Mike Ford practices environmental and occupational safety law, focused primarily on regulatory compliance and transactional issues, and enforcement defense, arising under federal, state and local environmental and workplace safety laws. He has assisted clients in obtaining and complying with permits, spill reporting and remediation, recovering cleanup costs and obtaining insurance coverage from state and private insurers and in connection with real estate transactions, mergers, and acquisitions and assisted in due diligence investigations. Mr. Ford’s expertise in brownfields development includes project feasibility analysis and due diligence, deal negotiating, voluntary cleanup programs, tax credit qualification, remediation oversight and consultant management, obtaining environmental insurance, and regulatory closure approval.

Publications

• "Regulatory Developments – Legal News You Can Use" Journal of Environmental Management Arizona, Columnist, 2003 - current

• "Pre-Acquisition Coverage for Environmental Liabilities: An Analysis of the Ongoing Dispute," 32 Environmental Law Reporter 10618, May 2002

• "The Small Business Liability Relief and Brownfields Revitalization Act: Real Relief or Prolonged Pain?" 32 Environmental Law Reporter 10505, April 2002

• "Transactions Update - The New Bona Fide Prospective Purchaser Defense Under CERCLA," State Bar of Arizona Environmental and Natural Resources Law Section Newsletter, April 2002

• "Reconciling Environmental Liability Standards After Iverson and Bestfoods," 30 Environmental Reporter 229, June 4, 1999

• "The Most Commonly Asked Questions in Environmental Law," Maricopa County Bar Association, Co-Editor, Spring 1999

• "The Continuing Evolution of Parent and Successor Corporation Liability Under CERCLA," St. Louis Bar Journal, Summer 1998

Speaking Engagements

• "The Ninth Circuit’s Impairment of Arizona Water Quality," Arizona Hydrological Society Surface Water Session, Arizona Department of Water Resources, May 15, 2008

• "Renewable Energy Incentives- The Business Impacts and Opportunities of Climate Change Initiatives," National Business Institute, Phoenix, Arizona, April 29, 2008

• "Arizona NPDES Program Update," Arizona Association of Industries, Phoenix, Arizona, 2007

• "Working with Environmental Attorneys and Consultants" Gatekeeper Regulatory Roundup, Phoenix, Arizona, 2007

• "Accidental Spill Reporting Requirements," Gatekeeper Regulatory Roundup, Phoenix, Arizona, 2005-2007 (multiple presentations)

• "New Aquifer Protection Permit Requirements," 14^th Annual AAI Environmental Summit, Arizona Association of Industries, Tucson, Arizona, August 11, 2005

• "Redevelopment of Contaminated Property," Lorman Education Services, Conference on Brownfields Redevelopment and City of Phoenix Brownfields University, Phoenix, Arizona 2004-2005 (multiple presentations)

• "New Real Estate Due Diligence Standards," State Bar of Arizona Conference, Tucson, Arizona, June 11, 2004

• Instructor, ACHMM Overview Course, Phoenix, Arizona 2003-2006 (multiple presentations); topics include Clean Water Act, CERCLA, FIFRA)

• "Ethical Duties of Attorneys and Consultants," CLE International Environmental Seminars, Phoenix, Tucson, Albuquerque, 1999-2003 (multiple presentations)

• "Superfund Recycling Equity Act - CERCLA Liability Protection for Generators of Recyclable Materials," Arizona Association of Industries Environmental Summit, Prescott, Arizona, August 16, 2001

Professional Affiliations

• Maricopa County Bar Association – Environmental Law Section, past Chair

• Arizona Manufacturers Council

• Academy of Certified Hazardous Materials Managers, Director

• Environmental Professionals of Arizona

• Arizona Mining Association

• Arizona Technology Council