Joe advocates for clients on key energy and environmental issues before Congress, the White House and federal agencies. Joe serves as head of the federal government relations team. His decades of experience provides him the knowledge and tactical experience necessary to lead an innovative and strategic practice focused on the policy issues related to global climate change, energy production, fuel regulation, renewable energy policy, the Clean Air Act and other environmental laws.

Clients appreciate Joe’s attention to their business platform, and implicitly trust that his business-oriented approach to policy will lead to satisfactory solutions. He provides strategic advice as a component of corporate board or C-level executive planning for multiyear capital expenditure or business unit operations. He also participates in the design of corporate environmental and sustainability mission statements.

Known for his “character and commitment,” according to clients who spoke to Chambers USA, 2016, Joe can adroitly navigate both ends of Pennsylvania Avenue, creating strategic, holistic approaches for resolving significant policy issues. He has built broad coalitions to advocate on behalf of client interests and continues to distinguish himself as one of “top lobbyists” in three sectors as identified by The Hill in 2008.

Prior to joining the firm, Joe served as counsel to the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the US House of Representatives from 1997 to 2003. As counsel, Joe advised the chairman and Committee Members on environmental and energy legislation, climate change and homeland security issues; and conducted numerous oversight and legislative hearings. He also served as a member of US delegations to various international environmental treaty negotiations.

Earlier in his career, Joe was an analyst for the Massachusetts House Rules and Natural Resources Committees and an associate at two distinguished law firms, where he focused on environmental compliance work for corporate clients.

Bar Admissions

Education
JD, Boston University School of Law, 1989

BA, Economics, Boston University, 1984

• Represent industry clients on proposed EPA regulations impacting electric generation and motor vehicle fuel production.
• Represent major gas and oil production companies regarding hydraulic fracturing issues.
• Represent industry clients on proposed climate change legislation and EPA regulatory programs impacting greenhouse gas emissions.
• Provide strategic planning advice to companies on climate change and other future environmental regulatory programs and legislation, including CEO briefings.
• Represent major U.S. refiners on federal renewable fuels program and related federal tax issues.
• Represent industry clients and trade associations on issues arising from EPA's regulatory proposals on National Ambient Air Quality Standards, mercury emissions, and regional transport emission reductions and other Clean Air Act issues.
• Represent major chemical industry trade association and individual companies on chemical plant security legislation, and implementation by the Department of Homeland Security.
• Represent chemical manufacturer on Montreal Protocol implementation issues and ongoing treaty negotiations.
• Lead U.S. House staffer on several Clean Air Act amendments and other environmental legislation.
• Lead U.S. House staffer on the 1999 Chemical Safety Information Act, which placed certain reasonable, national security-based limitations on the distribution of sensitive "worse-case scenario" data for chemical facilities.
• Primary U.S. House conference negotiator for TEA-21 provisions establishing more flexible implementation of EPA's ozone and particulate matter emission standards.
• Member of U.S. delegation to global climate change treaty negotiations.
• Member of U.S. negotiating team for U.S./Canadian transboundary ozone agreement on power plant emissions.
• Lead Counsel in planning and conducting numerous U.S. House Commerce Committee legislative and oversight hearings on environmental and administrative law issues.

• Member, District of Columbia Bar Association
• Member, American Bar Association
• Member, US Chamber of Commerce Energy, Clean Air and Natural Resources Committee

• Named among Energy & Environmental Trailblazers, National Law Journal, 2017
• Recognized as a Leader in Environmental Law, District of Columbia, Chambers USA, 2014-2017
• Named among Best in the Business Hired Guns, The Hill, April 24, 2008
• Named a Top Lobbyist in three sectors: Clean Air/Global Warming, Chemical, and Refining, The Hill, 2008

• Comprehensive Regime, Ambitious Goals, in Waxman-Markey, Executive Counsel
• Climate Change Legislation Proceeding Slowly, Executive Counsel
• President Biden’s Second Veto Is On Congress’ Disapproval Of EPA’s Revised Definition Of WOTUS, The National Law Review