Charles M. "Charlie" Denton

Charles M. "Charlie" Denton


Barnes & Thornburg LLP

Recognized since 1995

Atlanta, Georgia

Practice Areas

Energy Law

Energy Regulatory Law

Environmental Law

Insurance Law

Litigation - Environmental

Navigate to map location for Charles M. "Charlie" Denton
Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2018 - Environmental Law Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2014 - Litigation - Environmental Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2013 - Environmental Law
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Charlie Denton represents an array of clients in environmental and toxic tort litigation, enforcement defense, regulatory compliance solutions and pollution insurance coverage disputes. He also serves as an alternative dispute resolution (ADR) neutral mediator and arbitrator. Persistent and highly collaborative, Charlie can take complicated issues and challenges and then identify a strategic path to achieve the client’s objectives.

Charlie’s representation of industrial, municipal, institutional, educational and individual clients includes judicial and administrative environmental proceedings at the federal, state and local levels. He also represents policyholders involved in environmental coverage claim disputes and litigation with millions of dollars in the balance.

In addition, Charlie assists clients with managing environmental risks in commercial transactions, mergers, acquisitions and divestitures, as well as ISO 14000 environmental management systems. He advises on lender liability issues and environmental audits to assess potential facility contamination and regulatory compliance for the acquisition and financing of real estate, as well as waste management and remedial actions, environmental permits enforcement, and defense of citizens’ suits.

Charlie serves as a zealous advocate for his clients, focusing on their specific strategic goals and finding solutions that solve their immediate and long-term challenges. Charlie makes a point of understanding his clients’ core objectives from the onset of representation to keep their environmental matter in perspective.

Charlie serves as a federal court arbitrator/mediator/neutral evaluator, a state court facilitative mediator, and an arbitrator and mediator for private ADR proceedings. When serving as a neutral, Charlie remains personally dedicated to finding a balanced approach to dispute resolution that meets the needs and interests of the parties involved. Charlie is valued for his thoughtful understanding of the underlying business and legal issues that permeate every dispute, as well as for his calming approach to resolving the people challenges and emotional aspects that underlie most acrimony. An active listener, Charlie serves as a catalyst to working constructively with even the most disparate parties to achieve a reasonable outcome.

Charlie is actively involved with key industry, legal and environmental associations, often in leadership roles. He is the author and co-author of several publications highlighting environmental law topics, and gives frequent presentations for the American Bar Association, Michigan Chamber of Commerce, and State Bar Associations for Georgia, Michigan and Wisconsin

Contact & Links
Location
  • 3340 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 2900
    Atlanta, GA 30326-1092
Education
  • Ohio University, BA Summa Cum Laude, graduated 1978
  • University of Michigan, J.D. , graduated 1981
Bar Admissions
  • Georgia, Georgia Bar Association
  • Indiana, Indiana Bar Association
  • Michigan, Michigan Bar Association
  • Wisconsin, Wisconsin Bar Association
Court Admissions
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit
  • U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan
  • U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin
  • U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia
  • U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Indiana
  • U.S. District Court for the Western District of Michigan
  • U.S. Supreme Court

Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2018 - Environmental Law Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2014 - Litigation - Environmental Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2013 - Environmental Law
Named "Lawyer of the Year" by Best Lawyers® for:
  • Environmental Law, Grand Rapids (2018)
  • Litigation - Environmental, Grand Rapids (2014)
  • Environmental Law, Grand Rapids (2013)
Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® 2025 for work in:
  • Energy Law
  • Energy Regulatory Law
  • Environmental Law
  • Insurance Law
  • Litigation - Environmental
Special Focus:
  • Administrative/Regulatory
  • Alternative Dispute Resolution
  • Enforcement Defense
  • Insurance
  • Litigation
  • RCRA/Hazardous Waste
  • Superfunds/Environmental Remediation
  • Toxic Tort

Publications

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