Los Angeles, (SEPTEMBER 16, 2025) – Saul Ewing LLP has added an experienced environmental litigation team to its Los Angeles office with the hiring of Partner Christopher "Smitty" Smith, Counsel Steven Werth and Associate Katherine Meek. Together, they bring to the firm extensive experience handling complex litigation and regulatory proceedings before federal and state courts and environmental agencies.
“We are thrilled to welcome Smitty, Steve and Katherine to Saul Ewing,” said Los Angeles Office Managing Partner Steven Ziven. “Their move gives the firm's already outstanding Environmental Practice a strong foothold on the West Coast, especially for national businesses whose footprint includes California and who need support from a team with a deep understanding of California environmental regulations."
Pamela Goodwin, co-chair of the firm's Environmental Practice, added, "Smitty adds a wonderful dimension to our group. He is equally strong representing clients in the courtroom and navigating the regulatory landscape on behalf of our developer clients. He was selected in 2024 by the Los Angeles Business Journal as one of the Leaders of Influence in the Litigators & Trial Attorneys category, and also has been recognized for his environmental law work by both The Lawdragon Green 500 and The Best Lawyers in America: Ones to Watch list."
Mr. Smith, who is an executive committee member and former chair of the Los Angeles County Bar Environmental Section, as well as an executive committee member of the California Lawyers Association Environmental Section, has particularly deep experience in environmental disputes stemming from industrial operations, real estate development, product liability and exposure, and packaging.. These matters typically involve permitting, reporting, compliance, and liability issues enforced by federal and state environmental agencies including the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC), the Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle), the Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR), California Regional Water Quality Control Boards (RWQCBs), the California Air Resources Board (CARB), the South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD), and other local state environmental agencies (LEA and CUPA).
Together, he, Mr. Werth and Ms. Meek handle disputes arising under statutes including the:
- Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA or Superfund)
- Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA)
- Clean Water Act (CWA)
- Oil Pollution Act (OPA)
- Hazardous Substances Account Act (HSAA)
- Proposition 65 (Prop 65)
- California Senate Bill 54 (SB54)
- California Senate Bill 343 (SB343)
- California Civil Code 1750 (CLRA)
- California Business & Professions Code 17200 (Unfair Business Practices)
- California Business & Professions Code 17500 (False Advertising)
Additionally, Mr. Smith advises and defends clients who produce, distribute, or market products in California on compliance issues involving Proposition 65, Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), recyclability, chemicals, product liability, false advertising, unfair business practices, and greenwashing.
Ms. Meek's understanding of environmental issues is enhanced by her previous work as a research fellow for the Center for Law, Energy & the Environment at the University of California, Berkeley School of Law, where she focused on water rights and land use issues. Her work included drafting legal and technical sections of an EPA policy guide on enhanced aquifer recharge.
Mr. Werth bring brings more than 25 years of experience handling complex causes of action to the team. In addition to his work on environmental contribution liability disputes, Mr. Werth handles litigation on behalf of bankruptcy estates seeking to avoid fraudulent transfers, pursuing wrongful distributions to Ponzi scheme participants, and locating hidden assets.
Mr. Werth also represents clients in landlord-tenant disputes, insurance coverage litigation, avoidable transfer litigation and defense, and PACE financing litigation.
In addition to his environmental law practice, Mr. Smith represents clients in a broad range of
commercial, industrial, real estate, and product liability litigation.
Mr. Smith has a J.D. from Seattle University School of Law and a B.S. from San Diego State University. Mr. Werth has a J.D. from University of Southern California School of Law and a B.A. from Pomona College. Ms. Meek has a J.D. from UCLA School of Law, an M.S. in Geochemistry and Isotope Geology from Cornell University, and a B.A. in Chemistry from Smith College.
About Saul Ewing
Saul Ewing is a full-service, national law firm with more than 400 attorneys and a team of top-notch business professionals, all working together to deliver practical, proactive advice and excellent client service. Our diversity of thought, focus on innovation, cross-serving practices, and culture of coaching create a collegial and supportive environment that inspires us to deliver inspired solutions. This is The Saul Approach.
