Michael Graves is Of Counsel with the firm and his expertise is Environmental Law. He has been with the firm since 1980. He has an individual AV rating through Martindale-Hubbell and has been recognized as the 2021, 2016 and 2014 Best Lawyers Tulsa Environmental Law "Lawyer of the Year," as well as the 2020 Best Lawyers Tulsa Litigation-Environmental "Lawyer of the Year." Further, Michael has been named an Oklahoma Super Lawyer in Environmental Law and Environmental Litigation, as well as a Best Lawyer in America in Environmental Law and Litigation-Environmental.
Michael provides advice to industrial and oil and gas companies concerning compliance with environmental laws and regulations. He has handled matters in 28 states and 4 foreign countries, and he is a frequent presenter at environmental law seminars. Specific experience includes:
- Coordinating environmental due diligence efforts nationwide for a major industrial client
- Obtaining the first federal district court judgment holding a transporter liable under CERCLA for selecting the disposal site for its customers
- Defending a billion dollar class action toxic tort case
- Coordinating environmental impact statements for major interstate pipeline projects
- Coordinating the endangered species and cultural resources reviews for a large wind energy project
- Designing and implementing environmental compliance audit programs for several industrial clients
- Appearing in cases before the U.S. Supreme Court and seven U.S. Courts of Appeals
Education
- Washington University School of Law (J.D., Order of the Coif, 1973)
- University of Tulsa (M.A. in International Relations, 1969)
- University of Tulsa (B.A. in History and Political Science, with honors, 1967)
Admissions
- Oklahoma, 1973
- Oklahoma Supreme Court
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern and Western Districts of Kentucky
- U.S. District Court of the Northern and Western Districts of Oklahoma
- United States Court of Appeals for the Third, Fourth, Fifth, Sixth, Ninth, Tenth and District of Columbia Circuits
- United States Supreme Court
- 1980 - Present Hall Estill
- 1978 - 1980 Private practice in Louisville, Kentucky
- 1973 - 1977 United States Department of Justice in Washington, D.C.
- Water Law
- U.S. Navy - Reserves, 1969-1974; Active Duty, 1970-1971
- Former Chair and Current Member of the Hazardous Waste Advisory Council of the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality
- Former President, University of Tulsa Alumni Association
- Former President, Leadership Tulsa
- Leadership Oklahoma, Former Board Member
- Tulsa Ballet, Former Board Member
- American Bar Association
- Oklahoma Bar Association - Member, Environmental Law Section
- Tulsa County Bar Association
- Author, "Oklahoma" Chapter of Brownfields: A Comprehensive Guide to Redeveloping Contaminated Properties, 2d. Ed. (ABA 2001)
- Author, "Oklahoma" Chapter of Environmental Law Practice Guide (1996, Matthew Bender)
- United States Department of Justice Award of Meritorious Service
- 2016 Best Lawyers Lawyer of the Year - Environmental Law Tulsa
- 2014 Best Lawyers Lawyer of the Year - Environmental Law Tulsa