Kristin L. Watt
Practice Areas
- Energy and Utilities
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Environmental
- Brownfield Redevelopment
- Climate Change and Green Technology
- Commercial Transactions
- Enforcement and Criminal Defense
- Environmental Audits and Compliance Plans
- Environmental Litigation
- Real Estate Development
- Regulatory Matters
- Solid and Hazardous Waste
- Superfund
- Toxic Substances
- Underground Storage Tanks
- Utica/Marcellus Shales
- Water Law
- Litigation
Industries
Education
- The Ohio State University Michael E. Moritz College of Law, J.D., 1989, with Honors
- The Ohio State University, B.S.B.A., 1986, cum laude
Bar & Court Admissions
Kristin is a partner in the Vorys Columbus office and chair of the environmental group. Her practice is results-oriented and focuses on environmental compliance and counseling, enforcement defense and order negotiation, environmental audits, permitting issues and Brownfield redevelopment. She counsels clients with their due diligence in business and commercial real estate transactions and assists with contracting provisions related to each. Kristin has worked extensively in the areas of solid and hazardous wastes, petroleum underground storage tanks, NPDES permits, wetlands and environmental investigation/remediation.
She practices before both administrative bodies and the courts.
Career highlights include:
- Arguing successfully before the 10th District Court of Appeals
- Regularly appearing before the Petroleum Underground Storage Tank Release Compensation Board where she has been successful in arguing issues relating to insurance coverage
- Settling a multi-million dollar enforcement case for a large service station client
- Acting as “special counsel” for a collegiate university client related to Ohio EPA negotiations and purchase/sale of Brownfields sites
Kristin is a member of the Ohio State Bar Association, the Columbus Bar Association and The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law National Council.
Kristin has spoken on many topics, including multimedia audits, environmental audit privileges, environmental issues related to real estate transactions, storm water regulations, underground storage tanks and environmental issues related to Ohio shale fracing.
Kristin received her J.D. with honors from The Ohio State University Michael E. Moritz College of Law and her B.S.B.A. cum laude from The Ohio State University.
Professional and Community Activities
- The Ohio State University Alumni Association, Board Chair, 2017-2019; Board of Directors, 2014-2019
- The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law National Council, 2000-present
- Radio Color Commentator for The Ohio State University Women's Basketball Team since 1987
- Alpha Phi Rho Corporation, Housing Board (at The Ohio State University), 2006-present
- Ohio State Bar Association, Environmental Law Committee, Chair, 2010-2013; Vice-Chair, 2008-2010; Secretary, 2007-2009
- Ohio State Bar Association, Environmental Law Committee, Annual Seminar, Co-Chair, 2006
- Ohio Oil & Gas Association, Board of Trustees, 2015-present
- Opera Columbus, Trustee, 2004-2010
- The Ohio State University Varsity O Women’s Alumnae Society, President, 1992-1994; Board Member, 1992-2002
- Columbus Bar Association, Environmental Law Committee, Chair, 2000-2001
- The Ohio State University Athletic Council, Alumni Representative, 1995-1999
- The Ohio State University Alumni Advisory Council, 1997-1999
Honors & Awards
- The Best Lawyers in America, Environmental Law, 2008-2022
- The Best Lawyers in America, Litigation - Environmental, 2013-2022
- The Best Lawyers in America, Natural Resource Law, 2021-2022
- The Best Lawyers in America, Columbus Environmental Law Lawyer of the Year, 2013, 2017
- Ohio Super Lawyers, Environmental, 2004-2007, 2009, 2012-20222
- Ohio Super Lawyers, Top 25 Women Columbus Area Super Lawyers, 2015-2016, 2021-2022
- Chambers and Partners, Leading Lawyer in Natural Resources and Environment, 2007-2022
- Columbus CEO, Top Lawyers in Columbus, 2010-2021
- Fellow of the American Bar Foundation since 2013
- Martindale-Hubbell AV Peer Review Rated
- Fellow of the Columbus Bar Foundation since 1998
- Columbus Business First, Forty under 40, 1994
News
- 6/1/2022Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease is pleased to announce that 33 of the firm’s attorneys have been recognized among the leading practitioners in the country in the 2022 edition of Chambers USA.
- 1/4/2022Vorys is pleased to announce that 42 attorneys from the firm have been named either 2022 Ohio Super Lawyers or Rising Stars.
- 8/19/2021One hundred and sixteen lawyers from Vorys were recently selected by their peers for inclusion in the Best Lawyers in America® 2022 edition. In addition, 34 Vorys attorneys were named to the 2022 Best Lawyers in America “Ones to Watch” list.
- 8/19/2021Ten Vorys attorneys have been named 2022 Lawyers of the Year by Best Lawyers. Each year, only a single lawyer in each specialty in each community is honored as the “Lawyer of the Year.”
- 6/11/2021Vorys recently advised Worthington Industries, Inc. in connection with the acquisition by its Steel Processing business segment, along with its 55% consolidated joint venture TWB Company, LLC, of certain assets of the Shiloh Industries U.S. BlankLight® business, a provider of laser welded solutions.
- 5/20/2021Vorys is pleased to announce that 33 of the firm’s attorneys have been recognized among the leading practitioners in the country in the 2021 edition of Chambers USA .
- 1/29/2021Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease LLP recently advised Worthington Industries, Inc. in connection with the sale by its Pressure Cylinders segment of its oil & gas equipment business to an affiliate of Ten Oaks Group.
- 1/29/2021Vorys recently advised Worthington Industries, Inc. in connection with the acquisition by its Pressure Cylinders segment of General Tools & Instruments Company LLC (General Tools), a provider of feature-rich, specialized tools in various categories including environmental health & safety, precision measurement & layout, home repair & remodel, lawn & garden and specific purpose tools.
- 12/17/2020Vorys is pleased to announce that 31 attorneys from the firm have been named 2021 Ohio Super Lawyers and Rising Stars.
- 9/15/2020Sherwin-Williams Names Vorys as a Key Partner for its New Global Headquarters and R&D Center ProjectThe Sherwin-Williams Company today announced the key external partners it selected to build its new global headquarters in downtown Cleveland and its new R&D center in the Cleveland suburb of Brecksville. Vorys was named as legal counsel and economic development counsel.
- 8/20/2020One hundred and twelve lawyers from Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease LLP were recently selected by their peers for inclusion in the Best Lawyers in America® 2021 edition. In addition, 26 Vorys attorneys were named to the inaugural Best Lawyers in America “Ones to Watch” list.
- 4/23/2020Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease is pleased to announce that 30 of the firm’s attorneys have been recognized among the leading practitioners in the country in the 2020 edition of Chambers USA.
- 12/9/2019Vorys is pleased to announce that 39 attorneys from the firm have been named 2020 Ohio Super Lawyers and Rising Stars.
- 10/11/2019Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease LLP recently advised Worthington Industries, Inc. in connection with its acquisition of Heidtman Steel Products, Inc.’s pickling and slitting facility located in Cleveland.
- 8/15/2019One hundred and thirteen lawyers from Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease LLP were recently selected by their peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® 2020.
- 4/26/2019Vorys announced that 30 of the firm’s attorneys have been recognized among the leading practitioners in the country in the 2019 edition of Chambers USA.
- 12/5/2018Vorys is pleased to announce that 48 attorneys from the firm have been named 2019 Ohio Super Lawyers and Rising Stars.
- 11/14/2018Vorys recently advised Air Transport Services Group (ATSG) connection with its acquisition of Omni Air International, a Tulsa-based services carrier.
- 8/15/2018One hundred and thirteen lawyers from Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease LLP were recently selected by their peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® 2019.
- 5/4/2018Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease is pleased to announce that 32 of the firm’s attorneys have been recognized among the leading practitioners in the country in the 2018 edition of Chambers USA.
- 12/5/2017Vorys is pleased to announce that 56 attorneys from the firm have been named 2018 Ohio Super Lawyers and Rising Stars.
- 8/17/2017One hundred and eight lawyers from Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease were recently selected by their peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® 2018.
- 5/26/2017Vorys announced that 30 of the firm’s attorneys have been recognized among the leading practitioners in the country in the 2017 edition of Chambers USA.
- 3/28/2017This year, 54 Vorys attorneys were listed in the 2017 Columbus CEO “Top Lawyers” List.
- 12/2/2016Vorys is pleased to announce that 58 attorneys from the firm have been named 2017 Ohio Super Lawyers and Rising Stars.
- 8/15/2016Fifteen Vorys attorneys have been named 2017 Lawyers of the Year by Best Lawyers.
- 8/15/2016One-hundred and eleven lawyers from Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease were recently selected by their peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® 2017.
- 5/27/2016Vorys announced that 36 of the firm’s attorneys have been recognized among the leading practitioners in the country in the 2016 edition of Chambers USA.
- 12/2/2015Vorys is pleased to announce that 63 attorneys from the firm have been named 2016 Ohio Super Lawyers and Rising Stars.
- 8/17/2015One-hundred and eighteen lawyers from Vorys were recently selected by their peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® 2016.
- 5/19/2015Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease is pleased to announce that 39 of the firm’s attorneys have been recognized among the leading practitioners in the country in the 2015 edition of Chambers USA.
- 1/19/2015Vorys recently advised Worthington Industries, Inc. in connection with its acquisition of the business of Rome Strip Steel Company, Inc. for a purchase price of approximately $55.5 million.
- 12/3/2014Vorys is pleased to announce that 74 attorneys from the firm have been named 2015 Ohio Super Lawyers and Rising Stars.
- 8/18/2014One-hundred and ten lawyers from Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease were recently selected by their peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® 2015.
- 8/1/2014Vorys recently advised Worthington Industries, Inc. in connection with its acquisition of the business of Midstream Equipment Fabrication LLC for a purchase price of $40 million.
- 7/31/2014Vorys recently advised Worthington Industries, Inc. in connection with its acquisition of the business of James Russell Engineering Works, Inc.
- 5/23/2014Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease is pleased to announce that 39 of the firm’s attorneys have been recognized among the leading practitioners in the country in the 2014 edition of Chambers USA.
- 12/4/2013Eighty-one attorneys from Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease LLP have been named 2014 Ohio Super Lawyers and Rising Stars. 57 Vorys attorneys were named 2014 Ohio Super Lawyer and 24 Vorys attorneys were named 2014 Ohio Rising Stars.
- 8/14/2013One hundred and eleven lawyers from Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease were recently selected by their peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® 2014.
- 6/21/2013Kristin Watt, a partner in the Vorys Columbus office and chair of the environmental group, was included on Columbus Business First’s “20 People to Know in Energy” List. Watt was selected for her work in energy and environmental law.
- 5/24/2013Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease is pleased to announce that 39 of the firm’s attorneys have been recognized among the leading practitioners in the country in the 2013 edition of Chambers USA. Chambers USA conducts in-depth research and ranks the leading firms and attorneys in an extensive range of practice areas throughout America.
- 4/16/2013Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease LLP recently advised the Pressure Cylinders segment of Worthington Industries, Inc. in connection with its acquisition of the business of Palmer Mfg. &Tank, Inc., for $113,500,000.
- 12/17/2012Seventy-Seven attorneys from Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease have been named 2013 Ohio Super Lawyers and Rising Stars.
- 9/12/2012Six Vorys partners have been named 2013 Lawyers of the Year by Best Lawyers. Each year, only a single lawyer in each specialty in each community is honored as the Lawyer of the Year.
- 8/23/2012One hundred and twenty-six lawyers from Vorys were recently selected by their peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® 2013.
- 6/7/2012Vorys announced that 35 of the firm’s attorneys have been recognized among the leading practitioners in the country in the 2012 edition of Chambers USA.
- 3/19/2012Kristin Watt, a partner in the Vorys Columbus office and chair of the firm’s environmental group, was quoted in a Cleveland Plain Dealer story titled “Shale gas lawyers in big demand in Ohio.”
- 12/16/2011
- 9/6/2011
- 6/27/2011
- 6/10/2011
- 8/9/2010
- 6/24/2010
- 4/6/2010
- 8/4/2009
- 3/4/2009
- 12/29/2008
- 9/1/2008
- 3/2008
- 9/19/2007
- 3/19/2007
Events
- 2/25/2022Vorys’ Economic Development Incentives Conference, the largest such annual conference in the nation, returned for the seventh year. We hosted a multitude of sessions focused on trends and best practices regarding economic development incentives for developers, companies and community leaders.
- 11/3/2021Vorys partner Kristin Watt co-hosted a webinar on new revisions ASTM International E1527 Standard Practice for Phase I Environmental Site Assessment Process the presented by CEC and Vorys.
- 10/20/2021Vorys attorneys Kristin Watt, Nick Reis and Jinn Tangeman participated in a seminar titled "Environmental Due Diligence When Purchasing Real Estate" as part of the Advanced Commercial Real Estate Seminar presented by the Ohio State Bar Association.
- 7/15/2020Kristin Watt, a partner in the Vorys Columbus office and chair of the environmental group, was a panelist for a webinar discussion on July 15, 2020. The panelists discussed the recently passed HB168, which establishes the bona fide purchaser defense (BFPD) into Ohio law.
- 4/9/2020The fourth installment of our weekly multi-disciplinary webinar series on the various business and legal implications of COVID-19 took place on Thursday, April 9, 2020.
- 8/21/2019Attorneys Robin Amicon, David Edelstein, Mairi Mull and Kristin Watt held a webinar titled “New Rules for the Management of Hazardous Waste Pharmaceuticals are Effective…Now What?”on August 21, 2019.
- 10/5/2018Vorys Partner Kristin Watt spoke at the The Ohio State University Center for Real Estate Breakfast Panel Series on October 5, 2018 in Columbus, Ohio.
- 10/20/2015Vorys Partner Kristin Watt was a speaker at the 5th Annual Ohio Surface Water Conference hosted by CLE International on October 20, 2015.
- 9/11/2015Vorys Partner Kristin Watt participated in a panel at the 6th Law of Shale Plays Conference hosted by the Institute of Energy Law on September 11, 2015.
- 12/3/2014Vorys partner Kristin Watt was a speaker at The OOGA Winter Expo and Technical Conference on December 3, 2014.
- 4/9/2014Vorys partner Kristin Watt presented at the Ohio Energy: Emerging Issues in Law, Finance and Regulation seminar on April 9, 2014 hosted by the Ohio State University Moritz College of Law.
- 11/21/2013Vorys attorneys Greg Russell, Mike Settineri, Kristin Watt, Tim McGranor and Jon Airey presented at the Northern Appalachian Landman’s Association Seminar on November 21.
- 4/27/2013Vorys attorneys Greg Russell, John Airey and Kristin Watt presented at the 28th Annual Ohio Environment, Energy and Resources Seminar hosted by the Ohio State Bar Association on April 26 & 27, 2013.
- 4/20/2012Vorys partner Kristin Watt presented at the Ohio State Bar Association’s 27th Annual Ohio Environment, Energy and Resources Law Seminar on April 20.
- 3/15/2012Vorys partners Anthony Giuliani and Kristin Watt spoke at the Ohio Oil and Gas Association Winter Meeting on March 15. Greg Russell moderated the panel.
- 12/6/2011
- 7/14/2011
- 7/13/2011
- 7/12/2011
- 4/7/2011
- 4/29/2010
- 10/14/2009
Insights
- 5/31/2022On May 18, 2022, Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (Ohio EPA) issued the next generation of the Industrial Stormwater – General Permit, also known as the Multi-Sector General Permit (MSGP).
- 3/9/2022The United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) released a detailed guidance and brief fact sheet on March 8, 2022, providing details on how money from the new infrastructure law will be distributed to communities needing federal funds for local sewer and water projects.
- 10/5/2021The USEPA's latest proposal for additional per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) regulation is currently under agency review for finalization after the comment period on the proposed rule closed last week.
- 7/26/2021The Ohio General Assembly recently enacted and funded new state programs to encourage redevelopment of sites, including both brownfield and non-brownfield sites. H.B. 110, the state’s main operating appropriations bill for FY 2021-2022, was signed into effect on June 30, 2021.
- 6/29/2021On June 28, 2021, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) issued a proposed rule detailing new reporting requirements under section 8(a)(7) of the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).
- 3/15/2021The newly-enacted American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 includes, among other relief, additional funding to universities, colleges, and schools, some of which can be used to upgrade health safeguards, including improved ventilation systems.
- 3/11/2021On Wednesday, March 10th, the House passed the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, the third major federal COVID-19 relief act following the CARES Act and the December 2020 Consolidated Appropriations Act. President Biden is expected to sign it into law Friday.
- 1/21/2021On January 20, 2021, USEPA issued its Final Guidance Memorandum on how permitting authorities should apply the United States Supreme Court’s recent decision in County of Maui v. Hawaii Wildlife Fund within the NPDES permitting process.
- 12/27/2020Late on December 27, the President signed a $900 billion relief package that will provide aid to individuals and businesses still struggling with the economic impact of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Both the House and the Senate passed the proposal last week.
- 12/18/2020
- 10/6/2020On December 20, 2019, President Trump signed the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020 (NDAA) into law.
- 5/6/2020The Ohio EPA recirculated guidance previously published in conjunction with the Ohio Department of Health on the importance of flushing water systems in facilities that were previously left vacant.
- 4/23/2020On April 23, 2020, the U.S. Supreme Court, in a 6-3 decision, held that a permit is required for either “a direct discharge of pollutants from a point source into federally regulated navigable waters, or when there is the functional equivalent of a direct discharge.”
- 3/23/2020As the COVID-19 situation continues to evolve day by day, we recommend carefully reviewing each of your facilities’ environmental-related permits, orders, and other compliance obligations.
- 6/4/2019Ohio’s health care industry will soon take on significant new obligations with respect to the management of hazardous pharmaceutical waste, pursuant to a federal rule being implemented by Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
- 12/11/2017Ohio will soon join Texas and New Jersey as the only states to regulate “paint and paint-related waste” as a Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) universal waste instead of a hazardous waste.
- 8/8/2016The United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit recently affirmed the guilty plea of Mark Sawyer for conspiring to violate the Clean Air Act (CAA), 18 U.S.C. 371.
- 9/1/2011
- May 2009
- 12/16/2008
- 12/16/2008
- 10/22/2008
- 7/1/2007
- Contributor - Energy & Environmental Law Blog