Raleigh, NC – Parker Poe Adams & Bernstein LLP is pleased to announce Bill Lane has joined the firm’s Raleigh office and will advise clients on business solutions at the intersection of environmental policy, law, and science. He joins Parker Poe from the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), where he served as general counsel for eight years, including three years as deputy secretary for policy and legal affairs.
As the top environmental lawyer in North Carolina state government, Bill was the first point of contact in litigation and oversaw landmark settlements, contested cases, tort claims, and other lawsuits involving DEQ. He also supervised the rulemaking coordination process and provided advice on new policy initiatives, legislation, contracts, and conflicts of interest.
Before that, Bill spent 20 years in private practice counseling business and governmental clients on their environmental needs. He began his career as an environmental consultant and maintains his professional engineering license today. His background enables him to bridge technical and business perspectives when communicating with project teams.
Bill has extensive experience with cutting-edge environmental issues and how they impact the business strategy of manufacturers, real estate developers, energy companies, and other clients. He has deep knowledge of PFAS and other emerging compounds, air and other environmental permits, and real estate and other corporate transactions.
“I look forward to once again partnering with business leaders to find resolutions to complex environmental challenges, which I have previously accomplished in private practice,” Bill said. “I am pleased to join Parker Poe’s Environmental Team, as I have known about the firm’s leadership and commitment to client service for a long time. I am excited to help the firm and its clients continue to grow and succeed in the Southeast.”
“I have worked with and against Bill, both when he was in private practice and with DEQ,” said Steve Weber, a Parker Poe partner who has helped clients navigate the nuances of environmental law for over 31 years. “In all situations, I found him to be an exceptional, problem-solving lawyer with an even-keeled demeanor. It has long been our hope at Parker Poe that we could bring him into our firm. We look forward to adding his intellect and experience to our team.”
Bill’s title at Parker Poe will be counsel. He earned a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from the University of Notre Dame, a master’s degree in civil and environmental engineering from the University of Texas at Austin, and a law degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
About Parker Poe
Parker Poe Adams & Bernstein LLP has more than 275 lawyers in eight offices in North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Washington, DC. The firm provides legal counsel to many of the largest companies and local governments in the Southeast.
Parker Poe is a member of two leading international legal networks: TerraLex and the Employment Law Alliance. TerraLex and the ELA have chosen Parker Poe to help guide clients through the challenges of global business.