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Robert Conrad's practice focuses primarily on environmental litigation, along with federal and state environmental enforcement and regulatory compliance matters. He has experience practicing under several federal environmental statutes, including the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA), Resource Conservation and the Clean Air Act (CAA), as well as related state environmental statutes. Robert is adept at working with environmental, technical, and other scientific experts in these areas.

Robert also has significant experience advising utilities and clean energy industry participants on tribal consultation and partnership. He also represented one of the nation’s largest Tribal Nations in its trust accounting suit. Robert also advises clients on environmental liabilities for corporate transactions and due diligence related thereto. In addition, he maintains an active pro bono practice, including issues primary related to immigration and LGBTQ+ clients. Robert is a registered member of the United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians in Oklahoma.

Experience

  • Fortune 100 Company in CERCLA litigation seeking reimbursement of response costs for the remediation of a contaminated site in Western New York.
  • Warner-Lambert in defending against toxic tort litigation alleging a historical manufacturing site caused presence of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) chemicals in municipal drinking water. 
  • Fortune 100 Companies in defending against state suit seeking natural resource damages under public nuisance and other state law theories. 
  • Energy Company in defense of indemnity claims arising from divesture of refinery.
  • Tribal Nation in challenging the federal government’s accounting of tribal trust assets.

Perspectives

When a Career Change Seems More Daunting than Climate Change: Navigating Transition and Breaking into Environmental, Energy, and Natural Resources Law
Speaker, American Bar Association Section of Environment, Energy, and Resources Spring Conference 2025
Arnold & Porter Sponsors Post-Election ABA Environmental Justice Symposium at Howard University School of Law
Environmental Edge: Climate Change & Regulatory Insights
Best Lawyers in America 2025 Recognizes 91 Arnold & Porter Lawyers, Names Three as "Lawyers of the Year" and 80 as "Ones to Watch"
Purchaser’s Participation in Environmental Diligence — Securing BFPP Defenses Against CERCLA Liability
Advisory

Recognition

Best Lawyers
"Ones to Watch" Environmental Law (Washington, D.C.) (2022-2025)
"Ones to Watch" Native American Law (Washington, D.C.) (2022-2025)
Capital Pro Bono Honor Roll (2022-2024)
Leadership Council for Legal Diversity (LCLD)
Pathfinder Program - 2024
More

Credentials

Education

  • J.D., American University, Washington College of Law, 2017
  • Master of Natural Resources, Assessment and Analysis, North Carolina State University, 2012, Gates Millennium Scholar
  • Bachelor of Landscape Architecture, Oklahoma State University, 2010, Gates Millennium Scholar

Admissions

  • District of Columbia

Activities

  • Co-Chair, Indigenous Law Committee, American Bar Association Section of Environment, Energy, and Resources (2024–Present)
  • Co-Chair, Sponsorship Committee, American Bar Association Section of Environment, Energy, and Resources (2024–Present)
  • Leadership Development Program Participant, American Bar Association Section of Environment, Energy, and Resources (2023-2024)
  • Tribal Matters Liaison, American Bar Association’s Environmental Justice Task Force (2022–Present)
  • Communications Vice-Chair, Air Quality Committee, American Bar Association Section of Environment, Energy, and Resources (2021–2023)
  • Co-Chair, Environmental Justice Standing Committee, D.C. Bar, Environment, Energy, and Natural Resources Community (2021–2022)
  • Programs Vice-Chair, Air Quality Committee, American Bar Association Section of Environment, Energy, and Resources (2020–2021)
  • Chair, Remediation and Environmental Liability Standing Committee, D.C. Bar, Environment, Energy, and Natural Resources Community (2020–2021)
  • National LGBT Bar Association
  • District of Columbia LGBTQ+ Bar Association
  • Native American Bar Association, D.C. Chapter
Overview