Richard A. Horder

As an Assistant United States Attorney from 1974 to 1977, he represented the U.S. EPA in numerous water and NEPA cases. From 1978 to 1989, he was Regional Counsel, and later Associate General Counsel, for Georgia-Pacific Corporation, where he was responsible for all environmental and toxic tort compliance and litigation company-wide. In 1989, he joined Kilpatrick Stockton LLP, a large Atlanta law firm, where he served as head of the Environmental, Land Use, and Natural Resources Practice Team in Atlanta. He is a Founding Partner at KMCL.

Two-time Chair, State Bar of Georgia Environmental Law Section

Two-time Chair, Atlanta Bar Environmental Law & Toxic Tort Section

President, Atlanta Legal Aid Society, Board Member, Atlanta Legal Aid Society, Advisory Board Member, Atlanta Legal Aid Society.

Georgia Super Lawyer; Georgia Top 100 Super Lawyer, Chambers USA listing; The Best Lawyers in America®; Who’s Who Legal (Environment); Lawyers of Distinction; Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent® rating.

Institute for Georgia Environmental Leadership - Class of 2011

Emory Public Interest Committee Inspiration Award for Outstanding Leadership in the Public Interest

Florida Bar President’s Pro Bono Service Award, Out-of-State Award Winner, The Florida Bar

National Center on Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Award, Georgia State University

William B. Spann, Jr. Award presented by the Access to Justice Committee and the Pro Bono Project of the State Bar of Georgia

Leadership Atlanta, Class of 1982

Moderator, “PFAS Symposium,” March 2022.

“16 Things I Have Learned About Mediation,” State Bar of Georgia, Environmental Law Section Seminar, September 2021

“Reagan v. Trump: Remembering the Reagan Administration to Inform Today’s Events,” Environmental Law Section Summer Seminar, Institute for Continuing Legal Education in Georgia, June 2017

“Legislative Update”, Coastal Issues & Shoreline Regulations in Georgia, The Seminar Group, November 2017

“Working with Experts,” Green Law, July 2016

“Environmental Law Practice,” Emory University School of Law, March 2016

“CERCLA Litigation in a Post-Burlington Northern World”, Environmental Law Section Summer Seminar, Institute of Continuing Legal Education in Georgia - August 2014

“Present at the Creation: A Conversation with Long-Time Environmental Practitioners”, Environmental Law Section, State Bar of Georgia, December 2013.

“Working with Environmental Consultants/ Working with Environmental Attorneys: The View from Both Ends of the Table,” The Relationship Between Lawyer, Client and Environmental Consultant, Atlanta Bar Association Environmental & Toxic Tort Section and Atlanta Bar Association, March 2013.

The Relationship Between Lawyer, Client and Environmental Consultant. Program Chair, Atlanta Bar Association Environmental & Toxic Tort Section and Atlanta Bar Association, March 2013.

“Gorillas and Goliaths: Endangered Species in the Wild and in the Law,” Animal Law and the Experts, Institute of Continuing Legal Education in Georgia, March 2011.

"Contamination Stigma: Property Damage from Soil and Groundwater Contamination," Toxic Torts, Institute of Continuing Legal Education in Georgia, March 2005

"A Tale of Two Litigators – A Demonstration of Persuasion and Procedure in Environmental Advocacy," Environmental Law, Institute of Continuing Legal Education in Georgia, August 2002

Represented an owner whose property was contaminated by an off-site release of PCBs and solvents. The case went to trial in federal district court, resulting in a $20 million judgment for the owner.

Represented the owner of a dry-cleaning supply business in Fulton County, Georgia, against a property owner’s $10 million claim that dry cleaning solvents had contaminated the property. The case was ultimately resolved for a minimal amount.

Successfully defended numerous dioxin litigation matters, including a large class action alleging property damage to riparian owners as a result of dioxin contamination from NPDES-permitted discharges. In the same matter, successfully negotiated with insurance carriers for coverage of the costs of defense and settlement.

Responsible for overseeing defense of a class action of over one million individuals in the Baton Rouge/New Orleans corridor alleging personal injury for exposure to drinking water contaminated with phenol from an NPDES-permitted discharge. The class was certified and litigation lasted approximately nine years, resulting in a favorable settlement. Again, successfully negotiated with insurers for coverage of defense and indemnity costs, and supervised litigation against the non-settling carriers.

Participated on behalf of a PRP group in a claim brought by the State of Michigan and the United States involving remediation of 57 miles of the Kalamazoo River due to PCB contamination.

One of two primary outside counsel for a multi-defendant, global environmental insurance coverage litigation for a Fortune 100 corporation against 18 primary and excess carriers. Involved in all phases of discovery, motions and argument, resulting in a multi-million dollar settlement for client.

Represented a large petroleum marketer and convenience store operator in the sale of over 100 locations, favorably allocating environmental liabilities between the client and purchaser.

Represented the City of Atlanta in a multi-billion suit by a citizen group, U.S. EPA, and the State of Georgia arising out of alleged violations of the Clean Water Act by the City’s POTWs and CSOs. Successfully negotiated a favorable consent decree.

Successfully represented a company which inadvertently disposed of low level radioactive Excluded Waste in a landfill against claims by the landfill owner for significant damages.

Successfully mediated over 100 environmental matters, both as a party representative and as the mediator.