Elliott Laws is a partner in the Washington, D.C. office of Crowell & Moring where he is co-chair of the firm's Environment & Natural Resources Group and is a member of the Government Affairs Group. He provides strategic counseling and legal, policy and crisis management advice on environmental and energy policy issues, regulation and litigation, addressing Superfund and Hazardous Wastes; Brownfields Redevelopment; Environmental Remediation; Chemical Regulation; Clean Air; and Clean Water. Elliott is frequently sought for advice regarding site specific, as well as, general issues faced by major corporations in the environmental regulatory and policy areas, as well as internal corporate and operational environmental management matters. With his deep environmental experience, he is able to help guide these clients through complex negotiations and development of innovative resolutions at the highest levels of the federal government.
In 2011 he was appointed by the U.S. Bankruptcy Court to serve as Administrative Trustee for the environmental response trust that oversees the approximately $800 million trust established by the U.S. Government to clean up and repurpose for redevelopment the former properties of "Old" General Motors Corp. He is managing this role through a separate entity, EPLET LLC, of which he is the Managing Member.
In 2017, Elliott was appointed as a public member of the Administrative Conference of the United States. In 2018, he was appointed as a member of the Department of Energy’s Environmental Management Advisory Board (EMAB).
Elliott was elected a Fellow of the American College of Environmental Lawyers in 2008. He was also listed in Who's Who Legal: Environment in 2016, and has been recognized by Super Lawyers as a top environmental attorney since 2014. Elliott named by Lawdragon as one of "500 Leading U.S. Environmental & Energy Lawyers" in 2021.
Elliott formerly served as President of Safety, Health and Environment for Texaco Inc. While at Texaco, Elliott was responsible for the development and oversight of worldwide environmental and safety policies and positions, including climate change, sustainability, environmental management systems, and corporate audit and responsibility programs supporting the underlying strategic and business objectives of the corporation. Elliott was also principal advisor to the CEO and other senior corporate officials on environmental policy matters. His work with Texaco included working with business unit leaders to integrate environmental goals of the corporation into the business unit plans. Finally, he supported business units on international project and policy development including interaction with international business partners and coordinated with the Legal Department and Government Affairs Office on major environmental claims.
As Assistant Administrator for Solid Waste and Emergency Response at the Environmental Protection Agency, he was responsible for regulatory and policy development and implementation for solid and hazardous waste management. This included the Superfund, RCRA, Brownfields and underground storage tank programs. Previously, he was a Justice Department and EPA attorney and a Manhattan Assistant District Attorney.
Affiliations
Admitted to practice: District of Columbia, New York
Other Affiliations
- Regent (2016): American College of Environmental Lawyers
- Fellow (2008): American College of Environmental Lawyers
- Council Member: American Bar Association's Section of Environment, Energy and Resources
- National Board Member: Trust for Public Land
- Board Member: Environment and Energy Study Institute
- Public Member: Administrative Council of the United States
- Former Secretary/Treasurer and Board member: Environmental Law Institute. Elliott authors the "The Business of Environment," published in the Environmental Forum
Highlights, News & Knowledge
Speeches & Presentations
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"Avoiding and Cleaning up the Mess: the Environmental Law Ramifications of Decommissioning of Large Infrastructure Projects" 2018 IBA Annual Conference, Rome, Italy
(October 9, 2018).
Presenter: Elliott P. Laws.
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"Looking Ahead: Why Environmental Justice Is Key To the Future of Your Practice," ABA-Environment, Energy and Resources 46th Spring Conference, Los Angeles, CA
(March 31, 2017).
Presenter: Elliott P. Laws.
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"2010 Congressional Regulatory Agenda," Chevron's Law Function Professional Development Seminar
(January 12, 2011).
Presenters: Elliott P. Laws and Amy B. Chasanov.
Publications
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"Energy & Environment – Not Necessarily a Complete Reversal of Obama's Objectives," Crowell & Moring's Regulatory Forecast 2017
(May 2017).
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"Regulatory Forecast 2016: What Corporate Counsel Need to Know for the Coming Year," a Crowell & Moring LLP publication
(January 2016).
Contributor.
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"Regulatory 2016 - The State of Play," Crowell & Moring's Regulatory Forecast 2016
(January 2016).
Contributors: Angela B. Styles, Thomas (Tim) C. Means, Kris D. Meade, Elliott P. Laws, Mike Gill, W. Scott Douglas, and James G. Flood.
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"The State Of Play In 2015: Year Of The Regulator," Law360
(February 6, 2015).
Co-Authors: Wm. Randolph Smith, Thomas (Tim) C. Means, and Elliott P. Laws.
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"Regulatory Forecast 2015: What Corporate Counsel Need to Know for the Coming Year," a Crowell & Moring LLP publication
(January 2015).
Contributor.
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"In the Gulf, BP Faces a Tragedy," The Environmental Forum, Environmental Law Institute, Washington, D.C., www.eli.org
(July/August 2010).
Author: Elliott P. Laws.
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"EPA Releases Broad Chemical Reform Principles and Seeks Industry Data for Immediate Risk Management Plans," Crowell & Moring Product Risk Management Law Alert
(October 2, 2009).
Co-Authors: James C. Chen, Monica M. Welt and Elliott P. Laws.
Client Alerts & Newsletters
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"No, the Supreme Court’s Decision in Atlantic Richfield Co. v. Christian Will Probably Not Open Pandora’s Box, But…,"
Environment & Natural Resources Law Alert
(May 6, 2020).
Contacts: Elliott P. Laws, Kirsten L. Nathanson, Jennifer A. Giblin, Peter Gray
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"EPA Considers Updating Federal Procurement Guidelines for Recycled Content,"
Environment & Natural Resources Law Alert
(April 16, 2020).
Contacts: Robert A. Burton, Elliott P. Laws, Byron R. Brown, Jennifer A. Giblin
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"DOJ Ends Use of SEPs in Resolving Violations of Environmental Law,"
Environment & Natural Resources Law Alert
(March 17, 2020).
Contacts: Elliott P. Laws, Peter Gray, Elizabeth B. Dawson
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"Preemption or Pandora's Box: The Supreme Court Agrees to Review the CERCLA Federal/State Divide,"
Environment & Natural Resources Law Alert
(June 13, 2019).
Contacts: Elliott P. Laws, Peter Gray, Kirsten L. Nathanson, Elizabeth B. Dawson, Matt Gauthier
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"Supreme Court Decision Raises Questions about Acting Officers,"
Environment & Natural Resources Law Alert
(March 30, 2017).
Contact: Elliott P. Laws
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"Scott Pruitt Confirmed as Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency,"
Environment & Natural Resources Law Alert
(February 17, 2017).
Contacts: Elliott P. Laws, Thomas A. Lorenzen, Robert Meyers, W. Scott Douglas, Kirsten L. Nathanson, David Chung
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"EPA Ordered To Prepare Timeline For CERCLA Financial Responsibility Rulemaking,"
Environment & Natural Resources Law Alert
(June 22, 2015).
Contacts: Elliott P. Laws, Sherrie Armstrong Davis
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"EPA's Proposed Budget – Five Key Signals for Industry on EPA's Priorities,"
Environment & Natural Resources Law Alert
(February 18, 2015).
Contacts: Elliott P. Laws, Kirsten L. Nathanson
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"Environmental Justice Alert: EPA Achieves Multi-Million Dollar Clean Air Settlement in Environmental Justice Showcase Community,"
Environment & Natural Resources Law Alert
(April 24, 2014).
Contacts: Elliott P. Laws, Kirsten L. Nathanson, David Chung, Sherrie Armstrong Davis
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"Triclosan and Increased Scrutiny of Chemicals,"
Advertising & State AG Alert
(April 9, 2010).
Contact: Elliott P. Laws
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"EPA Releases Broad Chemical Reform Principles and Seeks Industry Data for Immediate Risk Management Plans,"
Advertising & State AG Alert
(October 2, 2009).
Contact: Elliott P. Laws
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"EU publishes eco-design measure on power consumption of set-top boxes,"
Advertising & State AG Alert
(February 6, 2009).
Contact: Elliott P. Laws
Media Mentions
Firm News & Announcements