Paul Seby, a partner at Moye White, co-chairs the firm's Energy, Natural Resources and Environmental Group. Paul is a leading practitioner of environmental law in the Rocky Mountain region and was recently recognized by Law Week Colorado as "Lawyer of the Year" for 2009. Paul's work focuses on achieving client goals in the areas of air and water quality, mining, wildlife and endangered species, land use, BLM and Forest Service public lands issues, wetlands, recycling and waste disposal, and underground contamination. Paul also possesses extensive experience in EIS/NEPA compliance, permitting, negotiating with both government agencies and adversary groups, litigation involving environmental issues, and expert witness selection and coordination.
In governmental policy development, Paul has represented clients in federal and state rulemaking and policy development concerning air and water quality, waste disposal and surface and ground water standards. In the permitting arena, Paul's experience extends to air permits, water discharge permits, reclamation permits, Section 404 permits and federal rights-of-way. In the judicial arena, Paul has won several notable cases before the Supreme Court of the United States, US Courts of Appeals, the Colorado Supreme Court and many other lower courts. Paul has also defended clients in federal and state enforcement proceedings and has prosecuted cases against agencies to force ( as well as overturn) administrative regulations and decisions.
Paul's in-depth understanding of government programs and how agencies work gives him a "leg up" in achieving client objectives. Paul has also assisted legislative sponsors in drafting and testifying on several amendments to Colorado and neighboring states' waste management, recycling and air and water quality laws. Paul understands that achieving successful client outcomes often requires more than a traditional "legal approach." As such, Paul also works with client teams to create strategies with legislative, political, administrative, judicial and public education components. Paul also works with members of the Firm's Business and Real Estate practice groups to address the diverse nature of environmental issues that come into play in lending transactions and during mergers and acquisitions. His decades of experience help him develop practical and workable solutions to challenges which can arise in the context of corporate transactions.
Representative cases
Adarand Constructors v. Pena Inc., 515 U.S. 200 (1995)
UARG et. al v. EPA, No. 05 - 1353 (D.C. Circuit, decided Dec. 12, 2006)
American Corn Growers v. EPA, 291 F. 3d 1 (D.C. Cir. 2002)
Center for Energy & Economic Development v. EPA, 398 F.3d 653 (D.C. Cir. 2005)
Colorado Mining Association; Twentymile Coal Company; Mountain Coal Company, LLC; Colowyo Coal Company, L.P.; Oxbow Mining Inc.; and Bowie Resources, LLC, v. Huber, WL 547638 (Colo.App.,2010)
Colorado Min. Ass’n v. Board of County Com’rs of Summit County, 199 P.3d 718, (Colo. 2009)
Sohocki v. Colorado Air Quality Control Commission, et al., (Colo. App. 1999) Case No. 98 CA 1861
Wyoming v. U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, 570 F. Supp.2d 1309 (D.Wyo. 2008)