R. Justin Smith

R. Justin Smith

Beveridge & Diamond PC

R. Justin Smith is of counsel to Beveridge & Diamond in Washington, DC. With two decades of experience at the Department of Justice's Environment & Natural Resource Division across multiple administrations, Justin offers strategic counsel on multiple regulatory programs, legislation, and litigation. At the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), Justin served as Chief of the Law and Policy Section within the Environment and Natural Resources Division (ENRD). As one of ENRD's most senior career officials, he worked with Senate-confirmed appointees across multiple presidential administrations on all facets of environmental law, high-stakes litigation, and navigating complex regulatory frameworks. While at DOJ, Justin's work included high-profile litigation, regulatory compliance, and legislative strategy, as well as the development of strategic enforcement policies on climate-related matters, methane emissions, and hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) regulations. Justin partnered with multiple federal agencies to analyze litigation risks and enforcement issues under statutes like the Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, Endangered Species Act, RCRA, NEPA, and CERCLA. Justin also led DOJ oversight of settlements of citizen enforcement of the environmental laws, having reviewed and commented on dozens of citizen suit resolutions and filed numerous amicus briefs on related issues. He was awarded the DOJ's John Marshall Award in Providing Legal Advice and multiple Special Achievement Awards for his contributions. Justin also has extensive litigation experience, having served as lead ENRD counsel in dozens of high-profile cases across the U.S. Supreme Court, federal appellate and district courts, and state courts. His portfolio spans constitutional law, administrative law, federal Indian law, and cooperative federalism, as well as disputes involving climate change, pollution, and natural resources. Justin was instrumental in coordinating the federal government's amicus participation in major environmental cases and has provided oral arguments in numerous appellate and district court matters. He earned his A.B. at Princeton University and his J.D. at Harvard University.

R. Justin Smith's Courses

  • Regulatory Riptide: Key Environmental Regs and Policies Under the New Administration

    Environmental Law

    FastTrack

    Credits Available
    Credit Status Total
    Alaska CLE Reciprocity 1 Total
    Arizona CLE Approved 1 Total
    California CLE Approved 1 Total
    Colorado CLE Approved 1 Total
    Connecticut CLE Approved 1 Total
    Delaware CLE Approved 1 Total
    Florida CLE Approved 1 Total
    Georgia CLE Approved 1 Total
    Hawaii CLE Approved 1 Total
    Idaho CLE Approved 1 Total
    Illinois CLE Approved 1 Total
    Maine CLE Approved 1 Total
    Minnesota CLE Approved 1 Total
    Missouri CLE Approved 1.2 Total
    Northern Mariana Islands CLE Approved 1 Total
    Montana CLE Approved 1 Total
    North Dakota CLE Approved 1 Total
    Nebraska CLE Approved 1 Total
    New Hampshire CLE Approved 1 Total
    New Mexico CLE Approved 1 Total
    Nevada CLE Approved 1 Total
    New York CLE Approved 1 Total
    Oklahoma CLE Approved 1 Total
    Oregon CLE Approved 1 Total
    Pennsylvania CLE Approved 1 Total
    Tennessee CLE Approved 1 Total
    Vermont CLE Approved 1 Total
    Washington CLE Approved 1 Total
    Wisconsin CLE Approved 1 Total
    West Virginia CLE Approved 1.2 Total
    Wyoming CLE Upon Request 1 Total
    OnDemand
    1 Illinois CLE