Tom Lee provides environmental counseling on a broad spectrum of transactions and regulatory matters.

Tom brings a commercial approach to complex environmental issues across a range of industries, including:

  • Aerospace, defense, and government services
  • Energy and infrastructure
  • Financial institutions
  • Real estate investment trusts (REITs)
  • Retail and consumer products
  • Food and agriculture
  • Chemicals

Tom represents clients in all aspects of chemical regulation, with a recent focus on state and federal regulation of PFAS, and defends clients in enforcement actions under the Clean Air Act, California Air District rules, California Air Resource Board regulations, California’s Proposition 65, California’s Green Chemistry Initiative, and the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA).

He also advises clients on the chemical regulatory aspects of complex corporate transactions, helping clients understand the current and anticipated regulatory impacts to consumer product sales and supply chains.

Tom regularly helps real estate buyers and sellers navigate environmental conditions and related liabilities, with a particular focus on brownfield acquisition and redevelopment. He guides clients through every stage of their highest-stakes transactions, from initial due diligence to contract drafting, closing, and post-closing remediation and regulatory closure, all with an eye toward balancing costs and environmental risks.

He draws on an up-to-the-minute understanding of evolving regulatory frameworks to advise clients on compliance issues, working with companies to conduct facility audits, prepare and submit permit applications, and correct non-compliant conditions.

A recognized thought leader, Tom frequently writes and speaks on a range of environmental regulatory issues.

Before joining Latham, he served as an office managing partner at another leading law firm.

Tom’s experience includes advising:

  • Consumer product companies in the cookware, travel goods, floor coverings, sports products, food and beverage, pet care, industrial electronics, and apparel industries on all aspects of their chemical regulatory compliance, including navigating the developing landscape of PFAS reporting requirements and bans*
  • The two leading US cookware trade associations on the impact of state and federal laws and regulations regarding metals and PFAS in cookware*
  • A global oil and gas company on establishing its transaction strategy to address PFAS in the sale of legacy property assets*
  • A global aerospace and defense company on the investigation, remediation, and closure of a Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Superfund site, as well as the environmental aspects of the entitlement and sale of related parcels that were removed from the Superfund site*
  • A floor covering company on all aspects of its chemical regulatory compliance, including a detailed, multi-year analysis of its supply chain, materials, and process equipment to evaluate potential impacts to wastewater; he also advised the company on compliance with a range of consumer product requirements, including California Proposition 65, TSCA Title VI and CARB Airborne Toxic Control Measure (ATCM) for composite wood products, Made in USA standard, and state and federal pesticide registration requirements*

*Matter handled prior to joining Latham

Bar Qualification

  • California
  • New York

Education

  • JD, Northwestern Pritzker School of Law, 2009
  • BA, Colgate University, 2005