Margaret Hill has been practicing environmental law for more than 30 years. She is a member of Blank Rome’s Energy and Environmental Practice Group, which in 2017 was recognized as “Law Firm of the Year” by the Northeast Oil & Gas Awards and also as a “Pennsylvania Powerhouse” by Law360 with respect to representation of the energy industry.
Peg has a multi-faceted background and experience working in-house for a large energy company (Gulf Oil Corporation), as a trial attorney for the U.S. Department of Justice’s Environmental and Natural Resources Division, as a lobbyist before the U.S. Congress, and in private practice counseling clients with respect to state and federal environmental laws in litigation, compliance, and transactional matters.
Peg's primary focus has been in the chemical, pharmaceutical, and energy industries. Her experience includes:
- Federal appellate court arguments
- Complex environmental enforcement defense actions
- Corporate internal investigations related to environmental law violations
- Defense in cleanup and remedial actions
- Managing environmental due diligence and negotiations in transactions
- Environmental counseling for a multitude of companies and institutions on day-to-day business matters
Peg assists clients with navigating the complexities of their business in the following areas:
- Manage and conduct environmental compliance audits and assessments assist in permit applications and appeals
- Resolution of EPA and state civil and criminal enforcement actions involving requests for injunctive relief and penalties under the major Federal and State environmental statutes including CERCLA, RCRA, the Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act, NEPA, and TSCA and state law equivalents
- Defense of and legal management of Federal Superfund and state cleanup sites with EPA, state agencies and private parties
- Conduct corporate internal investigations to identify and abate potential violations of environmental laws and negotiate with Federal and State agencies as to favorable resolutions
- Representation of pharmaceutical and chemical manufacturers, as well as private equity investors, hedge funds, and lenders in transactions involving chemical companies, mining operations, manufacturing facilities, shipyards, etc., in which environmental risks and liabilities are critical to the structure of the transaction and investment analysis, as well as stockholder approvals
- Redevelopment of brownfields and negotiation with local, state and federal agencies as may be required regarding land use issues involving activity restrictions and controls, and the ownership and use of riparian rights approvals and no further action letters
Peg has authored numerous articles in the area of energy and environmental law and has given several presentations to clients and peers involving energy and environmental laws and issues. She leads and coordinates the firm's Annual Energy Industry Update event in Pittsburgh.
Peg has received the highest possible rating from Martindale-Hubbell.
