Environmental Attorney

Stephen Merrill Smith

New York, New York 917-***-**** *******************@*****.*** LinkedIn

Environmental Attorney

A diversely talented environmental attorney with IT acumen, public and private sector legal experience, and high-profile management consulting firm expertise. Skilled at securing public-private partnerships that lead to significant positive impacts in environmental and economic revitalization. Demonstrated national lobbying success. Extensive eDiscovery experience with a wide spectrum of platforms and legal issues. Capable of creating compelling communication strategies.

Core Competencies

Litigation eDiscovery Leadership

Policy & Legislative Development

Forming Strategic Partnerships

Antitrust & Second Request

Intellectual Property Litigation

Pharmaceutical Litigation

Renewable Energy Advocacy

Proposal & Grant Writing

Brownfields Litigation & Policy

Professional Experience

ANTITRUST, IP, PHARMACEUTICAL, TOXIC TORT. SECURITIES, FINRA, BANK INVESTIGATIONS – NYC, NY 2017–Present

Attorney on Contract to Tower Legal Solutions, KLDiscovery and Consilio

Research electronic communication, documentation, scientific reports, and other key evidence for litigation in numerous law disciplines (especially bankruptcy, contracts, pharmaceutical, intellectual property, antitrust and second request) with speed and accuracy. Use understanding of government and business operations, multiple document review software platforms, and in-person paper reviews to aid counsel in determining responsiveness, quality control, privilege exemptions, privacy redactions, and privilege logs. Train and mentor new attorneys on complex projects.

Key Achievements:

Multiple invitations from Am100 Firms to return to new projects after completing projects ahead of time, meeting optimal client satisfaction standards, and retaining clients; 4 years of privilege reviews and 2 years of privilege logs.

Led Project Team attorneys in development of an Am100 firm’s AI-enhanced document review platform.

Promoted to QC on projects; repeated requests to return to projects for 2nd level review or privilege logs.

MERRILL LEGACY GROUP (MLG) LLC – Washington, DC 2008–2017

FOUNDER AND PRESIDENT

Oversaw the planning, development, and launch of MLG, a startup consulting firm. Led drafting of MLG’s strategic business plan and secured staffing and financial support for continuing MLG operations, such as draft SBA loan, and completion of deliverables including scientific research and Web content for TechCast on robotics, artificial intelligence, and 3D printing.

Key Achievements:

Planned, established, incorporated, and obtained clients for startup consulting firm MLG.

General Counsel for client TechCast Global; performed due diligence and advised terms of client’s acquisition.

DYNCORP/COMPUTER SCIENCES CORPORATION/GENERAL DYNAMICS – Washington, DC 2000–2008

Senior Government Affairs Attorney & Business Development Professional

Spearheaded creation of a public/private, Web-based coalition for U.S. EPA to track Land Use Controls (LUCs) used at Superfund and Brownfield cleanup and redevelopment projects. Managed the launch and development of a website.

Key Achievements:

Designer and Project Manager of EPA/ICMA/CSC’s Web-based Brownfields Land Use Controls (LUC) Outreach.

Created world’s largest LUCs database in LUCs.org; devised and implemented LUCs communications strategy.

Chief Editor of majority of CSC’s Science & Engineering Group (SEG) deliverables and their quality control.

Drafted and won multi-million-dollar proposals at CSC’s SEG and CSC’s Major Thrust Proposal Center.

Additional Job History

Los Alamos and Sandia National Laboratories Environmental Restoration Program (SAIC Superfund/RCRA Attorney), SCIENCE APPLICATIONS INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION – Albuquerque and Los Alamos, NM

Originator and Principal Investigator of a project to build a Corrective Action Management Unit (CAMU) for onsite treatment and disposal of hazardous waste.

Successfully persuaded the Department of Energy, Sandia Lab management, as well as regulators at EPA HQ, EPA Region 6, and the New Mexico Environment Department to approve the CAMU and process license modifications.

Improved containment at and managed Incident Management Plan Project for the Los Alamos National Laboratory TA-54 transuranic waste storage area.

Counsel for Government Affairs, U.S. Capitol Hill lobbyist for ENSCO WASHINGTON, FOUNDER OF THE HAZARDOUS WASTE TREATMENT COUNCIL – Washington, DC

Opened a Washington lobbying office in DC’s prestigious K Street corridor and achieved all lobbying goals.

Conceived, wrote, and co-directed a Telly Award winning corporate public relations video, “Hazardous Waste Treatment; Technology for the Environment.”

Attorney/Adviser Special Assistant to Administrator, Deputy Administrator, and Assistant Administrator for Enforcement, U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (EPA) – Washington, DC

Full time speech and article writer for Administrator and Deputy-Administrator of EPA.

Advised the Assistant Administrator on national law enforcement policy and recommended non-concurrence on settlements not following that policy.

Education

Master of Laws in Environmental Law, The George Washington University Law School

Juris Doctor, Antioch School of Law (now University of the District of Columbia’s David A. Clarke School of Law)

Bachelor of Arts in Pre-Law General Studies, Auburn University

Licenses

Pennsylvania Bar (Active and in Good Standing)

New York Bar expected Spring. 2025

Technical Skills

Microsoft Office Suite • Relativity • LexisNexis • Casepoint • Recommind • Viewpoint • Ringtail • Eclipse • Kroll

Awards

Marquis Who’s Who in America 2022-2023

Biltmore’s Who’s Who Registry of Executives and Professionals 2009

“In Appreciaion for your dedication and loyal service In the Office of the Administrator and in Recognition of your ourstanding achievements and major contributions to the Environmental Protection Agency” signed by Administrator

EPA Bronze Medal for Professionalism in Promulgating Amendments to the Superfund National Contingency Plan

Certificate of Appreciation Sandia National Laboratories Environmental Restoration Project (ER) & ER Records Filter

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