O’Melveny Worldwide

Martin J. (“Kelly”) McTigue’s practice covers a wide range of environmental issues, including water quality and supply, air quality including climate change and greenhouse gas regulation, reporting obligations, permitting issues, and the regulation and remediation of hazardous substances and natural resource damages.  He also directs national and international environmental diligence associated with mergers, acquisitions and financings.  The relationships with environmental regulatory agencies he established throughout his career enable Kelly to anticipate the environmental and water issues likely to confront his clients, and provide advice tailored to their unique circumstances.

Kelly’s experience with Superfund and hazardous waste law, as well as the redevelopment, transfer, and cleanup of contaminated property, includes representation of clients at several major groundwater contamination Superfund sites in California and Arizona, as well as other remediation sites in Washington, Oregon and Idaho along with federal and state locations.  He represents clients across a variety of industries, including mining, waste management, property development, ports, airports, energy, oil and gas, manufacturing, biotechnology and entertainment.  Kelly also provides environmental compliance, water resources and diligence advice to energy industry clients and has experience with most types of power plants, including thermal, cogeneration, and such alternative technologies as wind, solar, and geothermal.

Kelly frequently negotiates with, and participates in public hearings before, federal and state environmental agencies, such as the US Environmental Protection Agency, the US Bureau of Reclamation, the Army Corps of Engineers, US Forest Service, US Fish and Wildlife Service, Cal-EPA’s Department of Toxic Substances Control, the Department of Health Services, the Air Resources Board and the various local air districts, the State Water Resources Control Board and its various Regional Boards, the California Energy Commission, and the California Coastal Commission, and other states’ counterpart agencies.

Kelly also is a frequent speaker and author on environmental law issues.  He is recognized in Chambers USA and The Best Lawyers in America as one of the leading US environmental lawyers.

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Admissions

Bar Admissions

  • California

Education

  • Southwestern University School of Law, J.D., 1990: cum laude; Southwestern University Law Review
  • University of Idaho, B.S., 1981: Business Management

Honors & Awards

  • Recognized by Chambers USA: Americas Leading Lawyers for Business (2008-2024)
  • Recognized by Best Lawyers® for Environmental Law and Litigation - Environmental in Los Angeles, CA (2022-2025); Kelly has been listed in Best Lawyers® since 2008 and he has also been named “Lawyer of the Year” (Environmental Law) in local jurisdiction (2021)
  • Recognized as a Notable Practitioner by IFLR1000 for Project Development and Energy (2021)
  • Recommended by The Legal 500 US for Environmental: Transactional (2018-2024) and Project Finance (2018-2019)
  • Who’s Who Legal - Recommended in Environment (2018-2019)
  • AmLaw - Top Rated Lawyer in Energy/Environmental (2013)
  • Los Angeles Business Journal - Who’s Who of Environmental Lawyers (2008)

Professional Activities

Member

  • State Bar of California, Environmental Law Section

Co-Author

  • “California Environmental Law Handbook,” Gov’t Institutes (4th Ed. 1990 – 6th Ed. 1992) 

Editor

  • “Environmental Spill Reporting Handbook,” Thompson-West (2006 Ed.)