Leveraging Private Practice and In-House Experience

About Daniel J. Brown

Attorney and Sole Member of Daniel J. Brown, L.L.C.

With a law practice focused on environmental law and occupational health and safety law, I strive to serve each and every client by utilizing my extensive in-house and private practice experience, as well as my chemical engineering background, to deliver timely and pragmatic solutions to complex legal problems and challenges.

With James Brown, Ph.D., Director of Schiller International University -- Paris Campus following my appearance as a guest lecturer in the International Management of Resources class of the university's graduate International Relations & Diplomacy program.

Professional Experience

Provided advice and counsel on the EHS issues associated with complex mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, re-financing transactions, real estate transactions, facility closures, and major construction projects ranging in value from $10 million to $3 billion.
Participated in and led the transition and integration of in-house EHS legal functions for several large acquisitions ranging in value from $1 billion to $3 billion.
Achieved favorable consent decree with USDOJ, USEPA, and the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) to settle a significant environmental enforcement matter arising out of coordinated multi-media inspections in connection with a national enforcement initiative focusing on the vinyl resin industry.
Achieved favorable nominal settlement with Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) in connection will allegations of noncompliance with hazardous waste management requirements.
Negotiated favorable consent decrees with USEPA to settle two separate matters relating to the agency’s enforcement of its Risk Management Plan (RMP) Rule.
Achieved favorable settlement of OSHA citations arising out of an inspection relating to the agency’s national emphasis program (NEP) for process safety management (PSM).
Achieved several favorable global settlements with the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality (LDEQ) to settle multiple allegations of noncompliance.
Achieved dismissals or nominal settlements of chemical product exposure litigation matters, including litigation matters involving allegations of exposure to vinyl chloride monomer (VCM), benzene, phosgene, and hydrochloric acid.
Successfully defended a client in a challenge to the issuance of a permit by South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (SCDHEC) for the conduct of activities involving the use of radioactive materials.
Provided advice and counsel to the finance and accounting function of a publicly-traded company in connection with: the establishment and review of accruals for contingent environmental liabilities and environmentally-related asset retirement obligations (AROs), and the establishment and review of appropriate environmentally-related disclosure language for 10-K and 10-Q filings.
Successfully defended metal alloys manufacturer against allegations of operating an unpermitted hazardous waste management treatment, storage, and disposal facility.
Provided advice and counsel to a commercial lender on environmental issues associated with real estate transactions involving multiple gasoline stations.
Conducted environmental compliance audits for steel manufacturing, and pulp and paper manufacturing facilities in Louisiana, Minnesota, Missouri, Oklahoma, and South Carolina. Have advised and counseled clients on development and implementation of audit programs for USEPA’s RMP Rule, OSHA’s PSM Standard, the American Chemistry Council’s Responsible Care program, and general EHS compliance.

Professional Background

Senior EHS Counsel for Publicly-Traded Chemical Manufacturing and Building Products Company – Axiall Corporation (f/k/a Georgia Gulf Corporation) in Atlanta, Georgia

Attorney With the Environmental Practice Teams of Two of the Largest Law Firms in the Carolinas Region

Environmental Engineer and Process Engineer at 160,000 bpd BP Oil Refinery in Lima, Ohio

Educational Background

B.S. in Chemical Engineering From Case Western Reserve University; Cleveland, Ohio
J. D. From University of Georgia School of Law; Athens, Georgia

Bar Admissions

Georgia
North Carolina
South Carolina