Senior Member

William T. Gorton III

wgorton@stites.com

Bill Gorton is a Senior Member of Stites & Harbison in the Environmental, Energy & Sustainability Service Group. He is national counsel to numerous clients on environmental regulatory and land and water resources matters. He represents numerous solar energy developers along with industrial scale energy storage battery companies in siting, property rights, zoning and permitting and compliance issues. Bill has represented clients in the waste management sector including acquisitions, due diligence, compliance and contracting. He has been counsel in the development of numerous independent gas, solar and waste-coal power plants. He has been national counsel to numerous surety companies regarding over $4 billion in financial guarantees on bankrupt and/or defaulting mining operations, hazardous waste facilities and solid waste disposal facilities throughout the United States. He has been primary environmental counsel in the development of interstate pipeline associated with major natural gas resource development. He also counsels on large natural resource and energy, waste industry, business or corporate transactions, and project development assessing and addressing environmental regulatory issues and accomplishing clients' goals. He advises healthcare clients in permitting, acquisitions and environmental compliance matters. Bill served as an Adjunct Professor of Environmental Law at the University of Kentucky's Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation program for twelve years.

Before embarking on a law career, Mr. Gorton managed many projects as an environmental consultant on projects throughout the U.S.

Recent News, Articles & Speaking Engagements

What You Need to Know About Reclamation Bonds

Speaker, National Association of Surety Bond Producers (NASBP), February 28, 2023

Chapter 7: Reclamation Bonds

co author with Robert L. Scanlon and Laura M. Murphy, The Law of Commercial Surety and Miscellaneous Bonds, Third Edition, ABA Tort Trial and Insurance Practice Section, 2022

Recent Assignments
Bar Admissions
Kentucky
Pennsylvania
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania
U.S. District Court for the Western District of Kentucky
U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania
Memberships
American Bar Association
Kentucky Bar Association
Pennsylvania Bar Association
Energy and Mineral Law Foundation
Community Involvement

Kentucky Bicycle and Bikeway Commission

Kentucky Rails to Trails Council, Inc., Pro-Bono Legal Counsel

Energy and Mineral Law Foundation, Trustee

Education
More Than Stites & Harbison

Prior to attending law school, Bill was the manager of the Kentucky office of Skelly & Loy Engineers-Consultants and had managed natural resource development and environmental remediation projects throughout the United States. At Skelly & Loy, he developed the mine land reclamation programs under the Title IV of the Surface Mine, Control and Reclamation Act for Alaska and Virginia. He also managed technical projects for the U.S. Department of Interior, U.S. Bureau of Mines, U.S. EPA, Appalachian Regional Commission and numerous state agency and private sector clients. He was appointed by Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear to The Kentucky Bicycle and Bikeways Commission and has also advised the Kentucky Rails to Trails Council, Inc. on a pro bono basis, formed as part of the nationwide movement to develop abandoned rail beds into trails for recreation use. Bill is Assistant Professor/Adjunct at the University of Kentucky in the Natural Resource and Environmental Science Program teaching Environmental Law and Regulation. He is also a Trustee to the Energy and Mineral Law Foundation. An avid cyclist, Bill has been a spin instructor at the Lexington YMCA. In 2010, Bill joined a group of amateur cyclists who participated in six stages of the Tour de France.

Accolades

Martindale-Hubbell® AV-Preeminent® Peer Review Rated

Best Lawyers in America®, Energy Law, Environmental Law, Mining Law and Natural Resources Law (2007-25)

Best Lawyers in America®, Lexington Area Lawyer of the Year for Environmental Law (2022, 2024)

ChambersUSA, "America's Leading Lawyers for Business," Environment, Natural Resources & Utilities: Environment (2012-23)

Benchmark Litigation magazine, Litigation Star (2015-25)

International Law Office and Lexology, Client Choice Award for Excellence in Client Service (2015)

Testimonials

. . . acts for clients in the energy, healthcare and waste management sectors on environmental regulatory compliance. He handles environmental support for corporate transactions and project development.

- Chambers Commentary (USA)

. . . noted for his work in land and water resources issues, and is also regularly called upon to advise on coal industry matters.

- Chambers Commentary (USA)

. . . thorough knowledge of the regulatory and administrative landscape.

- Best Lawyers

. . . knowledge and experience . . . irreplaceable assets to our company.

- Best Lawyers

. . . busy technical lawyer . . .

- Chambers USA
MH PR AV 300 - 2025
Gorton Best Lawyers 2025
Gorton Best Lawyers LOY2024
Gorton Best Lawyers Lawyer of the Year 2022
Gorton III William T Chambers2023
Litigation Star 4x
2015Usacanadalogos 1
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Press Releases

Benchmark Litigation 2025 Honors 14 Stites & Harbison Attorneys

The 2025 edition of Benchmark Litigation names 11 Stites & Harbison, PLLC attorneys as “Litigation Stars” and three as “Future Stars” in Kentucky. The guide honors the firms and attorneys who have demonstrated the ability to consistently handle complex, high-stakes cases in multiple jurisdictions.

by Stites & Harbison, PLLC October 09, 2024
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Press Releases

Stites & Harbison, PLLC Lawyers Named to 2025 Best Lawyers® Publications

Stites & Harbison, PLLC is pleased to announce that 97 of its lawyers are included in the 2025 edition of The Best Lawyers in America®. Since it was first published in 1983, Best Lawyers® has become universally regarded as the definitive guide to legal excellence according to the publication. Additionally, 12 Stites & Harbison attorneys are named as “Lawyer of the Year” and 30 attorneys are recognized in Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America, which recognizes attorneys early in their careers for outstanding professional excellence in private practice in the United States.

by Stites & Harbison, PLLC August 16, 2024
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Press Releases

Chambers USA Honors 25 Stites & Harbison Attorneys for 2024

LOUISVILLE, Ky.—Chambers USA selected 25 Stites & Harbison, PLLC attorneys in Kentucky and Tennessee for inclusion in their 2024 guide. The Chambers USA guide ranks the top law firms and leading attorneys in the United States.

by Stites & Harbison, PLLC June 07, 2024
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Press Releases

Benchmark Litigation 2024 Honors 14 Stites & Harbison Attorneys

LOUISVILLE, Ky.—The 2024 edition of Benchmark Litigation names 11 Stites & Harbison, PLLC attorneys as “Litigation Stars” and three as “Future Stars” in Kentucky.

by Stites & Harbison, PLLC October 16, 2023
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Press Releases

Stites & Harbison, PLLC Lawyers Named to 2024 Best Lawyers® Publications

LOUISVILLE, Ky.—Stites & Harbison, PLLC is pleased to announce that 101 of its lawyers are included in the 2024 edition of The Best Lawyers in America®.

by Stites & Harbison, PLLC August 24, 2023
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Press Releases

Chambers USA Honors 25 Stites & Harbison Attorneys for 2023

LOUISVILLE, Ky.—Chambers USA selected 25 Stites & Harbison, PLLC attorneys in Kentucky and Tennessee for inclusion in their 2023 guide.

by Stites & Harbison, PLLC June 05, 2023
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Client Alerts

Significant Merchant Electric Legislative Amendments Head to Governor's Desk

Over the past several years, Kentucky, similar to other states, has received many applications for industrial-scale solar generation and energy storage facilities in rural areas across the Commonwealth. Up to this point in time, seeking and receiving a Certification for Construction from the Kentucky State Board on Electric Generation and Transmission ("Siting Board") followed a framework developed before recent commercial interest in large-scale solar development arose in Kentucky. Attorney Bill Gorton takes a look at the issues and concerns that have arisen.

by William T. Gorton III March 24, 2023
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Events

What You Need to Know About Reclamation Bonds

Date: 2/28/23
Time: 2:00 p.m.

Virtual Seminar

Attorneys Blaine Early and Bill Gorton will be speakers for the NASBP's virtual seminar on reclamation bonds on Tuesday, February 28th.

W. Blaine Early III and William T. Gorton III February 17, 2023