R. Lee Vail P.E., Ph.D.
  • Environmental Law, Intellectual Property, Energy, Oil & Gas Law
  • Louisiana, Texas, United States Patent and Trademark Office
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Biography

He practices in the environmental regulatory, Process Safety Management, emergency response, and intellectual property groups. He is a Registered Professional Engineer in Louisiana and holds a Ph.D. in Environmental Engineering. Prior to joining Kean Miller, Lee served as Manager of Environmental Affairs for a worldwide oil and gas company.

Lee brings more than 30 years of process engineering, project management, process safety management, and environmental regulatory experience in the petroleum refining industry to the representation of industry clients. His expertise includes sophisticated interaction on behalf of industry clients in connection with regulatory compliance and permitting, Process Safety Management (PSM), Risk Management Program (RMP), RAGAGEP, Process Safety Information (PSI), OSHA, EPA, and CSB investigations, release reporting, incident management, and litigation avoidance. Lee also represents clients in connection with pipeline regulatory and safety issues under PHMSA and Louisiana Department of Natural Resources programs, including jurisdictional determinations, registration requirements, compliance and due diligence associated with mergers/acquisitions of pipeline facilities or financing of projects including pipelines.

Lee is also a registered Patent Attorney and is licensed to practice before the United States Patent and Trademark Office.

Practice Areas
Environmental Law
Intellectual Property
Energy, Oil & Gas Law
Utilities
Jurisdictions Admitted to Practice
Louisiana
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Texas
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United States Patent and Trademark Office
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Languages
  • English: Spoken, Written
Education
Loyola University New Orleans
J.D. (2010)
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Tulane University
Ph.D. (1990) | Environmental Engineering
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Louisiana State University - University of New Orleans
MBA (1987)
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Tulane University
M.S. (1983) | Petroleum Engineering
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Louisiana State University - Baton Rouge
B.S. (1978) | Chemical Engineering
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Professional Associations
Louisiana State Bar Association
Current
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State Bar of Texas
Current
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Contact & Map
New Orleans, LA, US