Les Oakes Bio

A partner in our Environmental practice, Les works with clients on negotiations, litigation, permits and compliance concerns in a variety of environmental matters, including transactions. Les advises clients in a wide range of environmental matters, including Resource Conservation and Recovery Act compliance and corrective action; Superfund cleanup matters and Brownfields limitations of liability; air and water permits; and environmental audits and transactions. Previously, Les was an environmental engineer with the Environmental Protection Division of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources. In more than 11 years with the EPD, he worked in the air, hazardous waste and water branches, conducting compliance inspections, writing permits and participating in enforcement proceedings. Les has been recognized by Chambers USA as a leading environmental lawyer in Georgia for more than 20 years. In the 2023 edition, a client says, "Leslie is someone who is very effective, as well as very practical." Les has also been recognized by Legal 500 for his environmental transactional expertise.