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Doug Henderson is a Trial and Global Disputes partner with a national practice in environmental litigation, toxic torts, and mass tort litigation.  Doug has tried numerous cases to verdict involving personal injury and property devaluation claims related to industrial emissions, groundwater contamination, wastewater discharges, stormwater runoff, endangered species, and transactional allocations of environmental liabilities.  Doug also has litigated cases involving water rights, reservoirs, mining, pipelines, and powerlines.

As appellate counsel, Doug has successfully argued several leading environmental and property rights cases.  As amicus counsel, Doug has represented the Edison Electric Institute, the National Mining Association, the American Farm Bureau Federation, and U.S. Chamber of Commerce, to name a few.  Doug also provides counseling on a wide range of matters involving RCRA, the Clean Water Act, the Clean Air Act, CERCLA, TSCA, and SMCRA.  A Ph.D. scientist and attorney, Doug offers considerable experience in trying and litigating cases involving expert testimony on hydrogeology, air emissions, toxicology, and epidemiology.

Doug has been named "Lawyer of the Year" three times in Georgia, recently as "Environmental Lawyer of the Year" (2020) and earlier as "Litigation – Environmental Atlanta Lawyer of the Year" (2014) and "Environmental Lawyer of the Year" (2018). In addition, Doug has often been ranked as one of the Top 100 lawyers in the State of Georgia by Atlanta Magazine Superlawyers. Doug also is listed in the Best Lawyers in America in three separate categories (environmental litigation, environmental law, and mass torts), in Chambers USA Band 1, in the Legal 500, and the Georgia Trend Legal Elite.

Full Bio

Credentials

J.D., University of Kentucky College of Law

M.S., University of Michigan

Ph.D., University of Michigan

M.S., Georgia Institute of Technology

B.A., George Washington University

Supreme Court of Georgia

Supreme Court of the United States

U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit

U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Georgia

U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia

Chair, State Bar of Georgia, Agricultural Law Section, 2000 - 2005

Chair, State Bar of Georgia, Environmental Law Section, 1999 – 2000

Member, Judicial Procedure Committee, State Bar of Georgia, 1997 – 2006

Named “Litigation – Environmental Atlanta Lawyer of the Year” by Best Lawyers


2014, 2018

Featured in Georgia Trend as a top vote – getting environmental lawyer


2015

Recognized in Environmental Law, Mass Tort Litigation/Class Actions - Defendants, Litigation - Environmental


The Best Lawyers in America 2006-2019

Selected as a Super Lawyer in Environmental by Law & Politics and Atlanta Magazine


2004-2017

Ranked as one of the Top 100 lawyers in the State of Georgia


SuperLawyers

Georgia, Environment


Chambers USA 2005-2018

Top Verdicts of 2009, State of Georgia


Daily Report

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Recognition

Named “Litigation – Environmental Atlanta Lawyer of the Year” by Best Lawyers


2014, 2018

Featured in Georgia Trend as a top vote – getting environmental lawyer


2015

Recognized in Environmental Law, Mass Tort Litigation/Class Actions - Defendants, Litigation - Environmental


The Best Lawyers in America 2006-2019

Selected as a Super Lawyer in Environmental by Law & Politics and Atlanta Magazine


2004-2017

Ranked as one of the Top 100 lawyers in the State of Georgia


SuperLawyers

Georgia, Environment


Chambers USA 2005-2018

Top Verdicts of 2009, State of Georgia


Daily Report

Matters

Lead counsel for a large international medical device manufacturer in successful defense against a lawsuit brought by the State of Georgia that sought to shut down two sterilization facilities for alleged unpermitted releases of ethylene oxide and related fugitive emissions.

Lead counsel for electrical manufacturer in successful defense of class action involving claims of personal injury and property devaluation related to PCB and lead exposure in Anniston, Alabama.

Lead counsel for team defending international medical device manufacturer in Denver, Colorado state court against several mass torts and individual lawsuits involving claims of breast cancer, leukemia and other diseases allegedly associated with emissions of ethylene oxide from major sterilization facility.

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Matters

Lead counsel for a large international medical device manufacturer in successful defense against a lawsuit brought by the State of Georgia that sought to shut down two sterilization facilities for alleged unpermitted releases of ethylene oxide and related fugitive emissions.

Lead counsel for electrical manufacturer in successful defense of class action involving claims of personal injury and property devaluation related to PCB and lead exposure in Anniston, Alabama.

Lead counsel for team defending international medical device manufacturer in Denver, Colorado state court against several mass torts and individual lawsuits involving claims of breast cancer, leukemia and other diseases allegedly associated with emissions of ethylene oxide from major sterilization facility.

First chair for plaintiff real estate partnership in winning week-long jury trial involving property devaluation of major commercial property caused by groundwater contamination.

First chair for prevailing national REIT and development companies in seven-day federal jury trial under the Clean Water Act where the jury found the companies did not violate the Clean Water Act.

Environmental counsel to U.S. subsidiary of international electronics corporation on OSHA investigation involving employee exposure to lead dust in assembly operation

Lead counsel for several electric utilities defending early Clean Water Act, RCRA and SMCRA citizen suits filed by Sierra Club and others involving coal ash disposal Virginia, New Mexico, Utah and other states.

Lead counsel for prevailing major electric utility in administrative challenge to surface water withdrawal permit issued for two new nuclear power generating units.

Lead counsel for Utah electric utility in winning summary judgment defeating Clean Water Act citizen suit brought by national environmental organization.

First chair in successful two-week jury trial involving endangered species in valuation of transmission line easement.

Lead trial counsel for local government in toxic tort dispute involving personal injury and property damage associated with closed municipal landfill.

Lead counsel for numerous companies in show cause hearings before the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on CERCLA, RCRA and EPCRA.

First chair in winning three-week jury trial involving negligent construction of 1,000 acre wastewater treatment facility.

Acted as lead counsel for national food company in RCRA citizen suit involving claims of vapor intrusion and property devaluation.

Represented national automobile parts manufacturer in defeating environmental tort class action involving industrial operations.

Acted as lead counsel in numerous pipeline, transmission line, road and infrastructure condemnations, from special master hearings, to jury trial to final appeal.

Acted as environmental counsel in major real estate, lending, corporate, and brownfield transactions throughout the U.S.

Matters

Lead counsel for a large international medical device manufacturer in successful defense against a lawsuit brought by the State of Georgia that sought to shut down two sterilization facilities for alleged unpermitted releases of ethylene oxide and related fugitive emissions.

Lead counsel for electrical manufacturer in successful defense of class action involving claims of personal injury and property devaluation related to PCB and lead exposure in Anniston, Alabama.

Lead counsel for team defending international medical device manufacturer in Denver, Colorado state court against several mass torts and individual lawsuits involving claims of breast cancer, leukemia and other diseases allegedly associated with emissions of ethylene oxide from major sterilization facility.

See more

Close

Matters

Lead counsel for a large international medical device manufacturer in successful defense against a lawsuit brought by the State of Georgia that sought to shut down two sterilization facilities for alleged unpermitted releases of ethylene oxide and related fugitive emissions.

Lead counsel for electrical manufacturer in successful defense of class action involving claims of personal injury and property devaluation related to PCB and lead exposure in Anniston, Alabama.

Lead counsel for team defending international medical device manufacturer in Denver, Colorado state court against several mass torts and individual lawsuits involving claims of breast cancer, leukemia and other diseases allegedly associated with emissions of ethylene oxide from major sterilization facility.

First chair for plaintiff real estate partnership in winning week-long jury trial involving property devaluation of major commercial property caused by groundwater contamination.

First chair for prevailing national REIT and development companies in seven-day federal jury trial under the Clean Water Act where the jury found the companies did not violate the Clean Water Act.

Environmental counsel to U.S. subsidiary of international electronics corporation on OSHA investigation involving employee exposure to lead dust in assembly operation

Lead counsel for several electric utilities defending early Clean Water Act, RCRA and SMCRA citizen suits filed by Sierra Club and others involving coal ash disposal Virginia, New Mexico, Utah and other states.

Lead counsel for prevailing major electric utility in administrative challenge to surface water withdrawal permit issued for two new nuclear power generating units.

Lead counsel for Utah electric utility in winning summary judgment defeating Clean Water Act citizen suit brought by national environmental organization.

First chair in successful two-week jury trial involving endangered species in valuation of transmission line easement.

Lead trial counsel for local government in toxic tort dispute involving personal injury and property damage associated with closed municipal landfill.

Lead counsel for numerous companies in show cause hearings before the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on CERCLA, RCRA and EPCRA.

First chair in winning three-week jury trial involving negligent construction of 1,000 acre wastewater treatment facility.

Acted as lead counsel for national food company in RCRA citizen suit involving claims of vapor intrusion and property devaluation.

Represented national automobile parts manufacturer in defeating environmental tort class action involving industrial operations.

Acted as lead counsel in numerous pipeline, transmission line, road and infrastructure condemnations, from special master hearings, to jury trial to final appeal.

Acted as environmental counsel in major real estate, lending, corporate, and brownfield transactions throughout the U.S.

Credentials

J.D., University of Kentucky College of Law

M.S., University of Michigan

Ph.D., University of Michigan

M.S., Georgia Institute of Technology

B.A., George Washington University

Supreme Court of Georgia

Supreme Court of the United States

U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit

U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Georgia

U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia

Chair, State Bar of Georgia, Agricultural Law Section, 2000 - 2005

Chair, State Bar of Georgia, Environmental Law Section, 1999 – 2000

Member, Judicial Procedure Committee, State Bar of Georgia, 1997 – 2006

Named “Litigation – Environmental Atlanta Lawyer of the Year” by Best Lawyers


2014, 2018

Featured in Georgia Trend as a top vote – getting environmental lawyer


2015

Recognized in Environmental Law, Mass Tort Litigation/Class Actions - Defendants, Litigation - Environmental


The Best Lawyers in America 2006-2019

Selected as a Super Lawyer in Environmental by Law & Politics and Atlanta Magazine


2004-2017

Ranked as one of the Top 100 lawyers in the State of Georgia


SuperLawyers

Georgia, Environment


Chambers USA 2005-2018

Top Verdicts of 2009, State of Georgia


Daily Report

Close

Recognition

Named “Litigation – Environmental Atlanta Lawyer of the Year” by Best Lawyers


2014, 2018

Featured in Georgia Trend as a top vote – getting environmental lawyer


2015

Recognized in Environmental Law, Mass Tort Litigation/Class Actions - Defendants, Litigation - Environmental


The Best Lawyers in America 2006-2019

Selected as a Super Lawyer in Environmental by Law & Politics and Atlanta Magazine


2004-2017

Ranked as one of the Top 100 lawyers in the State of Georgia


SuperLawyers

Georgia, Environment


Chambers USA 2005-2018

Top Verdicts of 2009, State of Georgia


Daily Report