Biography

Aaron applies his decades of experience with hazardous waste regulatory law to help clients comply with the rules, help mold the rules, and defend against allegations of noncompliance.

He holds an advanced degree in chemistry, has extensive training in economics, and is a former consultant to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. His unique, multidisciplinary background—law, science, economics, and government—informs nearly every aspect of his work and makes him a valuable bridge between attorneys, engineers, business managers, consultants, and regulators.

Aaron has focused on hazardous waste issues since the beginning of the federal regulatory program in 1980. With this historical experience, he offers clients broad-based regulatory counsel on hazardous waste matters, including compliance counseling, strategic planning, advocacy, challenging rules in the courts, applying for permits and variances, and responding to enforcement actions. His clients consist of companies and trade associations in the chemicals, electronics, recycling, petroleum, pharmaceuticals, retail, steel, and mining industries, as well as government entities and non-profit organizations.

In addition to helping clients manage hazardous wastes and recyclable materials, Aaron advises companies on U.S. and international requirements for transport of hazardous materials and dangerous goods, as well as on worldwide regulations for preventing diversion of chemical products to use in the production of chemical weapons or illegal drugs. He was recently appointed by the National Academy of Sciences as the sole attorney on a committee tasked with advising the U.S. Army on planning for eventual closure of two facilities currently being used to destroy the nation’s remaining stockpile of chemical weapons.

Aaron is the firm’s most senior LGBTQ lawyer. Throughout his career, he has seen remarkable changes—from the start when he feared that his future would be in jeopardy if people discovered anything about his personal life, to now when his orientation is not only accepted but embraced by colleagues and clients.

Education

  • Yale University  (B.S., magna cum laude, 1979)
    • Chemistry
  • California Institute of Technology  (M.S., 1983)
    • Chemistry
  • Stanford University  (J.D., 1985)

Bar Admissions

  • District of Columbia
  • Texas

Court Admissions

  • U.S. Court of Appeals - D.C. Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals - Sixth Circuit

Professional Affiliations

  • American Bar Association
  • American Chemical Society
  • National LGBT Bar Association