John R. Eldridge
John Eldridge has 40 years of experience in environmental litigation, transactions and regulatory practice, with an emphasis on Superfund, property contamination issues and environmental indemnities. He has argued several CERCLA appeals before the Fifth Circuit and tried cases in various courts.
John frequently represents buyers and sellers of contaminated properties and assists clients in assessing and addressing environmental risks associated with various business transactions. Enforcement defense, environmental permitting and risk based "closure" certifications of contaminated real estate are also significant aspects of his practice. He advises clients on the property and liability issues associated with oil and gas drilling. Many of John’s clients are in the energy sector.
In recognition of his work promoting French society in the U.S., and fostering business ties between the two countries, John has been named to France’s National Order of Merit in 2023.
- Represented Bank of America in connection with $700 million secured term project financing for five Exelon power plants in Texas.
- Won a five-week trial in a multiparty contamination case.
- Won summary judgment and appeal in a multiple-party nuisance/trespass action in Atlanta, Georgia involving wood treating chemicals.
- Represented a major port in stormwater permitting enforcement.
- Advised a major drilling company on offshore liability and contract issues.
- Represented lenders on the environmental issues in the refinancing of an inside-the-fence cogeneration facility in Freeport, Texas.
- Represent the metals recycling industry on air emissions issues.
- Advised an energy service company in acquisition involving contaminated properties in several states.
- Successfully argued several Fifth Circuit appeals of CERCLA liability issues, including statute of limitations.
- Advised a European client regarding major steel manufacturing acquisition.
- Represented an Asian buyer of a U.S. chemical company.
- Won a jury trial involving a shopping center in Houston contaminated with dry cleaning solvents.
- Resolved felony indictment of company for alleged Texas Water Code violations.
- Negotiated complex indemnity and cleanup agreement with the City of Houston involving a contaminated maintenance facility, allowing a multi-million dollar real estate acquisition to proceed.
- Obtained risk based closure certificate for large contaminated Houston industrial plant, allowing multi-million dollar asset sale by bankruptcy trustee.
- Represented a major herbicide manufacturer in a West Coast arbitration.
- French-American Chamber of Commerce Houston (Chair, Board of Directors)
- Rice University School of Humanities (Chair, Advisory Board)
- Rice University Alumni Association (Board Member)
- Greater Houston Partnership Environmental Advisory Committee
- United Way (Alexis de Tocqueville Society)
- Awty International School (Former Board Member)
- Alumni of St. Paul's School, Concord, N.H.
- DaCamera Music Society (Board Member)
- State Bar of Texas
- Houston Bar Association
- Recognized by Best Lawyers as a 2020 "Lawyer of the Year," Woodward/White, Inc.
- Selected as a Leading Environmental Lawyer in Texas by Chambers USA, Chambers & Partners, 2004-2023
- Named in The Best Lawyers in America, Woodward/White, Inc., for Environmental Law, 2010-2024; Litigation - Environmental, 2011-2024
- Recognized in Lawdragon 500 Leading Environmental and Energy Lawyers listing, Lawdragon Inc., 2021, 2023, 2024
- Martindale Hubbell® Law Directory with a Peer Review Rating of AV® Preeminent™
- Selected for inclusion in Texas Super Lawyers, Thomson Reuters, 2004-2006, 2011-2018
- “Ethical and Practical Considerations Regarding Alternative Fee Arrangements,” presenter, Houston Ethical Principles for Corporate Counsel, Houston, Texas, May 18, 2017.
- "Navigating Uncharted Waters? Indemnities and Releases in Offshore Drilling Contracts Post-Macondo Litigation," Co-author with Jessica Rivera, Bloomberg Law Daily Environment Report, August 29, 2012.
- "Sackett: Implications For Pre-Enforcement Review," Co-author with Megan Bibb, Law360, May 14, 2012.
- "Limitations Considerations," with Jason Huebinger, Texas Lawyer, Jan. 25, 2012.
- "Sufficient Cause to Just Say 'No'? CERCLA 106 Orders," Natural Resources & Environment, Volume 25, Number 3, Winter 2011.
Education
J.D., The University of Texas School of Law, 1980, Senior Articles Editor, Texas International Law Journal
B.A., Rice University, 1975
Admissions
District of Columbia
Texas
Court Admissions
United States Supreme Court
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit
U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas
U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas
U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas
Five Haynes and Boone, LLP lawyers are featured in the Lawdragon 500 directory of standout environmental lawyers in the United States. Lawdragon selected the 500 honorees through submissions, journalistic research, and editorial vetting from a board of the honorees’ peers. The following lawyers were included this year: Partner Ann Al-Bahish – Environmental Litigation Ann litigates environmental an [...]
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