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Bernard F. Hawkins, Jr.

Bernard F. Hawkins, Jr.

Partner

Meridian
1320 Main Street
17th Floor
Columbia, SC 29201
T 803.255.9581
F 803.256.7500
bernie.hawkins@nelsonmullins.com
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Bernie chairs the Environmental Health and Safety Group and applies his scientific background and legal training in working nationally on complex environmental issues, with a focus on Clean Air Act and solid and hazardous waste matters (specifically those involving recycling considerations), as well as matters involving risk evaluation and response to allegations of harm resulting from...

Bernie chairs the Environmental Health and Safety Group and applies his scientific background and legal training in working nationally on complex environmental issues, with a focus on Clean Air Act and solid and hazardous waste matters (specifically those involving recycling considerations), as well as matters involving risk evaluation and response to allegations of harm resulting from environmental conditions.

Bernard F. Hawkins, Jr.

environmental conditions.

Experience

The following is a selected sampling of matters and is provided for informational purposes only. Past success does not indicate the likelihood of success in any future matter.
  • Experience in environmental law, toxic tort and pharmaceutical/drug and medical device litigation
  • Involved in permitting, compliance counseling, defending enforcement actions and administrative challenges for multi-faceted stationary sources subject to provisions of the Clean Air Act, including those subject to Prevention of Significant Deterioration (“PSD”) requirements, non-attainment requirements, National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (“NESHAP”) provisions, New Source Performance Standards (“NSPS”) requirements, Title V operating permit requirements and other stationary source state permitting requirements derived from State Implementation Plans (“SIPs”)
  • Involved in commenting on and challenging federal rulemakings in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia
  • Experience in dealing with indoor environmental quality issues, including experience with response to issues involving mold, asbestos, dioxin, metals, PCBs, chemical co­polymers, solvents and vapor intrusion issues
  • Managed site remediation matters on a national and international basis
  • Received approval from the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware to act as special environmental counsel for a manufacturing company during the company's bankruptcy process
  • Retained to coordinate the resolution of a chemical regulation dispute in U.S. jurisdictions and numerous other countries
  • Represented clients in cases involving CERCLA, RCRA, Clean Air, Clean Water, TSCA, FIFRA, EPCRA, NEPA, and the Endangered Species Act
  • Represented clients in permitting matters, compliance counseling, compliance dispute resolution, negotiation of consent orders and decrees, and in administrative appeals, including resolution of permitting appeals in the hazardous and solid waste arena
The following is a selected sampling of matters and is provided for informational purposes only. Past success does not indicate the likelihood of success in any future matter.
  • Experience in environmental law, toxic tort and pharmaceutical/drug and medical device litigation
  • Involved in permitting, compliance counseling, defending enforcement actions and administrative challenges for multi-faceted stationary sources subject to provisions of the Clean Air Act, including those subject to Prevention of Significant Deterioration (“PSD”) requirements, non-attainment requirements, National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (“NESHAP”) provisions, New Source Performance Standards (“NSPS”) requirements, Title V operating permit requirements and other stationary source state permitting requirements derived from State Implementation Plans (“SIPs”)
  • Involved in commenting on and challenging federal rulemakings in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia
  • Experience in dealing with indoor environmental quality issues, including experience with response to issues involving mold, asbestos, dioxin, metals, PCBs, chemical co­polymers, solvents and vapor intrusion issues
  • Managed site remediation matters on a national and international basis
  • Received approval from the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware to act as special environmental counsel for a manufacturing company during the company's bankruptcy process
  • Retained to coordinate the resolution of a chemical regulation dispute in U.S. jurisdictions and numerous other countries
  • Represented clients in cases involving CERCLA, RCRA, Clean Air, Clean Water, TSCA, FIFRA, EPCRA, NEPA, and the Endangered Species Act
  • Represented clients in permitting matters, compliance counseling, compliance dispute resolution, negotiation of consent orders and decrees, and in administrative appeals, including resolution of permitting appeals in the hazardous and solid waste arena

Media

Insights

EPA-State Partnership Memo Signals Focused Enforcement, Law360, Author (August 7, 2019)

Events / Speaking Engagements

Living In Uncertain Times, Potential Impacts on Use of Surface Water, South Carolina Manufacturers Association Environmental Annual Meeting, Presenter (June 5, 2024)
2023 Clean Air Act Conference, American Bar Association & Nelson Mullins, Co-Organizer (Dec. 5, 2023)
Presentation to South Carolina Department of Commerce Recycling Market Development Advisory Council, Presenter (Jan. 19, 2021)
Navigating the Legal, Economic and Business Challenges of the Coronavirus Pandemic | Webinar 4, Speaker (April 8, 2020)
The Hazardous Waste Generator Improvements Rule Seminar, Speaker (June 26, 2019)
Visit Insights

Recognitions

The bar rules of some states require that the standards for an attorney's inclusion in certain public accolades or recognitions be provided. When such accolades or recognitions are listed, a hyperlink is provided that leads to a description of the respective selection methodology.

Professional Activities

  • Fellow, American Bar Foundation
  • American Bar Association, Section of Environmental, Energy and Resources Law, Section of Business Law
  • South Carolina Bar
  • American Chemical Society
  • Carolinas Air Pollution Control Association
  • Defense Research Institute

 

 

Community

  • Facilitator, Task Force to Strengthen the Health and Promote the Environment of South Carolina (SHaPE) (2021–present)
  • South Carolina Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors
  • South Carolina Chamber of Commerce, Environmental Technical Committee, Air Subcommittee, and Solid and Hazardous Waste Subcommittee
  • South Carolina Chamber of Commerce, Legal Committee
  • United Way of the Midland’s Tocqueville Society

Leadership

  • Director, American Bar Association Business Law Section’s International Coordinating Committee (2017–2018)
  • Vice Chair, Environmental, Energy and Resources Law Committee for the ABA’s Business Law Section
  • Vice Chair, Climate Change Sustainable Development and Ecosystems Committee for the ABA Section of Environment, Energy & Resources
  • Liaison, ABA Business Law Section and ABA Section on Environmental, Energy and Resources Law
  • Prior Chair and Vice Chair, Air Quality Committee for the ABA Environment, Energy and Resources Section
  • Prior Editor,  Air Quality Committee Annual Report for the Natural Resources, Energy, and Environmental Law’s Year in Review (a publication of the ABA and the University of Tulsa College of Law)

Bernie chairs the Environmental Health and Safety Group and applies his scientific background and legal training in working nationally on complex environmental issues, with a focus on Clean Air Act and solid and hazardous waste matters (specifically those involving recycling considerations), as well as matters involving risk evaluation and response to allegations of harm resulting from... environmental conditions.

Experience

The following is a selected sampling of matters and is provided for informational purposes only. Past success does not indicate the likelihood of success in any future matter.

  • Experience in environmental law, toxic tort and pharmaceutical/drug and medical device litigation
  • Involved in permitting, compliance counseling, defending enforcement actions and administrative challenges for multi-faceted stationary sources subject to provisions of the Clean Air Act, including those subject to Prevention of Significant Deterioration (“PSD”) requirements, non-attainment requirements, National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (“NESHAP”) provisions, New Source Performance Standards (“NSPS”) requirements, Title V operating permit requirements and other stationary source state permitting requirements derived from State Implementation Plans (“SIPs”)
  • Involved in commenting on and challenging federal rulemakings in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia
  • Experience in dealing with indoor environmental quality issues, including experience with response to issues involving mold, asbestos, dioxin, metals, PCBs, chemical co­polymers, solvents and vapor intrusion issues
  • Managed site remediation matters on a national and international basis
  • Received approval from the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware to act as special environmental counsel for a manufacturing company during the company's bankruptcy process
  • Retained to coordinate the resolution of a chemical regulation dispute in U.S. jurisdictions and numerous other countries
  • Represented clients in cases involving CERCLA, RCRA, Clean Air, Clean Water, TSCA, FIFRA, EPCRA, NEPA, and the Endangered Species Act
  • Represented clients in permitting matters, compliance counseling, compliance dispute resolution, negotiation of consent orders and decrees, and in administrative appeals, including resolution of permitting appeals in the hazardous and solid waste arena

Education

  • University of South Carolina School of Law, JD, cum laude (1990)
    • Associate Editor in Chief, South Carolina Law Review
    • Order of the Coif
    • Order of Wig and Robe
  • University of South Carolina, BS, Biology, magna cum laude (1986)
    • Undergraduate and/or graduate education including biology,  physical chemistry, organic chemistry, biochemistry, physics, spectrometry, genetics, cell biology, embryology, histology, and gross anatomy

Admissions

  • South Carolina
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
  • U.S. District Court for the District of South Carolina

Practice Areas

Industries

The bar rules of some states require that the standards for an attorney's inclusion in certain public accolades or recognitions be provided. When such accolades or recognitions are listed, a hyperlink is provided that leads to a description of the respective selection methodology.

  • Fellow, American Bar Foundation
  • American Bar Association, Section of Environmental, Energy and Resources Law, Section of Business Law
  • South Carolina Bar
  • American Chemical Society
  • Carolinas Air Pollution Control Association
  • Defense Research Institute

 

 

  • Facilitator, Task Force to Strengthen the Health and Promote the Environment of South Carolina (SHaPE) (2021–present)
  • South Carolina Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors
  • South Carolina Chamber of Commerce, Environmental Technical Committee, Air Subcommittee, and Solid and Hazardous Waste Subcommittee
  • South Carolina Chamber of Commerce, Legal Committee
  • United Way of the Midland’s Tocqueville Society
  • Director, American Bar Association Business Law Section’s International Coordinating Committee (2017–2018)
  • Vice Chair, Environmental, Energy and Resources Law Committee for the ABA’s Business Law Section
  • Vice Chair, Climate Change Sustainable Development and Ecosystems Committee for the ABA Section of Environment, Energy & Resources
  • Liaison, ABA Business Law Section and ABA Section on Environmental, Energy and Resources Law
  • Prior Chair and Vice Chair, Air Quality Committee for the ABA Environment, Energy and Resources Section
  • Prior Editor,  Air Quality Committee Annual Report for the Natural Resources, Energy, and Environmental Law’s Year in Review (a publication of the ABA and the University of Tulsa College of Law)