Leslie Sue Ritts

Leslie Ritts' practice includes representation of clients before the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, other federal, state, and local natural resource agencies, and before the federal and state courts. Since the early 1980s, she has been involved in many significant environmental rulemakings, most prominently affecting Clean Air Act permitting approvals and control requirements for new and existing industrial sources. This regulatory background especially qualifies Leslie to advise clients on pro-active strategies for obtaining environmental permits and complying with environmental regulations. In addition, her prominent role in advising clients on development and compliance with Clean Air Act regulations has led to her defense of several multinational companies in Clean Air Act NSR and multi-media enforcement actions. Leslie also represents several national associations challenging U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) final regulations in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia. Leslie also has represented private and governmental entities on a wide variety of other environmental and transactional issues, including Superfund clean-ups and Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA)-natural resource claims, as well as compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act, Clean Water Act Section 404 program, the Endangered Species Act, and Coastal Barrier Resources Act. She also has represented clients involved in personal injury suits and class actions arising from alleged exposures to hazardous substances. A registered lobbyist, Leslie has been heavily involved in legislative activities in U.S. Congress affecting core environmental laws over the last two decades. In addition to several national manufacturing trade associations she advises, she served as Chairman of the Air & Waste Management Association's (AWMA) Government Affairs Committee from 1993-1996 advising AWMA on public policy issues affecting the 17,000 member professional association. Leslie is the author or co-author of many articles on environmental topics. She also speaks regularly at national legal and environmental professional conferences on environmental law issues.

• Attorney

• Virginia, 1980
• District of Columbia, 1985

• The District of Columbia Bar (Member)
• Virginia State Bar (Member)
• American Bar Association (Member)
• Air & Waste Management Association (Member)