John B. King is a partner in the Baton Rouge office of Breazeale Sachse. 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 Breazeale Sachse 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
