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Stephen Berlin

Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton LLP 

Stephen R. Berlin has significant experience in several areas of environmental law, including environmental litigation, business transactions involving environmental issues and environmental compliance matters.

Since joining the firm, he has worked in most areas of environmental litigation, both in federal and state courts with an emphasis on private environmental costs recovery actions and representations of potentially responsible parties at Superfund sites and RCRA issues.

Mr. Berlin has handled matters both at the trial and appellate levels in both federal and state courts. He has handled numerous matters involving plaintiff’s claims of injury caused by contamination.

Mr. Berlin has been lead counsel for some of the largest Brownfields projects in the Southeast U.S. In recent years, he has litigated toxic tort, Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), and Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA) cases in all the district courts of North and South Carolina and successfully argued a case involving the interpretation of CERCLA to the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals.

During the course of this career, he has acted as lead environmental counsel for several multi-million dollar business transactions involving manufacturing concerns throughout the United States.

Experience:

  • The firm served as lead counsel for Lowe’s Home Centers, Inc., in an environmental litigation case regarding property and business damages due to migration of off-site contamination onto Lowe’s property.
  • The firm served as lead counsel for defendant, A.B. Carter, a supplier of spinning accessories throughout the yarn manufacturing sector of the textile industry, in an environmental litigation case brought under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) and various state claims.
  • Successfully obtained summary judgment on behalf of defendant totally dismissing them from the case.
  • Represent property developer, Wake Forest University, in a major research park’s negotiations with the North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources to obtain a Brownfields Agreement for property redevelopment. As a result of the negotiations, the property developer was permitted to redevelop the property as the Brownfields process unfolded instead of upon conclusion of the process. We continue to report annual activity for this matter on an on-going basis.
  • The firm serves as lead counsel on behalf of a paper manufacturing company in environmental complex business litigation regarding a liability dispute associated with the historic mercury contamination and the resulting remediation of the property.
  • The firm served as lead counsel on behalf of third party defendant, Achieve Bank N.A., and successfully argued the first reported case before the U.S. Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals regarding the security interest holder exemption from liability for contribution under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA).
  • Represented Kim’s Greensboro Real Estate, LLC in the redevelopment of property that was the former site of a manufacturing plant for general commercial use as an international marketplace for a variety of ethnic foods and products. The firm assisted Kim’s Greensboro Real Estate, LLC with site environmental assessment and remediation issues, and negotiation and implementation of a Brownfields Agreement with the State of North Carolina.
  • Represented the City of Winston-Salem, North Carolina in writing, obtaining, and implementing its first Brownfields Assessment Grant and its first Brownfields Revolving Loan Fund Grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
  • Represented Forsyth County and Winston-Salem, North Carolina, in various environmental matters, including the expansion of existing landfills, work issues concerning obtaining water from the Yadkin River, and various Brownfields matters.
  • Represented Stratford Metal Finishing Inc., an electroplating company, regarding Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) hazardous waste issues in negotiations and litigation with the North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency resulting in a large reduction of fines against the client company.
  • Rose Acre Farms, Inc. challenged several proposed water quality requirements contained in a draft operating permit to be issued by the North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources. After negotiations with the state agency, the client received the necessary operating permit containing suitable conditions.
  • Represented subsidiary companies of La-Z-Boy Inc. in a large group of de micromis and de minimis parties regarding hazardous waste disposal and Superfund issues at a bankrupt waste disposal site.
  • Represented Hanesbrand, Inc. as the developer in negotiations with the NC Department of Environment and Natural Resources to obtain a Brownfields Agreement for property redevelopment. This was the first time the State of North Carolina had allowed the property owner to be the developer of a Brownfields site with liability protection.
  • Represented construction company with real property acquisition, site environmental assessment and remediation issues, and negotiation and implementation of a Brownfields Agreement with the State of North Carolina. The subject property was initially the site of a textile manufacturing plant located on approximately 36 acres. The plant had been closed and the entire site was sold to our client. The property was then redeveloped for commercial/mixed retail uses including Circuit City and Costco.
  • Served as lead counsel for Krispy Kreme Doughnut Corporation in a case that arose from allegations by Fairfax County, Virginia that waste water discharge from a Krispy Kreme Doughnut Corporation doughnut manufacturing plant in Lorton, Fairfax County, Virginia damaged the County’s sewer system. Krispy Kreme responded that the county operated its sewer system despite faulty design and construction, and with knowledge that the sewage would become stagnant over time, thereby creating conditions that caused the failure of its system. This was a major Federal Clean Water Act case which was favorably settled for our client.
  • Representing Arvato Digital Services LLC, a supply chain solutions provider, regarding environmental regulatory permitting and matters associated with air emissions, hazardous waste, stormwater, waste water, and hazardous materials.

Education:

  • Wake Forest University School of Law, J.D. (1984) cum laude
  • Wake Forest University, B.A. (1981) magna cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa

Admissions:

  • North Carolina (1984)

Clerkships:

  • U.S. District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina – Chief Judge Hiram H. Ward

Cost

Rate : $$$

What types of cases Attorney Stephen Berlin & Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton LLP  can handle?
Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton LLP  can handle cases related to laws concerning Litigation, Consumer Rights & Protection, Government, Energy & Environmental. We manually verify each attorney’s practice areas before approving their profiles and reviews on our website.
Where is Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton LLP  located?
Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton LLP  is located at 1001 W 4th St, Winston-Salem, NC 27101, USA. You can reach out to Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton LLP  using their phone line 336.607.7304. You can also check their website kilpatricktownsend.com or email them at sberlin@kilpatricktownsend.com.
How much would it cost to hire Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton LLP ?
Stephen Berlin lawyer charges are specific to each case. However, they work with contingency fees and its ranges from $$ to $$$. They also provide free consultation [and no obligation quotes] if you are interested to hire.
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Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton LLP 
1001 W 4th St, Winston-Salem, NC 27101, USA
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