waste”, Louisiana Solid Waste Association
  • "Regulatory Enforcement Actions: What to Expect and How Best to Respond”, International Liquid Terminal Association
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Representative Matters

Obtained construction and operating permits for a $9.4 billion greenfield petrochemical complex and represented company throughout appellate process, resulting in permits being upheld.

Successfully represented St. James Parish against environmental justice claims by citizen groups.

Assisted Louisiana Attorney General's Office regarding environmental justice investigation by EPA.

Asserted claims against the Corps of Engineers regarding the scope of jurisdiction after the Supreme Court's Sackett decision.

Represented several international chemical manufacturers in site selection and permitting of new facilities

Represented a major oil spill response organization in obtaining $1.1M reimbursement from the National Pollution Fund Center

Represented brownfield developer in returning former refinery to productive use

Represented major liquids tank storage terminal in air emissions and exposure suit

Represented major coal terminal in citizen suit brought by environmental groups in federal court regarding Clean Water Act discharges

Represented large sanitary treatment plant in citizen suit in federal court regarding Clean Water Act discharges

Represents oil and gas operators in ‘legacy lawsuits’ and exposure cases

Represented numerous companies regarding enforcement, permitting, and compliance issues

Represented major chemical manufacture in EPA enforcement action relating to the Risk Management Program

Obtained the first hazardous waste research, demonstration, and development permit in the state on behalf of client engaged in thermal treatment

Represented large landowner regarding military munitions issues on a Formerly Used Defense Site located within the state

Represented the Chamber of Greater Baton Rouge regarding Baton Rouge’s ozone non-attainment issues and successfully obtained a stay from the U.S. Fifth Circuit of the use of reformulated gasoline (RFG) in the Baton Rouge non-attainment area

Was appointed Special Assistant Attorney General to represent the State of Louisiana in a jury trial in federal district court against Marine Shale Processors, Inc.