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Gordon R. Alphonso
Partner 
The Proscenium
galphonso@mcguirewoods.com1170 Peachtree Street N.E., Suite 2100 Atlanta, Georgia 30309-7649 F: 404.443.5783    |
Mr. Alphonso provides environmental representation, counseling and litigation services to corporations on legislative, regulatory and judicial matters under state and federal environmental laws, with an emphasis on air, solid and hazardous waste issues. His practice covers day-to-day compliance matters, permitting, enforcement defense, and assessment of potential environmental liabilities in connection with corporate transactions.
Mr. Alphonso focuses on the coordination of regulatory actions driven by government agencies arising from hazardous substances or petroleum contamination. He routinely provides strategic advice to property owners on issues arising from hazardous substance or petroleum contamination of their property, including indoor air quality affected by vapor intrusion from the existing contamination.
- McGuireWoods LLP
- Conduct multimedia environmental risk assessments for clients to identify compliance issues and assist in preparing remedies and implementing them. Design assessments to establish compliance baseline for each operation site, define timeline to correct open issues, determine if notification to federal or state agencies was required, and if not, whether voluntary disclosure would be beneficial to client. Work covers hazardous waste issues and petroleum contamination that could originate at each facility, proper use of ozone depleting substances including proper maintenance of refrigeration units and record keeping, and whether products contain banned ozone depleting substances; fuel management at co-located gas stations or in connection with self-use product storage; air issues created by emergency generators and idling truck fleets; storm water runoff issues; and waste water discharges to POTWs.
- Serving as co-lead counsel for major utility company in defending Clean Air Act enforcement action, and challenging proposed mercury rules.
- Assisted major retail client in drafting proposed change to hazardous waste regulations that would provide relief from requirements that are more appropriate for traditional manufacturing operations.
- Assisted pulp and paper company in avoiding Clean Air Act enforcement action in Wisconsin.
- Assist major commercial real estate companies obtain Brownfields limited liability protection at contaminated sites.
- Assist major commercial real estate companies obtain Brownfields limited liability protection at sites contaminated with hazardous substances and petroleum.
- Advise manufacturing and transportation clients in voluntary cleanups and Brownfield transactions.
- Troutman Sanders LLP
- Served as lead counsel for several companies targeted by EPA'S National Clean Air Act enforcement initiative, including actions against utility, pulp and paper, and wood products companies. Also assist clients in their Title V permitting and appeals.
- Served as lead environmental counsel on due diligence teams for several large acquisitions in the utility and pulp and paper industries, including the former PEPCO assets in and around Washington D.C., the Orange and Rockland assets in New York, the Jamaica Public Service Company, and Ameren's acquisition of Illinois Power Corporation.
- Represented a major agriculture equipment manufacturer regarding a contaminated site in the state of Kansas.
- Provided counsel to a Midwest utility company regarding its Clean Air Act compliance status.
- Georgia-Pacific Corporation, Chief Counsel, Communication Paper & Tissue, 1997-1999
- Division Counsel responsible for the legal affairs of largest business division of multinational forest products corporation. The duties included working directly with the executive and senior vice-presidents of the division on significant business analyses and decisions, providing day-to-day legal advice and counseling to the sales, manufacturing, and corporate staff on purchase and sales agreements, environmental and other state and federal regulatory compliance, employment matters, acquisition and divestiture matters, and general antitrust and pricing issues.
- Georgia-Pacific Corporation, Senior Counsel, Environmental; Chief Counsel, Environmental, 1990-1997
- Advised, and counseled corporate officers, plant management and employees, and corporate environmental engineers on compliance with the laws and regulations under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), the Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act, and the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA). Responsibilities included handling compliance, enforcement and permitting matters with federal, state and local environmental agencies throughout the United States, and conducting environmental due diligence in connection with acquisitions and divestitures, and managing of litigation. Served on the team that created Georgia-Pacific's extensive internal environmental audit program and Title V permit application program. Was part of the team that worked on the creation of the Timber Company and the transfer of all timberlands to the Timber Company, which was then spun off to Plum Creek.
- Significant Project
- Served as the lead in-house lawyer responsible for the defense of Georgia-Pacific in the United States Environmental Protection Agency's Clean Air Act enforcement initiative directed at 42 of the company's building products facilities. Responsibilities for this matter included working with and managing lawyers from three law firms, in house environmental engineers and outside technical consultants. The magnitude of the matter also required frequent meetings with upper level managers at Georgia-Pacific as well as the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Justice.
- State of Georgia, Office of the Attorney General, 1984-1990
- Advised and counseled state officials and employees on environmental matters involving hazardous waste management, air, and water quality control, with primary client being the Georgia Department of Natural Resources and the Georgia Environmental Protection Division. Served as lead counsel in the trial of civil cases in federal and state trial and appellate courts. Served as the Department's lead counsel in administrative hearings involving environmental appeals and enforcement matters.
- Also advised, counseled, and represented state officials and employees on matters involving employment discrimination, civil rights, and wage and hour disputes under the Fair Labor Standards Act.
- Co-chair, Energy and Environmental Department
- Former Chair, Land Use and Environmental Department
- Named One of the "Best Lawyers in America," Woodward/White, Inc., 2008-2011
- Named One of America's "Leading Lawyers," Chambers USA, 2008-2010
- Named a Georgia "Super Lawyer," Environmental Law Excellence, Law & Politics, 2004-2005, 2007-2010
- AV Rated, Martindale-Hubbell
- Troutman Sanders LLP
- Partner, 2001-2005
- Of Counsel, 1999-2000
- Chief Counsel, Georgia-Pacific Corporation, 1990-1999
- Assistant Attorney General, 1984-1990
- Of Counsel, Steele and Mabry, 1983-1984
- Industrial Engineer, Bibb Manufacturing Company, 1977-1980
- American Bar Association
- American Corporate Counsel Association
- Environmental Law Committee
- National Bar Association
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EDUCATION Mercer University School of Law, Macon, Georgia, J.D., 1983 Clemson University, Clemson, South Carolina, B.S., cum laude, 1977 ADMITTED Georgia U.S. Supreme Court U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Georgia U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Georgia |