EMAIL:
PHONE: 404-333-0751
Office Address:
1200 Peachtree Street, N.E
Suite 600
Atlanta, GA 30309
Emory University School of Law
(J.D., with honors, 2013)
Emory University Rollins School of Public Health
(M.P.H., 2013)
University of Virginia
(B.A., with distinction, 2007)
Georgia
U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia
Best Lawyers® Ones to Watch – Environmental Litigation – Atlanta (2022–Present)
Best Lawyers® Ones to Watch – Environmental Law – Atlanta (2021–Present)
Board member, Atlanta Bar Environmental Law & Toxic Tort Section
Order of the Coif, Order of Emory Advocates, Dean’s Award in Environmental Advocacy
With her broad experience in regulatory, transactional, policy, and litigation matters, Helen helps clients effectively manage their environmental risks while achieving their business objectives. She serves retail, industrial, and corporate clients as well as governmental entities, and provides counsel on environmental compliance and enforcement defense in areas that include waste disposal, water issues, pesticide regulation, and contaminated property.
Helen offers strategic advice on key environmental laws, such as the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, the Clean Water Act, CERCLA/Superfund laws, and extended producer responsibility regulations. Her achievements include negotiating reduced penalties in hazardous waste and consumer protection matters, obtaining dismissals in state-wide investigations, and developing innovative settlements with charitable contribution components. She is adept at navigating complex regulatory and permitting issues relating to wastewater discharge, stormwater, groundwater, stream buffers, wetlands, and other issues arising under the Clean Water Act. Her practice also encompasses environmental due diligence for lenders, purchasers, and property owners, guiding them through remediation and other voluntary cleanup programs. Helen regularly represents clients before regulatory agencies at the federal, state, and local levels, and also guides clients through defense of citizen suit actions.
Helen graduated with honors from the Emory University School of Law, where she was selected to the Order of the Coif and the Order of Emory Advocates and received the Dean’s Award in Environmental Advocacy. She also received a Masters in Public Health from Emory University Rollins School of Public Health and a B.A. from the University of Virginia, where she graduated with distinction.
Best Lawyers® Ones to Watch – Environmental Litigation – Atlanta (2022–Present)
Best Lawyers® Ones to Watch – Environmental Law – Atlanta (2021–Present)
Order of the Coif, Order of Emory Advocates, Dean’s Award in Environmental Advocacy
Board member, Atlanta Bar Environmental Law & Toxic Tort Section
"PFAS Regulatory Update," Georgia Association of Manufacturers Environmental Quality Council, March 2025.
Speaker, "Retail Waste Regulatory Reform," California Retailers Association meeting, September 2024.
Speaker, "Regulatory Agencies in Civil Litigation: Deference, Discovery and Evidence," Toxic and Mass Torts Litigation, ICLE seminar, October 2020.
Speaker, "Environmental Regulatory Hitches and Liabilities," NBI Seminar (Top Challenges in Subdivision, Annexation and Zoning), March 2019.
Co-Author, "Consulting, Testifying, and Dual-Hat Experts in Environmental Litigation," DRI, January 2018.
Speaker, "Update on Coastal Issues and Legislative Activity," Coastal Issues and Shoreline Regulations in Georgia Seminar, November 2017.
Speaker, "FDA Regulation of Medical Antibiotics in Livestock," American Public Health Association, October 2013.
Negotiated hazardous waste Consent Order with California regulators on behalf of major retailer for reduced settlement penalties.
Obtained successful dismissal by District Attorneys in state-wide investigation of retail grocery chain’s hazardous waste management.
Assisted retail clients in ongoing hazardous waste compliance obligations.
Negotiated expired consumer product settlement related to over-the-counter pharmaceuticals and baby formula in California, with novel term allowing significant charitable contribution instead of higher settlement penalties.
Negotiated Consent Judgment with California regulators regarding state-wide underground storage tank investigation.
Represented chemical manufacturing facility against EPA enforcement action under Clean Air Act Risk Management Program.
Negotiated consent decree in a stormwater compliance citizen suit in California and assisted client with ongoing compliance.
Represented clients in voluntary cleanup matters to achieve regulatory closure from state agencies, including the Georgia Environmental Protection Division.
Performed environmental due diligence on variety of commercial property acquisitions in Arizona, Connecticut, California, Georgia, Maine, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Virginia, and Wisconsin, among other states.
Assisted food processing facility with industrial pretreatment permitting application and compliance.
Represented multiple clients in cost allocation disputes with other potentially responsible parties in federal CERCLA contribution matters and state counterparts.
Represented clients before state agencies regarding underground storage tank programs and hazardous substance release reporting.