Both a litigator and a counselor who uses his decades of experience in environmental law to help clients make reasoned judgments in complicated and difficult situations, Rob provides dispassionate, analytical thinking based on unbiased facts that have survived skeptical challenge.

Rob chose a career in environmental law due to the variability and breadth of the environmental law practice. Rob relishes addressing the complexities associated with the interplay between science and bias that present themselves in environmental counseling, rulemaking, and litigation. 

Accomplishments of which Rob is particularly proud include persuading the D.C. Circuit that “safe” does not mean “risk free” when defending the continued manufacture and use of a chemical that EPA had identified as a known human carcinogen but that also was needed for essential products, such as blood bags and blood transfusion equipment. In that case, his opponents asked the court to find that the Clean Air Act’s “ample margin of safety” requirement mandated zero risk. Rob explained that, in the context of carcinogens and EPA’s risk assessment model, “zero risk” would mandate massive shutdowns because the complexities in animal testing and the limits inherent in modeling and statistical analysis made it impossible to distinguish between zero risk and low risk. The court relied on Rob’s explanations to rule in his clients’ favor.

In another notable matter, EPA issued a Clean Water Act permit without a mixing zone by relying on a state certification that was withdrawn by the state agency shortly after issuance. Rob convinced the First Circuit that EPA’s action was irrational, and the Court reversed EPA’s decision even though it held that EPA had the authority to do as it had done.

Rob works with clients to evaluate and minimize risks associated with emerging chemicals of concern, such as Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl (PFAS) substances and Ethylene Oxide. 

Rob is a former B&D Managing Principal. He lectures and publishes articles on the air toxics, permitting, and enforcement provisions of the Clean Air Act, as well as on cost-effective means of avoiding and defending against enforcement actions and prosecuting and defending cost recovery and natural resource damages litigation.

Rob served as law clerk for Judge Aubrey E. Robinson, Jr. of the United States District Court for the District of Columbia.