Joshua Frank > Baker Botts L.L.P. > Washington DC, United States > Lawyer Profile

Baker Botts L.L.P.
700 K Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20001-5692
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
United States

Work Department

Litigation - Environmental, Safety & Incident Response

Position

Partner

Career

Joshua Frank is a seasoned litigator who handles a wide variety of complex, high stakes environmental litigation matters across the country. His practice spans all media (air, water, and waste) under state and federal environmental statutes and regulatory programs, including common law torts. He has defended clients against citizen and governmental enforcement actions under the Clean Air Act and Clean Water Act; represented clients in cost recovery, contribution and natural resource damage litigation under CERCLA; defended clients against mass tort and products liability litigation, including a substantial amount of work on class action defense; and defended clients in high-profile challenges to permits for infrastructure projects. Because his work often involves complex scientific and engineering issues, he draws upon his scientific background to give his clients a leg up in their defense of such claims.

Member of the Firm’s Environmental, Safety and Incident Response Section. Joined the Firm directly out of law school; partner since 2007.

Memberships

Member of the D.C. Bar, Montana Bar, and Illinois Bar (Inactive). DRI Toxic Torts and Environmental Law Committee.

Education

J.D., University of Michigan (1997); M. Eng. (Geological Sciences), Cornell University (1994); A.B. (Geological Sciences), Cornell University (1993).

Lawyer Rankings

United States > Dispute resolution > Product liability, mass tort and class action - defense: toxic tort

Baker Botts L.L.P. generates a substantial amount of toxic tort and nuisance litigation work from clients in the energy sector, running the gamut from occupational exposure in relation to toxins released at manufacturing plants, personal injury and property damage caused by the alleged release of toxins and product liability claims regarding chemical products. The team also excels at defending companies following large-scale environmental incidents, including in crisis response, as well as to deal with the ensuing regulatory inquiries and in any follow-on class action litigation. Drawing upon a deep understanding of the operational issues and litigation risks facing companies in the energy and manufacturing industries, Houston-based Russell Lewis excels in handling these type of multi-faceted mandates, as well as regularly advising clients in the space from a risk management perspective. As well as handling toxic tort and class action litigation arising from environmental issues, Washington DC-based Kent Mayo also often assists clients on compliance and enforcement matters relating to environmental regulations including the Clean Air Act, adding deep insight, in part due to his previous tenure as a trial lawyer in the environmental section of the DOJ. Also based in Washington DC, Joshua Frank combines his legal and scientific background to good effect on behalf of clients seeking to prevail in the defense of citizen suits and government enforcement actions in relation to environmental statutes, as well as in conventional toxic tort matters. Mayo and Frank co-head the team alongside Houston-based Tynan Buthod.