Winfred T. Colbert
Mr. Colbert is a partner in the Vorys Houston office and a member of the environmental, energy and commercial practice groups. His practice encompasses all areas of environmental, health and safety law and regulation, corporate and business counseling, and governmental/regulatory relations. In additional to providing regulatory, transactional and corporate legal services to clients while in private practice, Mr. Colbert has more than 20 years of in-house legal experience with Exxon Company USA, Mobil Chemical Company, TXU Electric & Gas and most recently as chief attorney for Global Environmental, Health & Safety Law for The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company.
Mr. Colbert has extensive experience in multiple jurisdictions with the Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act, the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, Liability Act (CERCLA), the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), the Toxic Substances Control Act and similar state laws, as well as REACH, the European Community Regulation on chemicals and their safe use.
Career highlights include:
- Played a key role in the divestiture of a $1 billion tire fabric operation and a $1.5 billion engineered products division by negotiating and drafting terms, conditions and schedules
- Cleared any and all obligations to a multi-party $50 million litigation that included third-party plaintiffs by leading negotiations to resolve all claims
- Avoided a $45 million potential penalty noted in SEC 10K filings by researching, developing, and executing a comprehensive defense strategy
- Defended a multi-million dollar franchise fee litigation alleging underpayments to cities of franchise/right-of-way fees in utility service areas while minimizing litigation costs
- Representing Fortune 500 and other companies in successful negotiation of numerous federal and state air and water quality (onshore and offshore) permits
- Representing clients in defense of environmental enforcement actions
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Providing legal support and general counsel to clients in management of general business matters
Mr. Colbert is a member of the American Bar Association and the State Bar of Texas. He also serves on the Board of the Houston Bar Association Environmental Section. Mr. Colbert has been active as a leader and board member for a number of civic, community and professional organizations.
Mr. Colbert has organized and been a presenter for numerous seminars and programs addressing environmental, litigation, compliance, government relations and risk reduction/minimization topics.
Mr. Colbert received his J.D. from Columbia Law School and his B.A. from Yale University.
Professional and Community Activities
- Greater Houston Partnership, Clean Air Subcommittee, 2012-Present
- State of Texas Clean Air Responsibility Enterprise Committee, Co-Chair, 1997-98
- American Bar Association, Coordinating Group on Energy Law, Past Member
- American Bar Association, Standing Committee on Professional Discipline, Past Member
- American Association of Blacks in Energy, Past Board Member
- American Corporate Counsel Association, 2002-2010
- National Bar Association, Vice President, 1985-86, 1987-88
- Southern Connecticut Lawyers Association, Co-Founder & Past President
- Tarrant County (Texas) Black Bar Association, Past President
- State Bar of Texas, Environmental & Natural Resources Law Section Executive Committee, Past Member
- Dallas Bar Association, Environmental Law Council, Past Member
- North Texas Commission, Past Board Member
- North Texas Clean Air Coalition, Chair, 1998-2002
- North Central Texas Council of Governments, Air Quality Advisory Committee, 1994-2002
- Fort Worth Economic Development Corporation, Board Chair, 1996-2002
- Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce Executive Committee and Board, Past Member
Honors & Awards
- National Association of Development Companies, Board Member of the Year
- National Bar Association, Energy & Environmental Law Award, Presidential Award
- Tarrant County Black Bar Association, Outstanding Lawyer of the Year Award, 1992
- YMCA, Minority Achievers in Business & Industry Award
News
- Colbert Elected to the Board of the Houston Bar Association Environmental Section
- Vorys Expands Houston Environment and Energy Practice with Winfred T. Colbert