As a former Associate Regional Counsel for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 4’s Office of Regional Counsel, Stephen brings over a decade of government experience to Beveridge & Diamond. He provides comprehensive regulatory support, offering a deep understanding of how federal and state governments approach enforcement actions, permitting, compliance, environmental cleanup, and spill response. This includes extensive experience navigating National Priorities List (NPL) and related sites across the country under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA or Superfund) and comparable state cleanup authorities, as well as defending EPA and state enforcement and compliance actions pursuant to nearly every environmental statute, such as the Clean Water Act (CWA), the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), the Clean Air Act (CAA), the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA), and relevant state laws. He develops effective liability and defense strategies with his clients, facilitates in-depth technical assessments and coordination between consultants, experts, and regulators, responds to emergency releases and oil spills from facilities and related reporting, and provides strategic counsel on environmental due diligence transactions and related risk management.

Stephen’s experience spans nearly every type of Superfund site and major enforcement program, including serving as lead counsel for EPA related to hundreds of enforcement, compliance, and cleanup actions. He previously played a key role in EPA national and regional initiatives supporting brownfields redevelopment, renewable energy development, and community engagement. He now leverages these experiences to effectively navigate nearly all environmental liability and compliance risks facing his clients.

Stephen is deeply committed to his Atlanta community. He is a graduate of Leadership Atlanta, Leadership DeKalb, LEAD Atlanta, and the Atlanta Federal Executive Board’s Leadership Government. He currently serves on the Board of Trustees for the Georgia State University School of Public Health and the Decide DeKalb Economic Development Authority, where he serves as Treasurer. He also previously served on the boards of Morris Brown College, one of six Historically Black Colleges and Universities in Atlanta; Trinity Community Ministries, a transitional housing and rehabilitation facility supporting the recovery and successful transition of Atlanta’s homeless and veteran community; and the Avondale Elementary School Education Foundation, which seeks to enhance educational opportunities for underserved students at a Title I school in DeKalb County.

As a result of his work, Stephen has been recognized by several organizations for his legal and leadership capabilities, including EPA, the Atlanta Business Chronicle, Georgia Trend Magazine, and his alma mater, Auburn University.

Resident in Atlanta, Georgia. Affiliated with the firm’s Washington, DC office.