Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner

Energy, Environment and Infrastructure

Partner - Corporate and Finance Transactions

Thor Ketzback concentrates his nationwide practice in all areas of environmental and health and safety law, with a specific focus on Clean Air Act (CAA) counseling, permitting and litigation. Utilizing his environmental background in private practice and government service, he has served as environmental counsel for a wide array of clients including those within the energy, manufacturing, chemical and agricultural production sectors.

Mr. Ketzback’s CAA practice routinely involves counseling, permitting and litigation matters relating to the New Source Review (NSR), New Source Performance Standards (NSPS), National Emissions Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAPs or MACT) and other complex CAA programs. He also advises clients on new and emerging CAA and environmental programs relating to Climate Change, sustainability and market-based regulatory mechanisms.

Mr. Ketzback also represents a diverse spectrum of alternative and renewable energy clients, including projects in the following sectors: co-generation and biomass, independent power producers, waste to energy, coal to liquid, ethanol, biodiesel, district heating and cooling, and wind. His work in this arena involves all aspects of environmental and general legal counseling, including performing due diligence, securing permits, interfacing with potential investors, the general public, and political stakeholders, coordinating public communications strategies, and developing regulatory compliance strategies.

Prior to entering private practice, Mr. Ketzback was an Associate Regional Counsel with the EPA where he advised the Regional Administrator on various issues related to multi-media federal environmental law enforcement, compliance and permit issuance. As an attorney for the EPA, he worked extensively on the coal-fired power plant initiative which involved complex litigation surrounding the applicability of NSR and NSPS to the electric utility industry. Additionally, he conducted enforcement actions involving all environmental media and developed policies and strategies relating to CAA and brownfield programs.