Haynes Boone welcomed partner Clarissa Howley Mills to the firm’s Dallas office and environmental practice group. Mills joins from the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), where she spent the last nine years protecting the government’s interests in high-profile cases, most recently as deputy regional counsel EPA region 6. Her tenure at the EPA included leading enforcement efforts in environmental regulations across various sectors, from chemical safety and hazardous waste management to complex Superfund and Clean Water Act cases.
Mills, who grew up on a farm in northern Kansas, brings a unique background to the firm’s environmental practice with experience across a wide range of environmental laws, from the Clean Air Act and Clean Water Act to RCRA, Superfund and NEPA. She counsels clients on compliance with national and state environmental laws, as well as the policies surrounding them. Mills provides experienced counsel on how regulations have developed over time and where they might be heading in the future.
From her time at the EPA, Mills has extensive experience representing the U.S. government in environmental matters across a wide array of industries, bringing new perspective to the group at Haynes Boone and strengthening the firm’s commitment to counseling clients across diverse sectors. Her experience spans business both large and small, from some of the nation’s largest petrochemical plants, paper mills and mining operations to cattle operators, agricultural operations and industrial painters.
“The opportunity to join a problem-solving firm with a stellar reputation both in Texas and nationally within the environmental community was one that I could not pass up,” Mills said. “Having grown up on a farm before serving our government for nearly a decade, I am excited to bring my diverse background to the firm and provide valuable insights from my time at the EPA to our clients as we navigate a rapidly changing regulatory landscape.”
Among several significant representative wins across various environmental laws, Mills has played a key role in major environmental enforcement actions, including Clean Air Act matters involving industrial accidents and air pollution. Her work has contributed to settlements totaling tens of millions of dollars in penalties and requiring extensive environmental compliance measures. Mills also contributed to broader enforcement efforts targeting chemical accident risk reduction.
“Clarissa brings a wealth of experience from the EPA, where she was at the forefront of complex environmental cases,” Mary Mendoza, chair of the environmental practice group, said. “Her deep understanding of environmental law, particularly in the areas of air regulation and chemical safety and compliance, makes her a valuable addition to our team. We are confident that her unique insights and expertise will enhance our ability to provide innovative solutions to our clients.”
Mills becomes the 21st lawyer to join the firm since the turn of the new year, notably following the additions of eight attorneys in London and eight attorneys in New York.
