‘Chris has a proven track record as an environmental lawyer drawing from his experience both in private practice and from his work with the US Departments of the Interior and State,’ said Andrew M Baker, Managing Partner of Baker Botts. ‘Chris has a demonstrated ability to collaborate with government and private sector resources in serving client needs. He has an impressive record of defeating suits brought to stop projects from going forward, in both federal and state courts,’ added Mr. Baker. Mr Carr represents businesses, land developers, private individuals, public agencies and nonprofits in all areas of environmental and natural resource law, including energy, transportation, water, forestry, mining, coastal and marine resources, and agriculture.

Some of the toughest sittings

‘Chris has handled some of the toughest siting, permitting and approval fights in the country,” said Scott Janoe, Chair of the Environmental Practice Group of Baker Botts. ‘He can do complex projects soup to nuts. His ability to pull land use approvals, secure environmental permits and advise on the preparation of environmental review documents, all on the front end of a project, makes him highly effective in defending projects against litigation challenges. His California resources law and CEQA practice is unparalleled, and his federal program experience and expertise will help our clients across the US.’

Federal Endangered Species

In particular, Mr Carr's practice focuses on permitting and litigation under the federal Endangered Species Act (ESA), the Clean Water Act and the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) as well as their California counterparts, the California ESA, the Porter-Cologne Water Quality Control Act and the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). He is also an expert in local, state, federal and international laws, regulations, initiatives and programs to promote the development of clean energy.

Sixth new partner

Chris is the sixth new partner to join our San Francisco office since opening the office last year and part of the company’s drive to continue to expand the range of services it offers clients from its California offices, explained Pat Stanton, Partner-in-Charge of Baker Botts’ San Francisco office.

Delighted to be part of growth

‘Baker Botts has an outstanding reputation for its leading energy and environmental law practices. I am delighted to be part of its growth in the Bay Area and to be able to offer my clients the firm’s national environmental and energy platform and capabilities,” said Mr Carr. ‘My practice, which focuses on permitting complex projects and defending them against challenges to approvals, permits and environmental review documents in federal and state courts, as well as defending against ‘citizen suits’ brought under federal environmental statutes, is the perfect fit for the kind of high-stakes work for which Baker Botts is known.’