Robert E. Lannan
MEMBER
 304-347-8346
 304-344-9566
 Charleston, WV

Areas of Practice

Alternative Dispute Resolution

Credentials

  • J.D., West Virginia University, 1985
  • M.A., Applied Theology, Wheeling Jesuit University, 2002
  • B.A., History, magna cum laude, West Virginia University, 1982
  • Best Lawyers in America, 2006 – Present

Bar & Court Admissions

Professional Affiliations

  • Kanawha County Bar Association
  • Environmental Safety and Health Committee Member, West Virginia Manufacturers Association
  • West Virginia Chamber of Commerce, Environmental Committee
  • Past State Law Advisory Committee Member, the Bureau of National Affairs, Inc., Environmental Due Diligence Guide
  • Past Board of Trustees Member, The Nature Conservancy in West Virginia
  • Past Board Member, West Virginia Environmental Institute
  • Past Board Member, West Virginia Institute for Spirituality
  • Past Board Member, West Virginia Youth Symphony
  • Chair, Energy & Environment Department, Robinson & McElwee
  • Member, Robinson & McElwee, 1991-present
  • Associate, Robinson & McElwee, 1985-1990

Mr. Lannan’s practice is focused in the areas of energy and environmental law, including counseling with regard to a broad spectrum of environmental regulatory compliance issues, litigation, and legislative matters.

He has almost 40 years of experience handling environmental litigation, environmental audits, and environmental compliance issues. He has been involved with disputes related to the contamination of real property, environmental compliance, enforcement, contribution, and all aspects of environmental regulatory compliance.

Mr. Lannan has a substantial history of involvement in drafting environmental legislation and regulations and has worked with West Virginia DEP and various EPA Regions in that regard. He has also represented numerous clients in a national Superfund practice, including defense of cost recovery cases, enforcement actions, contribution actions, and administrative matters.  He works with long-standing clients in compliance-related environmental auditing work, as well as numerous transactional matters and pre- or post-acquisition environmental due diligence and auditing matters.

Mr. Lannan handles consultations and negotiations regarding environmental issues associated with commercial transactions. During such work, Mr. Lannan represents lending institutions, as well as buyers or sellers involved with purchase or sales agreements, including manufacturing, banking, mineral development, and recycling clients.

He has defended companies and individuals in environmental criminal cases related to real property contamination and water pollution issues.

Mr. Lannan represents both national and regional manufacturing and chemicals clients, as well as large and small commercial enterprises such as banks, lending institutions, real estate, land management, and recycling clients

  • Environmental criminal defense.
  • Performance of numerous environmental audits.
  • Consultations and negotiations regarding environmental issues associated with commercial transactions.
  • Defense and/or prosecution of claims associated with contamination of real property.
  • Litigation counsel for private party and governmental environmental compliance, enforcement, contribution, state common law and citizen suit claims.
  • Legislative work including drafting legislation, regulations, and lobbying on various environmental issues on behalf of manufacturers.
  • Consultations regarding all aspects of environmental regulatory compliance.
  • Environmental claims alternative dispute resolution including mediation, arbitration and allocation.
  • Preparation of comments on various United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and state environmental rules.
  • Representation of clients nationally in a Superfund practice including defense of cost recovery cases, enforcement actions and administrative matters.
  • Chair, Energy & Environment Department, Robinson & McElwee.
  • Best Lawyers in America, Environmental Law, Litigation – Environmental, 2006 – Present
  • Co-author, Alternative Dispute Resolution in the “Mineral Patch” – Alternatives to Litigating the Environmental Claim, 19 E. Min. L. Inst. ch. 7 (1998)
  • Author, The Ever-Expanding Scope of Liability Under CERCLA § 107(a)(3): Is An End in Sight?, 19 N. Ky. L. Rev. (1992)
  • Co-author, Criminal Liability for Environmental Law Violations by Coal Operators, 93 W.Va. L. Rev. 599 (1991)
  • Co-author, Hazardous Waste – The Oil and Gas Exception, 89 W.Va. L. Rev. 1089 (1987)
  • Co-author, Regulation of Oil and Natural Gas Exploration, Development and Production Wastes Under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, 8 E. Min. L. Inst. ch. 17-1 (1987)
  • Author, Immigration and Naturalization Service v. Chadha: The Legislative Veto Declared Unconstitutional, 86 W.Va. L. Rev. 461 (1983)
  • Presenter, author for numerous seminars and trade publications with regard to environmental law matters
  • Presenter, author for numerous seminars and trade publications with regard to environmental law matters
  • Board of Trustees Member, The Nature Conservancy of West Virginia
  • Former Board of Directors Member, West Virginia Institute of Spirituality