Atty. Christopher L. Bell
Chris Bell represents clients in civil and criminal enforcement and investigations, litigation, compliance counseling, emergency incident response, and legislative and regulatory advocacy (including appellate challenges to rulemakings) under all of the major environmental, health, safety and natural resource laws. His enforcement experience includes internal investigations, responding to grand jury investigations and agency information requests, and negotiating consent, probation, and debarment agreements.
Profile Summary
About Christopher L. Bell at a glance
Christopher L. Bell is a Shareholder based in Washington, District of Columbia, practicing at Greenberg Traurig Llp. They have 41+ years of legal experience, licensed to practice since 1985. Their practice focuses on personal injury, employment, business, litigation, and environmental. Admitted to practice in Michigan (1985), District of Columbia (1988), Texas U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit (2008), and Pennsylvania (2020). Educated at Michigan State University (B.A., 1981) and University of Michigan Law School J.D. magna cum laude University of Michigan Law School J.D. 1985 Order of the Coif (—). Recognitions include AV Preeminent. Active member of Professional & Community Involvement •Member, Society of Manufacturing Engineers. Serands clients in Washington, DC and the surrounding metropolitan area.
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About
- Chris Bell represents clients in civil and criminal enforcement and investigations, litigation, compliance counseling, emergency incident response, and legislative and regulatory advocacy (including appellate challenges to rulemakings) under all of the major environmental, health, safety and natural resource laws
- His enforcement experience includes internal investigations, responding to grand jury investigations and agency information requests, and negotiating consent, probation, and debarment agreements
- He recently completed a 5-year stint as the EPA Independent Monitor overseeing Duke Energy's compliance with complex debarment and probation agreements arising from the resolution of a criminal enforcement case brought under the Clean Water Act
- Chris assists buyers, sellers, investors and financial institutions on the environmental aspects of transactions, including conducting due diligence, negotiating the environmental provisions of transactional documents, and identifying and executing insurance-based risk management opportunities
- His transactional experience has included upstream, midstream and downstream energy projects, alternative energy projects, and transactions in the manufacturing, logistics, consumer products and chemicals sectors
- He helps clients evaluate and implement compliance and ethics programs (e.g., under the Sentencing Guidelines), and environmental, health and safety management systems (including based on ISO 14001)
- Chris advises clients on sustainable development, climate change, product and chemical stewardship and regulation, and value chain management
- He recently served on an independent committee advising the senior management of a Fortune 50 company on its global sustainability strategy and reporting
- He is also experienced with international matters, including compliance with product and chemical regulations in the EU and Asia, and the international transportation of raw materials and waste
- For over twenty years he has represented industry in the development of international standards, including ISO standards on EMS (ISO 14001), auditing, life cycle assessment, sustainable development, nanotechnology, and anti-bribery management systems (ISO 37001)
- Chris spent a year seconded to a major multinational corporation as in-house counsel, and has worked with clients in many sectors, including power generation and distribution, natural gas, alternative energy, transportation, chemicals, oil exploration and production, life sciences, natural resources, defense, electronics, communications, real estate, consumer products, retail sales, and general manufacturing
- Judicial Clerkships •Hon
- Philip Pratt, U.S
- District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan Recognition & Leadership Awards & Accolades •Recipient, American Society for Quality (ASQ), 'Richard Freund-Donald Marquart Medal,' 2021 •Listed, The Best Lawyers in America •Litigation - Environmental, 2022-2026 •Environmental Law, 2023-2026 •Natural Resources Law, 2023 •Listed, Chambers USA Guide, 2007-2025 •Listed, The Legal 500 United States, 2019-2025 •'Environment - Regulatory,' 2019-2025 •'Environment: Transactional,' 2024-2025 •'Dispute Resolution Product Liability, Mass Tort and Class Action - Defense - Toxic Tort,' 2024-2025 •'Environment - Litigation,' 2019-2024 •Listed, Super Lawyers magazine, Texas Super Lawyers, 2017-2022 •Team Member, a Law360 “Environmental Practice Group of the Year,” 2022 •Listed, Acritas Stars Independently Rated Lawyers, “Star Lawyers,” 2018,-2021 •Listed, Euromoney's Expert Guide to the World’s Leading Experts in Environmental Law, 2017-2021 •Listed, National Law Journal, 'Energy and Environmental Trailblazer,' 2017 •Team Member, U.S
- News - Best Lawyers , Best Law Firms Edition, 'Law Firm of the Year,' Environmental Law, 2016 •American National Standards Institute Meritorious Service Award, 2015
Practice Areas Explained
Christopher L. Bell's Areas of Practice
Each practice area below reflects the types of cases Christopher L. Bell handles, with a brief overview of what that area of law covers.
Personal injury attorneys help accident victims recover compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and pain & suffering. Most work on contingency — no fee unless you win.
Christopher L. Bell is one of 264,852 personal injury attorneys indexed nationally. Browse personal injury attorneys in District of Columbia →
Employment lawyers represent workers in wrongful termination, discrimination, harassment, wage & hour disputes, and severance negotiations.
Christopher L. Bell is one of 169,120 employment attorneys indexed nationally. Browse employment attorneys in District of Columbia →
Business attorneys advise founders and growing companies on entity formation, contracts, financing, M&A, and dispute resolution.
Christopher L. Bell is one of 501,317 business attorneys indexed nationally. Browse business attorneys in District of Columbia →
Civil litigation attorneys for breach of contract, business disputes, civil rights, and class action lawsuits.
Christopher L. Bell is one of 454,532 litigation attorneys indexed nationally. Browse litigation attorneys in District of Columbia →
Environmental attorneys for regulatory compliance, contamination, land use, and natural resource law.
Christopher L. Bell is one of 56,434 environmental attorneys indexed nationally. Browse environmental attorneys in District of Columbia →
Jurisdictional Context
Why local counsel matters in District of Columbia
Practicing law in District of Columbia. Legal matters in District of Columbia are governed by state-specific rules of civil and criminal procedure, statutes of limitations, and substantive law. Cases originating in Washington are typically filed in the local municipal court or the appropriate District of Columbia state district court, depending on subject matter and amount in controversy. An attorney licensed in District of Columbia brings working knowledge of local procedural deadlines, judicial practices in this andnue, and the substantive law that applies to cases brought here. Out-of-state attorneys generally cannot represent clients in District of Columbia courts without local counsel or pro hac vice admission.
Looking for additional District of Columbia attorneys? Browse all attorneys in Washington or all attorneys in District of Columbia.
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