ATTORNEYS / THOMAS HNASKO

Extensive Environmental and Natural Resources Law Experience.

Thomas Hnasko is an environmental attorney with more than 40 years of experience representing clients in complex environmental litigation, regulatory matters, permitting, remediation, and environmental risk management.

His clients include oil and gas producers, mining companies, pipeline owners and operators, financial institutions, policyholders with claims under comprehensive general liability and pollution policies, property owners, and businesses facing significant environmental claims or regulatory challenges.

Mr. Hnasko’s practice includes matters arising under federal and New Mexico environmental laws, including CERCLA, RCRA, the Clean Water Act, the New Mexico Air Quality Act, the New Mexico Water Quality Control Act, and the New Mexico Hazardous Waste Act. He has extensive experience in air quality permitting and enforcement, groundwater remediation, oil and gas regulation, toxic tort litigation, endangered species issues, brownfield redevelopment, and the acquisition and financing of environmentally - impaired properties.

Throughout his career, Mr. Hnasko has represented clients before the New Mexico Environment Department, the Oil Conservation Division, the Environmental Improvement Board, the Water Quality Control Commission, and the State Land Office. He has served as lead counsel in significant matters involving environmental issues, including insurance coverage on behalf of policy holders, and natural resources development and remediation. He has argued seminal environmental cases before the New Mexico Supreme Court and federal courts in numerous districts.

Mr. Hnasko’s depth of experience has also led to his retention as an expert witness in complex environmental matters involving mining operations, oil and gas properties, environmental remediation, insurance coverage, and regulatory compliance.

Mr. Hnasko has written and lectured extensively on environmental liabilities, permitting, and environmental due diligence. He was recognized by the New Mexico Board of Legal Specialization as a specialist in environmental law and served as Chair of the New Mexico Environmental Specialization Committee. He is currently a Fellow in the American College of Environmental Lawyers.

Mr. Hnasko has been listed as a Best Lawyer in America for environmental law for 16 consecutive years and has been selected as a New Mexico SuperLawyer in environmental litigation every year since 2007.  He was honored as Best Lawyers’ Lawyer of the Year in Santa Fe for environmental law in 2011, and for environmental litigation in 2013, 2019, 2021, and 2023.  He has also been recognized by his SuperLawyer peers as one of the top 25 lawyers in New Mexico in each of the past seven years.

Complex Environmental and Natural Resources Litigation and Administrative Proceedings

Complex Commercial Litigation

Constitutional Law, Legislative Affairs & Government Entity Defense

EDUCATION

University of North Dakota School of Law

J.D. – 1982
Honors: Order of the Coif; Research and Managing Editor, North Dakota Law Review

University of North Dakota

B.A. – 1979
Cum Laude with Honors

PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS AND MEMBERSHIPS