Spencer Fane LLP is pleased to announce Carlota (Coty) Hopinks-Baul has joined the Environmental Practice Group as an of counsel attorney in the firm’s Austin office.
Hopinks-Baul advises clients on a wide range of environmental, safety and health issues including wastewater, stormwater, drinking water, air, waste, and health and safety matters and handles permit applications and appeals, enforcement defense, and environmental issues in complex commercial transactions and real estate development projects. Specifically, she regularly handles matters involving the agricultural, mining, chemical manufacturing, energy and communications industries, while also working for and in conjunction with financial institutions and municipalities.
Prior to entering private practice, Hopinks-Baul worked in the public and private sectors in environmental testing and quality control, developing practical technical knowledge and abilities that inform her current legal work.
“Coty’s extensive experience in the public works, municipal waste management and public utility sectors give her unique insight into the issues facing clients,” said James Price, Environmental Co-Practice Group Leader for Spencer Fane. “Spencer Fane has a long track record of making sure our clients understand how to navigate complex environmental legal issues, and we have continued to bolster our bench with accomplished attorneys who have a collaborative mindset.”
Hopinks-Baul completed her undergraduate studies in biology and chemistry at the University of Texas and later earned her Juris Doctor from the Creighton University School of Law. Her public and private sector experience included working for the Texas Department of Health, City of Brownsville, Texas, and the Brownsville Public Utilities Board. Additionally, Hopinks-Baul is fluent in Spanish, regularly doing work for clients with Spanish language needs, including communications with staff, members of the community, and regulators.
Jason Flower has also joined the Spencer Fane Environmental group in the firm’s St. Louis office. Serving as a partner, Flower will work closely with Hopinks-Baul on a wide range of environemental matters. Flower brings 20 years of experience in complex environmental and business litigation, with a focus on working with clients nationwide in the chemical and manufacturing industries. With his clients’ goals at the forefront, he helps businesses strategically approach high-profile cost recovery and contribution actions
