Robert Howard

Practice Areas

Robert Howard retired from the partnership in December 2023 and is currently of counsel. Mr. Howard represents clients in the oil and gas, power, aerospace, defense, chemical, and cleantech industries.

Mr. Howard has tried high-profile criminal and civil cases in federal and state courts. He handles governmental civil and criminal enforcement actions, clean water matters, toxic tort and product liability cases, public nuisance, asbestos matters, ocean sediment contamination, natural resources damages, federal facility divestitures, brownfield redevelopment, renewable energy projects, government contractor disputes, environmental litigation, and permitting cases.

Mr. Howard formerly chaired the San Diego office’s Environment, Land & Resources Department.

Mr. Howard has published articles on criminal environmental enforcement, evidentiary issues, CERCLA cost recovery, and military base and federal war plant closures. His articles have been cited by the Supreme Courts of Michigan, Florida, New Mexico, and Wisconsin. Mr. Howard also speaks regularly on environmental and litigation topics at law schools and industry groups.

Mr. Howard has been nationally recognized in The Legal 500 US (2007–2012, 2018, 2020) and Chambers USA (2006–2023) where sources describe him as “extremely hard-working and a first-class strategist” and “an excellent trial lawyer who gets fantastic results.” Law360 named him a 2016 MVP for notable legal work in the Environmental category. Mr. Howard has been recognized in the areas of environmental law and litigation by Super Lawyers San Diego (2007–2023).

Prior to joining Latham & Watkins, Mr. Howard served as a judicial clerk for Judge Jerry E. Smith of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. He graduated from Duke Law School with honors and served as a notes editor on the Duke Law Journal. Mr. Howard is also a retired lieutenant colonel in the United States Marine Corps Reserve.