GREENVILLE, SC (August 15, 2022) – Wyche attorney Rita Bolt Barker has been elected as a Fellow of the American College of Environmental Lawyers. The American College of Environmental Lawyers elects fellows based on their recognition as the top environmental attorneys in the country. Fellows are regarded as distinguished environmental lawyers dedicated to maintaining and improving the ethical practice of environmental law, the administration of justice, and the development of environmental law through rigorous focus, outreach and education in all forums – federal, state, municipal, tribal and international. Membership is by invitation and members are recognized by their peers as preeminent in their field.
The ACOEL’s President, Michael D. Hockley of Spencer Fane LLP, announced the new members with the following statement: “Our new Fellows are among the very best practitioners of environmental law in the country. Collectively, they represent a tremendous depth, breadth, and diversity of experience. We are pleased to welcome them to the College on the basis of their career achievements and thought leadership.”
Barker has broad experience helping clients navigate the wide range of laws that protect our natural resources. She delivers results for clients who need assistance in investigating and responding to permitting challenges, as well as in responding to requests for information and enforcement actions before administrative agencies, including the United States Environmental Protection Agency and the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control.
Barker also advises clients on assessing environmental risks and incentives associated with corporate transactions, including mergers, acquisitions, and real estate deals. She has advised clients on matters arising under the Comprehensive Environmental Response Compensation and Liability Act, the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, the Endangered Species Act, the Administrative Procedure Act, the Clean Water Act, the Clean Air Act, and the SC Pollution Control Act.
Barker is a graduate of Harvard Law School and Clemson University. She is recognized as a top environmental attorney by the legal industry’s leading attorney ranking publications, including Chambers USA, Best Lawyers®, and South Carolina Super Lawyers.
