Nicholas McDaniel
Area of Emphasis
Nick McDaniel is a shareholder in the Litigation, Environmental and Energy and Natural Resources groups of Babst Calland. He has extensive experience in environmental enforcement and complex commercial litigation. He focuses his practice on complex environmental matters primarily in the energy and natural resources and manufacturing sectors. Mr. McDaniel has also successfully negotiated settlements with regulators and citizen groups resolving environmental contamination violations. He also represents clients in arguing bankruptcy cases.
Prior to joining Babst Calland, Mr. McDaniel worked in the U.S. Department of Justice’s Environment and Natural Resources Division, Environmental Enforcement Section, where he led enforcement action and negotiations securing the largest ever civil penalty under the Clean Air Act, among other cases. In this role he was awarded the Assistant Attorney General’s Award for Excellence for litigating and settling an Oil Pollution Act cost recovery action relating to longest-running oil spill in U.S. history, and the Assistant Attorney General’s Award for Excellence for litigating and settling CERCLA cost recovery and natural resource damages.
Prior to government service, Mr. McDaniel worked at the Environmental Law & Policy Center where he litigated complex energy and rate-making cases before the Public Utilities Commission and in state courts.
Background
Mr. McDaniel graduated cum laude from Harvard Law School and received his J.D. in 2011. He received a B.A. summa cum laude in 2008 from Eastern Kentucky University.
Memberships and Affiliations
Mr. McDaniel is admitted to practice in District of Columbia, Massachusetts and Ohio (inactive).
Awards and Recognition
• United States Department of Justice, Assistant Attorney General’s Award for Excellence (2018, 2022)
• United States Department of Justice, Younger Federal Lawyer Award Nominee (2024)
• United States Department of Justice, Outstanding Performance Award (multiple years)
• United States Department of Justice, Special Achievement Awards (multiple years)
• United States Environmental Protection Agency, National Gold Medal for Exceptional Service (2021)
• United States Environmental Protection Agency, National Silver Medal for Superior Service (2023)
• United States Environmental Protection Agency, Region 5, Bronze Medal (2017)