About Mark
J. Mark Morford is a retired partner no longer practicing law. To connect with an environmental & natural resources law attorney, please click here.
Mark started his legal career in the early years of modern environmental law and was privileged to help Oregon develop its reputation as a leader in regulation of air quality and water quality in the 1990s. In the course of his legal career, he served on numerous advisory committees for the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality and the federal Environmental Protection Agency and had a central role in developing some of Oregon’s key environmental statutes and regulations. By 2000, Mark was advising clients in nascent efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and in trading carbon credits. In later years, he led industrial clients in negotiating landmark good neighbor agreements with their communities.
Mark has 35 years’ experience counseling businesses on environmental issues. He spent most of his legal career helping clients resolve compliance issues at the intersection of law, science, engineering, finance and public opinion. Known for advocating “whole problem solving,” Mark is more interested in identifying and removing obstacles to improved environmental outcomes than in simply resolving immediate compliance issues. As a lawyer, he frequently assisted clients in integrating beyond-compliance commitments into successful business strategies.
In its annual survey of America’s best attorneys for business, Chambers and Partners reported that sources consider Mark to be “at the top of the pile in terms of Oregon environmental lawyers,” adding that there are “very few people who really have the depth of knowledge he does in several different statutory areas.” Mark frequently worked as the interface between industrial clients and community and environmental activists and advised clients in resolving conflict without litigation.
Mark helped found and grow Stoel Rives’ environmental practice into a nationally recognized leader in the field. He served as its practice group leader until the late 1990s and then served two years on the Stoel Rives management committee.
Expand to Read More +
See Less -