Steve Wade

Attorney Steve Wade’s practice is focused on governmental affairs and lobbying, environmental, natural resources and energy, and permitting and compliance.  Steve additionally advises senior management, municipalities, and business on compliance, risk, permitting, and environmental matters.

Governmental Affairs and Lobbying

As a governmental affairs lawyer, Steve’s governmental affairs and lobbying practice involves advocating on behalf of businesses before the legislature and regulatory agencies regarding environmental, tax, business climate, and appropriations issues.  His clients include oil and gas companies, refiners, pooled interest organizations, corporations, contractors, railroad companies, and a number of associations.

Environmental, Natural Resources, and Energy

Environmental law presents one of the most rapidly expanding and challenging areas of the law, especially in Montana.  Steve works with business clients to ensure compliance with state and federal regulations and programs, including the Montana Environmental Policy Act (MEPA), Sage Grouse Habitat Conservation Program, Superfund, Montana’s Comprehensive Environmental Cleanup and Responsibility Act (CECRA), as well as open-cut, hard rock, and coal mining environmental compliance.  He also serves as lenders’ counsel for energy projects.

Permitting and Compliance

Steve maintains a robust permitting and compliance practice, representing clients in matters involving coal, wind, and air permitting, as well as industry-specific permitting matters for refinery and pipeline,  coal mining, power and energy clients.  He assists with securing operational permits and providing environmental assessments and impact statements, and develops corporate policies and procedures for complying with various environmental, superfund, stormwater discharge, mining, and natural resource regulations.  He also defends against enforcement actions and represents clients in permit issuance challenges.