Joseph R. Herbster (Joe)

Joe Herbster counsels and defends energy, petrochemical, warehousing, logistics, and retail clients on a broad array of environmental, occupational health, and safety issues at the state and federal levels.

Joe's practice spans environmental diligence and transactional support, compliance counseling, investigation defense, and dispute resolution. He supports the creation, acquisition, and divestiture of significant refining and petrochemical assets across the country, including joint ventures, new facilities, and major modifications. He advises clients on myriad environmental issues, including Clean Air Act (CAA) permitting and enforcement, CERCLA (Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act) site remediation management and contribution claims, and multistate groundwater contamination litigation.

Joe also maintains a robust occupational safety and health practice, including compliance counseling in areas such as PSM (process safety management) systems, powered industrial truck and fall protection standards, ergonomics programs, and safety culture analyses. In addition, he frequently provides on-site crisis management support for fatality accidents and catastrophic releases in a variety of industrial settings.

Joe is well-seasoned in external and internal counsel roles and carries a decade of experience as a senior in-house attorney within the corporate legal departments of Amazon, TotalEnergies, and Chevron Phillips Chemical Company.

Joe is actively involved in pro bono matters with a focus on improving and evolving our criminal justice system. He is also a regular volunteer with the Texas Department of Criminal Justice and Kairos Prison Ministry International.