Daniel Schmitt
Ponte Vedra Beach
Summary
Innovative and results-driven legal professional with 15+ years of experience in environmental law, regulatory compliance, complex litigation, and high-stakes transactions. Currently serving as Assistant General Counsel for the nation’s third-largest railroad, excelling in strategic legal counsel, cross-functional leadership, and advocacy with federal and state agencies. Proven ability to manage large-scale legal projects, negotiate favorable outcomes, and mentor emerging legal talent.
Overview
16
16
years of professional experience
Work History
Assistant General Counsel
CSX Transportation, Inc.
02.2013 - Current
- Directed legal strategies for regulatory compliance, permitting, litigation, and corporate transactions, ensuring alignment with organizational goals and minimizing liabilities
- Lead counsel for high-impact environmental matters, including negotiation with U.S EPA, U.S. DOJ, USACE, state attorneys general, and state environmental regulators
- Spearheaded major permitting matters in the face of significant regulatory and community opposition to secure favorable outcomes
- Managed multi-million-dollar property sales and infrastructure development projects, maximizing value through innovative approaches to environmental risk management and brownfield redevelopment
- Drafted and submitted influential comments on proposed federal and state regulations, advocating for favorable outcomes for CSX and the rail industry
Associate
Gibson Dunn LLP
09.2008 - 01.2013
- Represented Fortune 500 companies in complex environmental litigation, compliance, and transactional matters
- Drafted appellate briefs and internal memoranda on significant regulatory and litigation matters, collaborating with expert witnesses and stakeholders
- Negotiated settlements, administrative agreements, and consent decrees with federal and state agencies
- Conducted due diligence and negotiated environmental terms for corporate mergers and acquisitions, ensuring risk mitigation
Education
Juris Doctor -
Columbia Law School
01.2008
Bachelor of Arts -
Northwestern University
01.2005
Skills
- Environmental and Regulatory Compliance
- Litigation Strategy and Management
- Corporate and Real Estate Transactions
- Negotiation with Federal and State Agencies
- Complex Permitting and Advocacy
- Leadership and Team Development
Selectpublications
- Nanotechnology Regulation: A Small Reminder to Look Before You Leap, Bloomberg Law Reports, 12/01/08
- Don't Undervalue Environmental Due Diligence, Environmental Law 360, 11/01/14
Additionalhighlights
- Regulatory Leadership: Advocated for CSX’s interests in federal regulatory changes, including submissions on EPA locomotive emissions regulations and Supreme Court decisions impacting the rail industry.
- Strategic Problem Solving: Engineered innovative solutions to environmental challenges, such as developing a program for reusing crossties and resolving complex liabilities at Superfund sites.
- Cross-Functional Collaboration: Collaborated with internal teams and external stakeholders, including government officials and industry leaders, to achieve strategic business objectives.
Personal Information
Title: Assistant General Counsel | Environmental and Regulatory Law Specialist
Admissions
- Washington, DC, 2009
- Florida Authorized In-House Counsel, 2013
- Kentucky, 2008
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, 2010
- U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado, 2011
Timeline
Assistant General Counsel
CSX Transportation, Inc.
02.2013 - Current
Associate
Gibson Dunn LLP
09.2008 - 01.2013
Juris Doctor -
Columbia Law School
Bachelor of Arts -
Northwestern University
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