Natural Resources Partner Martin Stratte Strengthens Hunton Andrews Kurth’s California Environmental Practice
April 23 2024 - 9:37AM
Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP is expanding its San Francisco office and
California environmental and litigation practices with the addition
of Martin Stratte, a land use and environmental permitting attorney
with significant experience advising companies in the mining and
natural resources sectors.
Stratte helps clients with property rezonings and permitting
throughout the U.S., with a particular emphasis on projects in
California and on the West Coast. He develops permitting strategies
and often leads multidisciplinary teams of professionals engaged in
state and federal permitting and environmental review processes.
His core practice areas include counseling clients on compliance
with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and the
California Surface Mining and Reclamation Act (SMARA). He also
defends permits that are challenged in court, has first chair trial
and appellate court experience, and has litigated CEQA cases
involving cutting-edge greenhouse gas and climate change
issues.
“With more than a decade of experience advising on land use,
permitting, and associated litigation and compliance matters under
CEQA and a full range of state and federal environmental laws,
Marty is an ideal strategic fit,” said Shannon Broome, managing
partner of Hunton Andrews Kurth’s San Francisco office and head of
the firm’s California environmental practice. “He adds to our
already-deep bench in California, enhances our national
environmental practice and adds depth to our California
platform.”
Stratte joins the firm from one of the country's largest
suppliers of construction aggregates and heavy building materials,
where he served as assistant general counsel. In this role, Stratte
helped manage zoning and land use permitting activities for the
company’s network of quarries and mines throughout the U.S., along
with related land uses and infrastructure, including rail
transloading terminals, processing plants, and concrete and asphalt
plants.
Earlier in his career, Stratte practiced land use and
environmental law in the San Francisco office of Jeffer Mangels
Butler & Mitchell LLP, where he was a member of the firm’s
Natural Resources and Mining Group. There, Stratte transformed his
general California land use and permitting practice that included
industrial, commercial, and residential projects into a
mining-focused specialty practice. He permitted mines and related
infrastructure for publicly traded companies operating in the
precious metals and construction and building materials industries.
He also continued to develop his preexisting CEQA counseling and
litigation practices.
Stratte currently serves as Vice Chair of the California
Construction and Industrial Materials Association’s Legal Action
Committee. CalCIMA is a trade association for the construction and
industrial material industries in California, which include
aggregate, industrial mineral, ready mixed concrete, and asphalt
producers. He was previously a director of a publicly traded gold
and base metals company with projects in the U.S. and Canada. He is
admitted to practice in California, Michigan, Nevada, and
Washington.
“Marty is highly regarded for his significant insight and brings
a valuable skillset in support of mineral sourcing and
infrastructure development that is critical to companies engaged in
both traditional resource development and energy transition
activities,” said Deidre Duncan, head of Hunton Andrews Kurth’s
environmental practice “He is a welcome addition to the firm.”
As the latest addition to Hunton Andrews Kurth’s environmental
practice, Stratte’s colleagues include several recent key hires. In
January, former Texas Assistant Attorney General David Terry,
joined the firm in Houston as a counsel. Terry’s legal career
includes more than a decade of service with the Texas AG’s office
and with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. In October,
partner Rachel Saltzman joined the firm’s Washington, D.C., office
from Volkswagen Group of America, where she served as Senior
Director of Environment, Health, Safety and Sustainability.
Hunton Andrews Kurth’s global environmental practice of over 50
attorneys have assisted with development and financing of new
energy sources and retirement of traditional energy sources,
participated in the policy development process, helped clients
navigate regulatory changes affecting the industry, and counseled
clients on strategic opportunities to diversify their energy
portfolios and achieve a greener economy. The practice and many of
its lawyers are ranked Band 1 nationally by Chambers USA and
Chambers Global, as well as by many other well-respected ranking
publications.
With lawyers in the United States, Asia, Europe and the
Middle East, Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP serves clients across a broad
range of complex transactional, litigation and regulatory matters.
For more information, please contact Jeremy Heallen at +1
713 220 3713.
Jeremy Heallen
Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP
(713) 220-3713
jheallen@HuntonAK.com