B&D Welcomes Six New Lawyers in Q1

B&D continues to grow in 2024. In the first quarter, the firm added six new of counsel and associates, who will practice in our Baltimore, New York, San Francisco, Seattle, and Washington, DC, offices. Please join us in welcoming Tim Pohle, Patrick Redmond, Bilal Askari, Chris Bolte, Chad Hughes, and Megan Unger.

"These six new attorneys serve as a promising start to B&D's growth in 2024. As we continue to implement our strategic plan, we eagerly anticipate their contributions to our firm's diverse practice areas and clients in the years ahead."

— Kathy Szmuszkovicz, Firm Chair

Timothy A. Pohle (Of Counsel, Washington, DC)

Tim brings over 30 years of experience to help companies, particularly in the aviation sector, develop and implement strategies to advance sustainability goals and ensure regulatory compliance while growing their businesses. Most recently, Tim was Vice President - Environmental Affairs at Airlines for America (A4A) where he led environmental and sustainability programs on behalf of the organization's member airlines. In recent years, his work focused on working closely with governments and stakeholders to enable the aviation sector to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, particularly through rapidly growing production and availability of sustainable aviation fuel in the U.S. Tim’s experience extends to virtually all aspects of environmental law and policy including local air quality, climate change, ESG reporting, hazardous substances, water permitting, drinking water, noise, land use, project development, and chemical regulation. Tim also has deep expertise regarding the interplay of international, U.S. federal, State, and local law and regulatory powers of implementing governmental authorities.

Patrick J. Redmond (Of Counsel, Baltimore)

Patrick helps clients navigate complex project development and natural resources regulatory issues and litigation. Before joining B&D, he served as an Attorney-Advisor for the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Office of the General Counsel’s Natural Resources and Environment Division in Washington, DC, where he advised and represented USDA and the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) in numerous public lands management, real property, water rights, hydropower, and other program implementation and litigation matters. He also assisted in legislative and regulatory drafting and advised the agency on a number of emerging federal land management developments related to carbon stewardship, hydropower, wetlands mitigation, and land and water conservation. Patrick additionally served as the lead attorney for USDA and USFS in prominent national litigation and negotiations. Patrick also has extensive experience in representing various entities in legal matters related to water rights and endangered species in the Rio Grande and the Colorado River.

*Admitted only in California; not a member of the MD Bar. MD practice supervised by members of the MD Bar.

Bilal S. Askari (Associate, New York)

Bilal assists clients in navigating energy and transactional matters. Before joining B&D, he worked at a New York firm where his practice focused on project finance as well as mergers and acquisitions. His experience includes managing investments into energy storage facilities by drafting substantive financing documents and corresponding with banks and lenders' counsel to organize and structure deals from negotiation through closing. He assisted on several six- and seven-figure transaction and acquisition projects, where he led and organized a team of associates from the diligence stage through closing and advised on approach in senior strategy meetings. His pro bono practice supported the environmental organization Human Right 2 Water.

Christopher M. Bolte (Associate, Seattle)

Chris focuses his practice on West Coast environmental litigation matters. Prior to joining B&D, Chris served as a Deputy Prosecuting Attorney with the Snohomish County Prosecuting Attorney's Office, representing the State of Washington in felony and misdemeanor criminal cases. He began his environmental law career as a Legal Intern at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in Region 4, where he produced memos on public trust, hazardous waste management, and Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) liability. Chris also served as a law clerk for the United States Attorney’s Office in the District of Oregon.

Chad S. Hughes (Associate, Washington, DC)

Chad assists clients in identifying litigation and enforcement risks on environmental and land use issues. He previously served as Assistant Corporation Counsel (ACC) with the New York City Law Department's Environmental Law Division. As an ACC, Chad counseled the City on development projects, negotiated enforcement and remediation actions, and briefed and argued environmental and land use matters in court. His work with the City included matters related to CERCLA, the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the New York Environmental Rights Amendment, the public trust doctrine, Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) grants, state and local environmental review statutes, zoning, takings claims, and nuisance claims.

*Admitted only in New York; not a member of the DC Bar. Practicing in DC pursuant to D.C. App. Rule 49(c)(8). DC practice supervised by members of the DC Bar.

Megan V. Unger (Associate, San Francisco)

Megan (pronounced Meeegan) utilizes her knowledge of California environmental law and her land use and natural resources background to meet clients' regulatory and litigation needs. She has advised public and private entities on complex natural resources and project development issues, including long-term development plans, renewable energy projects, and onshore aquaculture facilities. Her work includes drafting pleadings as well as agency and client communications, and writing memoranda on various developing environmental issues, including those related to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). Megan previously worked as a land use and energy associate representing public and private entities throughout California.