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R. Timothy Weston

Tim Weston has a practice focused on environmental counseling and litigation, energy development, natural resources management, and related administrative and legislative issues. He is a member of the Environment, Land, and Natural Resources and Energy, Infrastructure, and Resources practice groups. With five decades years of experience, he has handled a broad spectrum of complex project development, natural resources, transactional, infrastructure privatization and public-private partnership projects, regulatory, and environmental permitting, and litigation matters.

Prior to joining the firm, Tim served for eight years as Assistant Attorney General for the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Resources, providing counsel for a wide range of natural resource and environmental protection programs, including the Pennsylvania State Water Plan and water resource management activities.  From 1979 to 1987, Tim served as Associate Deputy Secretary for Resources Management in the Department of Environmental Resources, and as Commissioner on the Delaware and Susquehanna River Basin Commissions.  During his tenure with DER, Tim was actively involved in the development of significant environmental and water resources legislation.  Tim has published numerous law review articles in the field of environmental regulation and natural resource management. 

A nationally recognized practitioner in the field of environmental and natural resources management, Timothy is honored with a Senior Statesman listing in the Chambers USA Directory of America’s Leading Lawyers for Business for his work in the environment area in Pennsylvania and is also recognized as a key player in southwestern Pennsylvania by the Pittsburgh Business Times “Who’s Who in Energy” list in 2015 and 2016. Timothy is also recognized as one of The Best Lawyers in America for his work in Energy Law, Environmental Law and Water Law (2018 edition) and recipient of the 2019 Pennsylvania Bar Association Environmental and Energy Law Section Lifetime Achievement Award.

  • Samuel Baxter Memorial Award, conferred by the Water Resources Association of the Delaware River Basin (2001) (highest award for lifetime contributions to water management in the mid-Atlantic region)
  • Who’s Who in Energy published by the American City Business Journals in Dallas, Denver, Houston, Pittsburgh and San Antonio  (2015 and 2016) 
  • Citizens Advisory Council to the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (Vice Chair, 2012-present)
  • Pennsylvania Statewide Water Resources Committee (responsible for development and adoption of Pennsylvania State Water Plan) (Chair, 2017-present)
  • Pennsylvania Super Lawyers (2008 - 2018)
  • American Bar Association (Section on Environmental, Energy and Resources)
  • Pennsylvania Chamber of Business & Industry (past member of Board of Directors)
  • Harrisburg University for Science & Technology (Board of Trustees, Former Chair)
  • Pennsylvania Bar Association
  • Dauphin County Bar Association
  • “Rising Tide Issues in Water,” Pennsylvania Bar Institute Environmental Law Forum, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, 2023
  • “Stormwater and Chesapeake Bay Compliance, Pennsylvania Chamber of Business & Industry Annual Environmental Conference, Lancaster, Pennsylvania, 2017
  • Stream Bed Ownership in Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania Bar Institute, Cannonsburg, Pennsylvania, 2016
  • Now what do I do? A private environmental lawyer’s role in air and water permitting, Pennsylvania Bar Institute Environmental Law Forum, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, 2015
  • First Steps in the Process, National Council for Public Private Partnerships, P3 Bootcamp, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 2017 
  • Public-Private Partnerships 101, National League of Cities, Washington, D.C. 2017
  • The Framework for Public Private Partnerships, National Council for Public Private Partnerships P3Connect Conference, Chicago, Illinois, 2016
  • "Water Transfers and NPDES Permits," Environmental Updates Program, Pennsylvania Bar Institute, 2006
Additional Thought Leadership Pages
  • Co-author, “In Depth Guide to PA Water and Wastewater Issues,” Pennsylvania Environmental Laws and Regulations (Pa. Chamber of Business & Industry, 2018).
  • Co-author, “Wetlands” and “A Practical Guide to Obtaining Wetlands Permits,” Chapters 6 and 23 in Pennsylvania Environmental Law and Practice (109th Edition, 2021)
  • Water Supply and Wastewater Challenges in Marcellus Shale Development, Energy and Mineral Law Foundation Conference Proceedings (May 2009)
  • Harmonizing Management of Ground and Surface Water Use Under Eastern Water Law Regimes, University of Denver Water Law Review (Spring 2008)
  • "Getting to the Deal: Drafting Environmental Clauses for Business Acquisitions and Real Estate Deals," New Solutions to Environmental Problems in Business and Real Estate Deals, 2004
  • "Environmental Due Diligence in Corporate Transactions," Chapter 5 of Environmental Law Practice Guide, 2002
  • "Water Rights: Tackling 21st Century Problems," The Goddard Forum, February 2001
  • “New Solutions to Environmental Problems in Business and Real Estate Deals – Drafting Agreements,” New Solutions to Environmental Problems in Business & Real Estate Deals, Practicing Law Institute, 2000
  • “Structuring the Brownfields Transaction” and “Negotiating Transactional Agreement,” Brownfields Law and Practice, 1998
  • "Interstate Water Rights and River Basin Compacts in the East," American Society of Professional Engineers, 1994
  • Co-author, “Legal Aspects of Pennsylvania Water Management,” Water Resources in Pennsylvania: Availability, Quality and Management, 1990
  • "Meeting the Environmental Challenge," The Pennsylvania Lawyer, March 1988
  • “Gone with the Water - Drainage Rights and Storm Water Management in Pennsylvania,” Villanova Law Review, 1977
  • Co-author, “Law of Ground Water in Pennsylvania,” Dickinson Law Review, 1976
  • Co-author, “Legal Control of Consumptive Water Use in Pennsylvania Power Plants,” Dickinson Law Review, 1976
  • “Public Rights in Pennsylvania Waters,” Temple Law Quarterly, 1976
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