David maintains a robust federal, state, and administrative litigation and regulatory practice in the environmental and natural resources arena. He is an experienced litigator with a deep understanding of regulatory compliance related to all forms of environmental media across diverse industry sectors. David is skilled in all phases of litigation, including discovery, taking and defending depositions, drafting and arguing motions, and court appearances.

David counsels clients on a wide range of environmental matters, including carbon capture and storage projects, the Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, Toxic Substances Control Act, and other environmental statutes, providing guidance on regulatory compliance, permitting, and risk management. He regularly advises on air regulatory and permitting issues involving facility air emissions, hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), and other air quality concerns. He has significant experience in the upstream and midstream space on EPA's Subpart OOOO, OOOOa, and OOOOb regulations related to volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and methane emissions.

David handles enforcement and crisis management matters, assisting clients in responding to federal and state enforcement actions, regulatory investigations, mitigating risk exposure, and representing them through final resolution or adjudication. He also maintains a vigorous regulatory advocacy practice, having successfully argued for EPA's reconsideration of its methane regulations related to upstream and midstream oil and gas activities and the Technology Transitions Rule. He advises on complex infrastructure projects, including deep water port and offshore matters, and regulatory credit programs, such as EPA's Renewable Fuel Standard Program and the generation of RINs credits, helping clients navigate the evolving regulatory landscape and achieve their business objectives.

Prior to joining Hunton, David served as Assistant Attorney General in the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) of Texas in the Environmental Protection Division. He represented state environmental and natural resources agencies in state and federal courts and counseled various branches of the Texas government on environmental law and litigation issues.

David also served as a Staff Attorney within the Litigation Division of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ). He represented TCEQ before the State Office of Administrative Hearings in enforcement actions regarding violations of federal and state environmental laws and regulations, resolving more than 90 TCEQ enforcement actions pertaining to air, water, waste, and wastewater.

His time and accomplishments as a former regulator within OAG and TCEQ provide him with a unique perspective on compliance and permitting counseling that he relies on in advocating for his clients.

Bar Admissions

Education
JD, University of Houston Law Center, 2011

BA, The University of Texas at Austin, 2008