Martha Thomsen

Practice Areas

Martha Thomsen represents and advises clients in complex environmental litigation and regulatory compliance matters, with a focus on CERCLA, RCRA, the CWA, and related state laws. Her experience spans numerous industries, including traditional and renewable energy, chemicals, and manufacturing. Ms. Thomsen’s career at Baker Botts includes bringing and defending complex CERCLA suits, and successful litigation of such suits through trial. Most recently, Ms. Thomsen was a member of the trial team that successfully obtained a $20.3 verdict for cleanup costs against the federal Government associated with World War II-related contamination. Exxon Mobil Corp. v. United States, 2020 WL 5573048 (Sept. 16, 2020).

Ms. Thomsen also has specific expertise in matters related to coal combustion residuals, and helps companies navigate compliance and liability risks in a complex and versatile regulatory landscape. Ms. Thomsen regularly engages with state and federal agencies on a variety of waste and water issues, and has negotiated numerous successful resolutions and settlements. Finally, Ms. Thomsen is actively engaged in helping companies and agencies identify long-term issues and solutions associated with increased reliance on renewable energy sources.

Professional Memberships

Ms. Thomsen is admitted in Washington DC and Maryland, as well as in the following courts: the US Supreme Court, the US Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, the US Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, the US Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit, the US District Court for the District of Columbia, the US District Court for the District of Maryland, and the US Court of Federal Claims.

Publications

Key PFAS Provisions in Defense Bill to Impact Military, Industry Handling, Bloomberg Law (December 2019) (with J. Barton Seitz and Jennifer Golinsky)

Justices Weigh Property Rights Against Superfund Plans, Law360 (December 2019) (with Joshua Frank)

Personal

JD, cum laude, University of Michigan Law School 2012

BA, cum laude, Carleton College 2007