Patton concentrates his practice on environmental, health and safety (EHS) regulatory and compliance matters involving major accidents, chemical releases and other workplace incidents. He routinely counsels companies in connection with major industrial accidents, internal investigations and root cause analysis (RCA), workplace culture, compliance assurance, crisis response, whistleblowers, process safety incidents, and workplace fatalities. Patton also advises companies on government agency investigations and enforcement, environmental litigation, and response to regulatory rulemakings.
“Ben is a premier EHS lawyer—which many of our clients need—and a natural fit for our expanding global practice group and the clients we serve in the vital Houston energy hub,” said Energy & Natural Resources chair, Prajakt Samant. “Ben joins a world-class team of energy and environmental lawyers at the firm.”
Patton has represented clients in response to investigations by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), the Chemical Safety Board (CSB), the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE), the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), and state and local regulatory agencies.
A significant part of Patton's practice involves counseling companies on EHS culture and the management of process safety. He advises energy companies with upstream and midstream operations on emerging regulatory requirements and systems for overseeing EHS performance, and has worked on several of the most significant industrial incidents of the past decade. Additionally, Patton advises energy companies on the development of robust process safety management systems and procedures. Patton is trained and certified in upstream and offshore safety and emergency procedures, including Falck Offshore Survival HUET & Rigpass.
”I am very excited about this phase of my practice,” said Patton. “Reed Smith’s global platform, industry-focus on energy and commodities, and its deep bench of leading lawyers in energy and EHS regulatory and compliance law, are among the reasons the firm is a natural fit.”
Patton, who began his legal career a decade ago after receiving his J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center, was highlighted by Legal 500 as a 2017 “Next Generation Lawyer” in environmental regulatory law. Today, Patton is a prolific writer and speaker on national energy and environmental issues.
A concerned member of the Houston Business Committee, Patton devotes time to helping our underserved communities by serving on the Board of Directors of Dress for Success Houston and Houston Wilderness, and as an active member of the Center for Houston's Future Business and Civic Leadership Forum.
Patton’s arrival follows that of his former Katten colleague Daniella D. Landers, who joined Reed Smith’s Houston office as partner in February 2017. Landers has extensive experience handling a broad range of environmental compliance, transactional and litigation matters.
”As we near our five-year anniversary in Houston, we have achieved the steady strategic growth that we envisioned when we opened this office,” said Houston office managing partner, Kenneth E. Broughton. “Ben’s arrival further bolsters an all-star international environmental team, which includes such regional heavy hitters as Daniella Landers and veteran litigator Stan Perry, one of our founding partners in Houston. Together, their combined experience truly runs the gamut of complex energy-related environmental and EHS matters.”
Reed Smith’s full-service Houston office opened in February 2013 and is now the home office to more than 70 attorneys.
Also joining Reed Smith’s Houston office this week as counsel is Stacy Williams, a vice president from TransCanada Corporation/Columbia Pipeline Group, where he served as the primary legal advisor for the U.S. natural gas executive team; and Rachel I. Thompson, who was an associate in the bankruptcy section of Porter Hedges. Last week, the firm also welcomed Ryan M. Pate, a senior international tax associate and CPA from PwC, for a total of four new additions at the start of 2018.
Further recent additions include veteran energy pipeline partner, and former Norton Rose Fulbright executive, Peggy A. Heeg, as well as experienced labor and employment associates Paul M. Knettel from Vinson & Elkins, and Cheryl L. Blount from Butch Boyd.
In 2017, Reed Smith’s Houston office also welcomed international energy and infrastructure transactions partner J. Todd Culwell from Andrews Kurth; Bart W. Huffman, the former chair of Locke Lord’s Privacy & Cybersecurity practice; and several additions to the firm’s International Arbitration and Latin America Business teams, including veteran attorney William W. Russell from Schirrmeister, Diaz-Arrastia, Brem; Diego Perez Terry from Mayer Brown; and Rodrigo Morales Draxl from King & Spalding.
About Reed Smith
Reed Smith is a dynamic international law firm, dedicated to helping clients move their businesses forward. Its long-standing relationships, international outlook and collaborative structure make it a go-to partner for speedy resolution of complex disputes, transactions, and regulatory matters.
For further information, please visit reedsmith.com.
