Biography: Environment

Russ LaMotte practises in the area of international and US environmental, climate change, and oceans law. As co-chair of the firm's international environmental practice group, he counsels leading multinational corporations and trade associations on environmental measures governing product design, pollution control, and resource protection measures in key markets worldwide. He also advises clients on the negotiation and implementation of regional and global environmental agreements, with a particular emphasis on treaties and legislation impacting the chemicals, ag-biotech, and electronics sectors. He also serves as co-chair of the firm's climate change practice group, where he advises clients on both the emerging US climate change regimes and the evolving international climate change framework.

Mr LaMotte served for over 10 years as a senior international lawyer at the US Department of State, where he represented the US government in either designing, negotiating or implementing most of the major environmental and oceans agreements and initiatives. He has extensive experience with complex international dispute resolution and the legal aspects of the United Nations and other international organisations.

A substantial part of his practice involves representing clients in multilateral treaty negotiations, particularly under the Stockholm POPs Convention and the Rotterdam PIC Convention on trade in hazardous substances.

Mr LaMotte frequently advises clients on multi-jurisdictional product compliance regulatory matters, ranging from market access requirements to product stewardship initiatives, including requirements governing the transboundary movement of used and end-of-life products.

He serves on the editorial advisory committee of International Legal Materials and has served as co-chair of the annual meeting of the American Society of International Law. He is a magna cum laude graduate of the Harvard Law School.