Christopher Richards

Summary

Chris is an attorney in Taft’s Environmental and Real Estate practice groups. He concentrates on issues ranging from helping clients proactively identify and resolve complicated environmental problems to assisting with the strategic navigation of regulatory processes. Chris has successfully resolved legal complications with numerous regulatory agencies, including the EPA, EGLE, MIOSHA, and the USNRC.

In addition to environmental law, Chris has broad experience counseling and advising commercial clients throughout the entire real property acquisition process, from initial identification of a real estate need to closing.

Before joining the firm, Chris worked extensively with the Big 3 as in-house counsel at a major automotive supplier where he provided representation focused primarily on transactional real estate, environmental compliance, industrial health and safety, green technology implementation, contract review, and construction dispute resolution.

Chris served in the U.S. Marine Corps at Selfridge ANGB, Michigan from 2007-2013 as an Operations and Intelligence (S-3) Clerk/Communications Liaison at the Headquarters and Support Company for the 1st Battalion 24th Marines.

All Service Areas

Education

  • Michigan State University College of Law

    J.D.

  • Northern Michigan University

    B.S.

Admissions

  • State - Michigan

Professional Affiliations

  • Michigan State University College of Law Legal Clinics

    Housing Law Clinic, Student Clinician (January 2015 – June 2015)
    Urban Food, Farm and Agriculture Law Practicum, Student Clinician (May 2014-August 2014)

  • Oakland County Bar Association

    Member
    Vice Chair, Energy Sustainability and Environmental Law Committee (2022-2023)

Community Involvement

  • Hostel Detroit

    Director and Board Member (January 2018 – present)