Bio

Brian serves as counsel in acquisitions, refinancings, and investments, covering contract mail carriers, poultry companies, energy and manufacturing, grain handling and processing, and in railroad negotiations.

He continues to be involved in defending, negotiating, and preserving property and permit rights and interests before multiple municipal, state, and federal agencies and regions, including involving the environmental media of air, solid waste, water, and hazardous waste; brownfield properties; negotiated, elective site compliance and review; and penalty and operational requirement review and negotiation.

Brian is frequently consulted on unusual contractual or litigation situations involving creative resolutions to disputes.

Experience

  • Multi-decade representation of agricultural companies, including development, contracting, acquisitions, administrative compliance and defense
  • Represent equity and transportation firms in borrowings, refinancings, due diligence, sales, leases and regulatory compliance
  • Represent multistate client in acquisitions, financings, credits and insurance
  • Multi-decade water representation of navigational interests in Arkansas
  • Practice in matters concerning water rights, water use and water and project permitting
  • Multi-media environmental due diligence and creative problem solving through public and private remedial actions and responses
  • Represented interested park users, citizens and group in administrative and litigated matters leading to the preservation of river-front parks in central Arkansas for further recreational development
  • Completed one of the first Arkansas Brownfields projects
  • Founding fellow in the American College of Environmental Lawyers

Honors

  • Chambers USA Leading Lawyers in Corporate/Commercial and Litigation: Environmental – 2009-2024
  • Best Lawyers in America – 2003-2024 Editions – Banking and Finance Law; Environmental Law; Water Law; Real Estate Law
  • Mid-South Super Lawyers – Environmental – 2007-2023

Affiliations

  • American Bar Association
  • Arkansas Bar Association’s Golden Gavel Award – 2004, 2007, 2009
  • Arkansas Bar Association – 122nd President (2019-2020); Chair, Board of Governors (2016-2017); Chair, Executive Committee (2016-2017); Chair, Professional Practicum Committee (2000-2004); Chair, Annual Meeting (2006-2007); Chair, Membership Development (2008-2010); Board of Governors (2008-2013); Chair, Long Range Planning (2010-present); Chair, Environmental Law Section (2007-2008); Chair, Editorial Board for Handbooks (2014); Finance Committee (2014-present); Legal Forms Committee (2014)
  • Vince Foster, Jr. Outstanding Lawyer Award – 2014
  • Founding Regent and Member of the American College of Environmental Lawyers (2006-present); Member of Board of Regents (2006-2009)
  • Arkansas Supreme Court Professional Practicum Committee (2004-2016); Interim Chair (2008); Chair (2010-2016); Workshop Leader
  • Arkansas Alumni Association – Board of Directors (1995–2006); President (2004-2006); President, Capital (Little Rock) Chapter (1993–1994)
  • Arkansas Repertory Theatre – Board of Governors (2011-2017); Executive Committee (2013-2017); Education Chair (2013-2017)
  • United Way of Pulaski County – Board of Directors (1999–2004); Co-chair, Agency Allocations Committee Panel Co-chair (1998–2002)
  • Certified Public Accountant, Missouri, 1984 (Inactive)
  • Pulaski County Bar Association

Education

  • University of Missouri, Juris Doctor, Cum Laude; Order of the Coif
  • Journal Editor, Missouri Law Review
  • University of Arkansas, Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (High Honors)

Admissions

  • Arkansas
  • Texas