Michael D. Graves

Mr. Graves is a shareholder whose primary expertise is Environmental Law and Litigation. He has been with the firm since 1980. He has an individual AV rating through Martindale-Hubbell and has been recognized as an Oklahoma Super Lawyer in Environmental Law. In addition, he is the author of the following publications: “Oklahoma” Chapter of Brownfields: A Comprehensive Guide to Redeveloping Contaminated Properties, 3d. Ed. (ABA 2008); and “Oklahoma” Chapter of Environmental Law Practice Guide (1996, Matthew Bender).

He provides advice to industrial and oil and gas companies concerning how to comply with environmental laws and regulations; defends industrial and oil and gas companies when they are enforced against by state and federal regulatory agencies; assists in environmental due diligence efforts for companies buying and selling commercial real property; prosecutes and defends Superfund cost recovery actions; coordinates environmental impact statements for large construction projects; designs and implements environmental compliance audit programs; and defends toxic tort law suits.  Michael 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 proposed 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
• Speaker at the 2009 Oklahoma Water Law Conference

• Shareholder

• Alternative/Renewable Energy
• Appellate
• Business Transactions
• Construction
• Energy & Natural Resources
• Environmental Litigation
• Environmental Services
• Indian Law
• Land & Water Rights
• Litigation
• Mergers & Acquisitions
• Products Liability
• Real Estate
• Regulatory Compliance
• Transactions/Real Estate

• Washington University (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)

• Oklahoma, 1973
• Oklahoma Supreme Court
• All Districts in the State 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

• Former Chair and Current Member of the Hazardous Waste Advisory Council of the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality
• Past Presidents Council, University of Tulsa Alumni Association
• Past Presidents Council, Leadership Tulsa
• Leadership Oklahoma, Former Board Member
• Tulsa Ballet, Former Board Member 

• 1980 - Present Hall Estill
• 1978 - 1980 Private practice in Louisville, Kentucky
• 1973 - 1977 United States Department of Justice in Washington, D.C.

• 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)

Michael D. Graves

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