Brunini Law

Brunini Law Firm Attorney Matt Allen presenting at the 29th Annual Southeastern Environmental Law and Regulation Conference

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Brunini Law Firm Attorney Matt Allen will be presenting “Corporate Initiatives to Adjust to a Low-Carbon Economy in Response to EPA’s Deregulatory Agenda: Opportunities for Environmental Professionals” at the 29th Annual Southeastern Environmental Law and Regulation Conference on June 18, 2021.

Allen is a member of the Environmental Practice Group within Brunini Law Firm.  The group is acknowledged as a statewide leader in Environmental Law.  Allen has been with Brunini Law Firm since 2005. He has the highest peer review rating available by Martindale-Hubblell (AV), been recognized numerous times by SuperLawyers as one of the top lawyers in the Mid-South as well as being recognized by Best Lawyers in America.

The Conference is sponsored by Environmental Law Section of the Alabama State Bar and the Section on Natural Resources, Energy and Environmental Law of the Mississippi Bar.

He may be reached by email at mallen@brunini.com.

For more information regarding the conference go to: https://beaconcle.com/29th-southeastern-environmental-law-regulation-conference/

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Mississippi Commission on Environmental Quality Summary of Meeting Held May 27, 2021

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Prepared By Brunini, Grantham, Grower & Hewes, PLLC

The Mississippi Commission on Environmental Quality (“MCEQ”) convened at 9:00 a.m. on May 27, 2021.  This meeting was held through a telephone conference and Zoom call.  The public was invited to listen to the deliberations of the Commission on the conference phone and Zoom lines.  The Commission first approved minutes from the previous meeting held on April 22, 2021.  Then, following a prepared agenda, the Commission considered items as follows:

Request from the Northeast Mississippi Solid Waste Management Authority (The “Authority”) for a Variance to State Siting Criteria for the Proposed Expansion Area at the Authority’s Municipal Solid Waste Landfill

Staff of the MDEQ Waste Division presented information regarding the landfill siting criteria and information on the existing Northeast Mississippi Regional Landfill (“Northeast Landfill”). The Authority and its experts then presented the details of proposed expansion plans and relevant information regarding the proposed variance request.

The Mississippi Nonhazardous Solid Waste Management Regulations (11 Miss. Admin. Code Pt. 4 Ch. 1.), states that “New landfills shall be located where there are adequate naturally occurring geological materials present of low permeability to act as a buffer between the base of the landfill liner and the top of the uppermost aquifer. Such materials shall generally consist of clays, silty clays, clayey silts, or other soils which have an average hydraulic conductivity of 1 x 10-6 cm/sec or less. The thickness, or depth, of these materials shall extend to at least five feet immediately beneath the base of the landfill liner.” The Authority is proposing an expansion of the disposal area at the existing Northeast Landfill. Portions of the proposed disposal area (approximately 14%) do not appear to have the required naturally-occurring buffer.  MDEQ staff noted that granting the variance does not guaranty the issuance of a permit and that the Authority will now have to go through Permit Board approval, including public hearings and comment period.  No one appeared in opposition to the variance.  After some discussion, the request for variance was approved.

Commission Approval of Brownfield Agreement – Delmar Plaza Holdings, LLC

The MDEQ staff recommended and the Commission approved the Brownfield Agreement between the Commission and Delmar Plaza Holdings, LLP (Delmar) regarding the remediation of brownfield property located at 12057 Highway 49 North in Gulfport, Mississippi (Delmar Brownfield Site). Delmar has agreed that the proposed remediation measures will be through the biological enhanced reductive dechlorination and in-situ chemical reduction pathways, and has also agreed to the filing of a land use restriction with the property deed, and to enter into a Brownfield Agreement. The Delmar Brownfield Site will be subject to an environmental covenant restricting the future site use, including all impacted media. The draft Brownfield Agreement has completed the 30-day public comment period on May 10, 2021. No comments were received. The MDEQ staff have evaluated the proposed Brownfield Agreement and stated that, with the conditions and restrictions contained within the proposed Brownfield Agreement, the Delmar Brownfield Site will be in compliance with all applicable state and federal laws and standards and will be protective of the public health and the environment once the Brownfield Agreement is completed by Delmar.

Restrictive Use Agreed Order and Environmental Covenant for FC Meyer Packaging, LLC

Pursuant to the Commission’s delegation regulations (11 Miss. Admin. Code Pt. 1, R.1.1.Y.), the Executive Director of MDEQ approved the Restrictive Use Agreed Order and Environmental Covenants between the Commission and FC Meyer Packaging, LLC regarding the remediation of property located at 101 Ascher Street, Quitman, Clarke County, Mississippi. FC Meyer Packaging, LLC operated the site as a cardboard packaging manufacturing facility. Environmental Site Assessments have revealed presence of trichloroethene impacting groundwater at concentrations in excess of Target Remediation Goals (TRGs). Therefore, remediation of the site has been determined by MDEQ staff to be necessary. The MDEQ staff has evaluated the proposed Restrictive Use Agreed Order and Environmental Covenant and stated that, with the conditions and restrictions contained within; the site will be in compliance with applicable state and federal laws and standards and will be protective of the public health and the environment.  This agenda item is for reporting purposes only.

CERTIFICATIONS APPROVED

Asbestos:                     84 certifications

Lead Paint:                  60 certifications

Wastewater

Operator:                     11 certifications

Emergency

Clean-up Expenses:     4 emergency expenditure

ADMINISTRATIVE ORDERS APPROVED

Eleven (11) Agreed Orders and three (3) Amended Orders were issued by the Executive Director and approved by the Commission since the last report.

The next Commission meeting is proposed to be on June 24, 2021, at 9 a.m.

This Newsletter is a publication of the Environmental Department of the law firm of Brunini, Grantham, Grower & Hewes located in Jackson, Mississippi. This Newsletter is not designed or intended to provide legal or professional advice, as any such advice requires the consideration of the facts of the specific situation.

If you have any questions concerning the content of a newsletter, or if you would like further information about the matters addressed in a newsletter, please contact John Milner, the Brunini Firm Environmental Practice Group leader, at jmilner@brunini.com or (601) 960-6842.

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Brunini Law Firm and Attorneys Ranked in Prestigious Chambers USA 2021 Guide

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Chambers USA, an independent research company which operates across 200 jurisdictions and provides detailed rankings and insights into the world’s leading lawyers, has released its 2021 guide.

Brunini, Grantham, Grower & Hewes, PLLC is pleased to have been ranked by Chambers USA in 7 practice areas with 13 attorney rankings.

Ranked categories include: Construction; Corporate/Commercial; Energy and Natural Resources; Environment; Litigation: General Commercial; Real Estate and High Net Worth.

Congratulations to the following Chambers USA ranked Brunini attorneys:

Cody Bailey, Construction – Up and Coming

Lynne Green, High Net Worth

James L. Halford, Energy & Natural Resources

David Kaufman, Litigation: General Commercial, Star Individual

Sam Kelly, Construction

Patrick McDowell, Litigation: General Commercial

John Milner, Environment

Watts Ueltschey, Energy & Natural Resources, Senior Statesman

Joseph Varner, High Net Worth

Gene Wasson, Energy & Natural Resources as well as Environment (2 categories)

Walter Weems, Corporate/Commercial

Ron Yarborough, Construction

Chambers USA ranks Law Firms and attorneys following intensive research which includes submissions from the firm as well as interviews from clients and attorneys.

For more information on Chambers USA go to https://chambers.com

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Brunini Law Firm selected as Mississippi Firm of the Year for 2021 by Benchmark Litigation

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Benchmark Litigation has once again selected Brunini as the Mississippi Firm of the Year for 2021.  The award was announced at this year’s annual Benchmark Litigation US Awards.

Benchmark Litigation is the definitive guide to the world’s leading litigation firms and lawyers.  It provides law firm and lawyer rankings based on extensive interviews with litigators, their clients, and an analysis of each state’s most important cases and firm developments.  It is the only rating service focused exclusively on litigation.

“We are honored to be recognized by Benchmark for the second year in a row as the Top Litigation Firm in Mississippi,” said Sam Kelly, Managing Partner. “We are grateful to all of our clients that give us an opportunity to represent them.  Our commitment is to give every matter the time, attention and resources needed to insure that the client’s interests are fully represented in a professional, competent and thorough manner.”

Brunini, Grantham, Grower & Hewes, PLLC, founded over one century ago, today is one of Mississippi’s largest and most respected law firms.  They serve primarily business clients, including a number of Fortune 500 companies and other significant Mississippi companies, including the nation’s largest privately held wireless company, one of the world’s largest automobile manufacturers, one of Mississippi’s largest health insurers and one of the state’s largest banks and health care systems.

For more information on Benchmark Litigation go to https://benchmarklitigation.com. 

Mississippi Commission on Environmental Quality

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Prepared By Brunini, Grantham, Grower & Hewes, PLLC

The Mississippi Commission on Environmental Quality (“MCEQ”) convened at 9:00 a.m. on March 25, 2021.  This meeting was held through a telephone conference call.  The public was invited to listen to the deliberations of the Commission on the conference phone line.  The Commission first approved minutes from the previous meetings held on February 25, 2021.  Then, following a prepared agenda, the Commission considered items as follows:

 

Gold Coast Commodities, Inc. Order

 The Commission is required to issue an Order reflecting its findings of fact and conclusions of law subsequent to an evidentiary hearing.  The Order memorializes the Commission’s decision in this matter on November 19, 2020. At the February 25, 2021 meeting, the Commission directed MDEQ staff to revise the proposed Order.  MDEQ staff revised its original proposed Order and the Commission approved the revised Order.

 

The next Commission meeting is proposed to be on April 22, 2021, at 9 a.m.

This Newsletter is a publication of the Environmental Department of the law firm of Brunini, Grantham, Grower & Hewes located in Jackson, Mississippi. This Newsletter is not designed or intended to provide legal or professional advice, as any such advice requires the consideration of the facts of the specific situation.

If you have any questions concerning the content of a newsletter, or if you would like further information about the matters addressed in a newsletter, please contact John Milner, the Brunini Firm Environmental Practice Group leader, at jmilner@brunini.com or (601) 960-6842.

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Brunini Attorneys Recognized in Mid-South 2020 Super Lawyers Top 50 Mississippi and Top 50 Women

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We are pleased to announce that R. David Kaufman, Randi P. Mueller and Ron A. Yarbrough were selected as “Top 50 Mississippi” lawyers in the 2020 edition of Super Lawyers. Randi P. Mueller was also recognized as one of the “Top 50 Women” lawyers in the 2020 Mid-South Super Lawyers edition.

Each year, Super Lawyers recognizes the top lawyers in Mississippi and throughout the Mid-South via a patented multiphase selection process involving peer nomination, independent research and peer evaluation. The Mississippi lawyers who receive the highest point totals during this selection process are further recognized in Mississippi/Mid-South Super Lawyers “Top 50” Lists.

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17 Brunini Attorneys Named to 2020 Mid-South Super Lawyers and Rising Stars

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2020 Mid-South Super Lawyers

Jackson, MS

  • Matthew W. Allen – Business Litigation
  • Lynne K. Green – Estates & Probate
  • William “Trey” Jones, III – General Litigation
  • R. David Kaufman – Business Litigation
  • Samuel C. Kelly – Construction Litigation
  • James A. McCullough, II – Business Litigation
  • M. Patrick McDowell – Business Litigation
  • John E. Milner – Environmental Law
  • Watts C. Ueltschey – Real Estate
  • John E. Wade – Personal Injury Medical Malpractice: Defense
  • Gene Wasson – Environmental Law
  • Ron A. Yarbrough – Construction Litigation

Biloxi, MS

  • Randi P. Mueller – Product Liability

2020 Mid-South Rising Stars

Jackson, MS

  • Cody C. Bailey – Construction Litigation
  • R. Lane Bobo – Personal Injury Medical Malpractice: Defense
  • William Drinkwater – Civil Litigation: Defense

Biloxi, MS

  • Taylor McNeel – Business Litigation

A Super Lawyers or Rising Stars selection is an honor reserved for those attorneys who exhibit excellence in practice. Super Lawyers selects attorneys using a patented multi-phase selection process. Peer nominations and evaluations are combined with independent research. Each candidate is evaluated on 12 indicators of peer recognition and professional achievement. Selections are made on an annual, state-by-state basis. The objective is to create a credible, comprehensive and diverse listing of outstanding attorneys that can be used as a resource for attorneys and consumers searching for legal counsel. Since Super Lawyers is intended to be used as an aid in selecting a lawyer, we limit the lawyer ratings to those who can be hired and retained by the public.

 

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Best Lawyers® Recognizes Brunini in “Best Law Firm” Ranking 2021

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Brunini is pleased to announce the firm has received 39 tier-one rankings from Best Lawyers®  “Best Law Firms” 2021.

Best Lawyers “Best Law Firms” are recognized for professional excellence with consistently impressive ratings from clients and peers. To be eligible for a ranking, a firm must first have a lawyer recognized in The Best Lawyers in America©, which recognizes the top 5% of private practicing lawyers in the United States. Achieving a tiered ranking signals a unique combination of quality law practice and breadth of legal expertise.

The 2021 rankings are based on the highest lawyer and firm participation on record, incorporating 8.3 million evaluations of more than 110,000 individual leading lawyers from more than 22,000 firms.

  • Metropolitan Tier 1
    • Gulfport (Biloxi) – MS
      • Gaming Law
      • Land Use & Zoning Law
    • Jackson – MS
      • Administrative / Regulatory Law
      • Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law
      • Bet-the-Company Litigation
      • Closely Held Companies and Family Businesses Law
      • Commercial Finance Law
      • Commercial Litigation
      • Commercial Transactions / UCC Law
      • Communications Law
      • Construction Law
      • Corporate Law
      • Energy Law
      • Environmental Law
      • Health Care Law
      • Land Use & Zoning Law
      • Litigation – Bankruptcy
      • Litigation – Construction
      • Litigation – Environmental
      • Litigation – Intellectual Property
      • Litigation – Land Use & Zoning
      • Litigation – Real Estate
      • Litigation – Securities
      • Litigation – Tax
      • Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Defendants
      • Media Law
      • Mergers & Acquisitions Law
      • Mortgage Banking Foreclosure Law
      • Natural Resources Law
      • Oil & Gas Law
      • Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants
      • Product Liability Litigation – Defendants
      • Professional Malpractice Law – Defendants
      • Real Estate Law
      • Tax Law
      • Trusts & Estates Law
    • Tupelo (Columbus) – MS
      • Commercial Litigation
      • Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants
      • Product Liability Litigation – Defendants
  • Metropolitan Tier 2
    • Jackson – MS
      • Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships)
      • Elder Law
      • Employment Law – Management
      • Energy Regulatory Law
      • Labor Law – Management
      • Legal Malpractice Law – Defendants
      • Litigation – Labor & Employment
      • Medical Malpractice Law – Defendants
      • Nonprofit / Charities Law
      • Trademark Law
      • Workers’ Compensation Law – Employers
    • Tupelo (Columbus) – MS
      • Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Defendants
  • Metropolitan Tier 3
    • Jackson – MS
      • Corporate Governance Law
      • Litigation – Antitrust
      • Litigation – First Amendment
      • Litigation – Trusts & Estates

Ranked firms, presented in three tiers, are recognized on a national and regional-based scale. Firms that received a tier designation reflect the highest level of respect a firm can earn among other leading lawyers and clients from the same communities and practice areas. Awards were given in 75 national practice.

 

Benchmark Litigation Has Recognized Eight Brunini Attorneys in its 2021 Edition

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Brunini is pleased to announce the firm has been named a “highly recommended” firm in Mississippi for the 2021 Benchmark Litigation main edition and “recommended” in Mississippi in the 2020 Labor & Employment Benchmark Litigation edition. Eight attorneys were also recognized between the two editions.

Benchmark Litigation is the only attorney ranking publication in the United States to focus exclusively on litigation. The rankings are determined by a six-month research period involving extensive interviews with litigators and their clients. The annual guide identifies law firms and attorneys who display the ability to consistently handle complex, high-stakes in multiple jurisdictions, and are recommended within their respective business and legal communities for the quality of their work.

The 2021 main edition and 2020 Labor & Employment Benchmark Litigation guide includes the following Brunini attorneys:

  • Cody C. Bailey – Future Star
  • Stephen J. Carmody – Labor & Employment Star
  • Christopher R. Fontan – Labor & Employment Star
  • William “Trey” Jones, III – Labor & Employment Star and Litigation Star
  • David Kaufman – Litigation Star
  • Claire W. Ketner – Labor & Employment Star
  • Patrick McDowell – Litigation Star
  • Scott F. Singley – Labor & Employment Star

To learn more about Benchmark Litigation and Brunini, please click here.

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BRUNINI WELCOMES MAGGIE K. DUFF

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Maggie Duff has joined Brunini, Grantham, Grower & Hewes in August of 2020 as an associate in the firm’s civil litigation department. Her practice focuses primarily in commercial litigation, personal injury and mass tort liability and labor and employment.

Maggie received her Juris Doctor from the University of Mississippi School of Law in 2020. Prior to attending law school, she received her Bachelor of Arts in Communications with an emphasis in Public Relation at Mississippi State University in 2016.

In law school, Maggie served as a Senior Articles Editor of the Mississippi Sports Law Review. Maggie was also a member of the Business Law Network and Student Bar Association. Maggie has volunteered for federal and local campaigns and also served in U.S. Congressman Steven Palazzo’s office in Washington, D.C. Maggie was a member of the Stennis Program for Congressional Interns nominated by Congressman’s Palazzo’s office. Additionally, during her time in law school, Maggie was a legal intern for the Mississippi Attorney General’s Office.

Sam Kelly, Managing Partner of the Brunini firm said, “We are excited to welcome Maggie to the Firm and are confident that she will be a wonderful asset to our team.”

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