Van Wolf practices exclusively in environmental and natural resources law at the federal, state, and local levels. His work focuses on environmental due diligence in transactions, analysis of lender and borrower liabilities, drafting of relevant provisions, regulatory compliance, and defense against environmental claims. In addition, Van is experienced in legislative matters, rule-making activities, and environmental litigation. His work concentrates on federal and state Superfund laws, hazardous waste, water quality, including municipal wastewater regulation, underground storage tanks, the National Environmental Policy Act/environmental impact statement process, and natural resources issues involving public lands.
Representative Transactions
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- Negotiating numerous consent decrees with Arizona Department of Environmental Quality and the Environmental Protection Agency regarding federal and state Superfund and federal Clean Water Act liabilities establishing remedial obligations and liability
- Negotiating environmental liability provisions in transactions involving multi-state industrial operations
- Supervising environmental due diligence for sellers and buyers of industrial operations, as well as their lenders
- Developing and implementing strategy for defending against potential liability from discovery of contamination on newly acquired property
- Lead environmental counsel for compliance and liability issues for major government projects and governmental entities
- Negotiating environmental consulting contracts
- Analyzing and implementing National Environmental Policy Act compliance
- Supervising internal environmental compliance audits
- Drafting environmental liability policies for major financial institutions, including borrower indemnities
- Key negotiator on state Superfund amendments and underground storage tank liability
- Defending against regulatory enforcement and compliance actions in Superfund, underground storage tanks, hazardous waste, and water quality. In addition to Arizona, has been involved in projects in California, Utah, Texas, New Mexico, Colorado, Florida, and Georgia
- Has written and spoken extensively before local, national, and international groups on environmental legal issues
Education
- Vanderbilt University (J.D., 1973)
- Research Editor, Vanderbilt Law Review
- American Jurisprudence Awards (Criminal Law, Estates and Trusts)
- Yale University (B.A., 1966)
Court Admissions
- Supreme Court of Arizona
- Supreme Court of New York
- United States District Court, District of Arizona
- United States District Court, Southern District of New York
- United States Court of Appeals, Second Circuit
- United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit
Professional Memberships & Activities
- State Bar of Arizona
- Environmental and Natural Resources Law Section, Co-Founder
- Council (1989-1993)
- Chairman (1991-1992)
- Continuing Legal Education Committee (1992-1998)
- Chairman (1997-1998)
- Environmental and Natural Resources Law Section, Co-Founder
- American Bar Association
- Section of Natural Resources, Energy and Environmental Law
- Special Committee on State and Regional Environmental Cooperation
- Co-Chairman (1998-2000)
- Vice-Chairman (1995-1998)
- Environmental Crimes Committee
- Environmental Audits Task Force, Vice-Chairman (1997-1999)
- 1998 Annual Meeting Planning Committee
- Special Committee on State and Regional Environmental Cooperation
- Section of Business Law
- Environmental, Energy and Natural Resources Law Committee
- Section of Natural Resources, Energy and Environmental Law
- Association of the Bar of the City of New York
- ALI-ABA Annual Advanced Course of Study, Environmental Issues in Real Estate and Business Transactions, Faculty (1989-2005)
- Lenders and Trustees, Bankruptcy, Insurance, and Environmental Audits
- ALI-ABA-ELI Annual Course of Study, Hazardous Waste, Superfund and Toxic Substances (1990)
- Vanderbilt Law School National Board of Advisors, Member
- ASU Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law, Adjunct Professor of Law, teaching environmental and natural resources law (Spring 2010, 2011)
- Arizona State University College of Law, Visiting Lecturer (1996)
- University of Maryland School of Law, Visiting Lecturer (1995)
- Vanderbilt University Law School, Visiting Lecturer (1991)
- University of Arizona Law School, Visiting Lecturer (1990)
- Airlangga Law School, Surabaya, Indonesia (1975-1976)
Representative Presentations & Publications
In his 30 years of environmental law practice in Arizona, Van Wolf has given several hundred presentations before local, national, and international groups. The recent highlights include:
- Environmental Due Diligence Audit Best Practices for Environmental Lawyers, Webinar Lead, ExecSense Webinars (July 2011)
- Special Siting and Permitting Issues for Projects on Public and Tribal Lands: NEPA Review of Projects on Federal Lands, Speaker, Solar and Wind in Arizona Conference, Law Seminars International (October 2009)
- Superfund Defenses to Liability Due Diligence Investigation, EPA's Final Rule: "All Appropriate Inquiry," Presenter, Arizona State Bar Annual Convention (June 2007)
- NEPA Reform, Energy Facilities Siting, and the Impact of the Global Warming Issue, Presenter, CLE International (March 2007)
- Recent Developments in Environmental Liability of Lenders, Trustees and in Bankruptcy; Key Environmental Insurance Issues in Recent Court Decisions; and Environmental Due Diligence Considerations, Presenter, ALI-ABA Impact of Environmental Law on Real Estate and Business Transactions Seminar (1989-2005)
Professional Recognition & Awards
- The Best Lawyers in America®, Environmental Law (1997-2012); Environmental Litigation (2012)
- Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyers for Business®, Environment (including water rights) (2003-2011)
- Arizona's Finest Lawyers (2011)
- Southwest Super Lawyers®, Environmental (2007-2009, 2011-2012), Real Estate, Energy & Natural Resources (2007-2009, 2011)
- Super Lawyers®, Environmental - Corporate Counsel Edition (2009)
- Who's Who in America (1995-2006)
- The International Who's Who of Environment Lawyers (2004, 2011)
Community Involvement
- Herberger Theatre Center, Board of Directors (1998-2004); Vice-Chairman (2003-2004)
- American Cancer Society, Chair (2008-2009)
- National Assembly (1999-present)
- National Treasurer (2004-2006)
- National Board of Directors (1999-2010)
- Numerous National Committees, including Compensation (Chair), Audit and Stewardship (Chair), Stakeholder Relations (Chair)
- ACS Cancer Action Network, Board of Directors (2001-2004), President (2003-2004)
- National Divisional Award, St. George Medal (1998)
- Great West Division, Inc., Board of Directors (2003-2011)
- Southwest Division, Inc., Board of Directors (1996-2003), Chairman (1996-1998)
- Arizona Division Inc., Board of Directors (1986-1996), Chairman (1994-1996)
- All Saints Episcopal Day School, Co-Chairman, Annual Fund Campaign (1997)
- All Saints Episcopal Church, Parish Visioning Committee (2002-2003)
- Arizona Chamber of Commerce
- Environmental Committee (1983-present)
- Water Quality Subcommittee, Chairman (1988-1990, 1992-1999)
- Phoenix Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce
- Public Affairs Council, Chairman (1986-1988)
- PAC Board, Air Quality Task Force, Environmental Committee
- Arizona Town Hall, Member (1987-present)
- Phoenix Citizens Bond Committee (1988)
- Phoenix Little Theater, Board of Directors (1982-1988), President (1985-1987)
- Valley Leadership VI (1984-1985)
Other Professional Experience
- Lewis and Roca, Associate and Partner, Phoenix, Arizona (1981-1991)
- Historic Preservation Law Reporter, National Trust for Historic Preservation, Consultant and First Editor, Washington, DC (1981)
- Environmental Law Reporter, Editor-in-Chief, Washington, DC (1976-1981)
- Milbank, Tweed, Hadley and McCloy, Associate, New York, New York (1973-1975)
