Wade M. Stephens is a member of the Environmental Law Practice group and specializes in complex environmental litigation matters, regulatory enforcement actions, and regulatory compliance. Mr. Stephens concentrates his practice in pursuing and defending complex environmental litigation matters with focus on The Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA) contribution and cost recovery claims, corporate successor liability, natural resource damages, and contamination of various environmental media. Mr. Stephens further counsels on matters related to The Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), Clean Water Act (CWA), National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), and other related state environmental laws.
In addition to litigation activities, Mr. Stephens also has experience navigating companies through government-mandated environmental investigations, evaluating the pre-litigation scope of potential environmental liabilities, conducting environmental due diligence for real estate transactions, and advising on regulatory compliance and environmental permitting matters.
Mr. Stephens is the Co-Author of the TSCA Compliance Guide. As part of this role, Mr. Stephens monitors all EPA actions regarding TSCA, analyzes new and proposed regulatory actions, and disseminates information to subscribers through published quarterly updates. More information about the TSCA Compliance Guide can be found here.
Extended profile
While in law school, Mr. Stephens was an in-house summer associate for a regional telecommunications company and a clerk for Pennsylvania administrative law judges. Actively involved in student life, Mr. Stephens was an Associate Editor on the Journal of Law and Commerce, Co-President of the International Law Society, and represented Pitt Law in the 2019 National Energy & Sustainability Moot Court Competition. Mr. Stephens was also a member of Pitt Law’s Environmental Law Clinic, working with his clinic client on matters involving federal land use regulations.
Prior to law school, Mr. Stephens spent several years working in the international education consulting industry. He most recently served as the Director of Admission for mid-sized firm out of Boston, Massachusetts, working directly with both individual and organizational clients.
Awards/Affiliations
- American Bar Association
- Pennsylvania Bar Association
- Allegheny County Bar Association
- CALI Excellence for the Future Award in International Business Transactions
- 2017 Nordenberg Fellow
