Biography
Taylor Holcomb is an energy, environmental, and regulatory lawyer known for delivering practical advice that helps his clients stay ahead of industry trends and achieve their business objectives.
Taylor’s practice focuses on the development and permitting of domestic energy projects, ensuring compliance with state and federal laws, and defending against claims brought by administrative agencies and environmental activist groups. He has practiced before a variety of federal, state, and local agencies, including the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, the Texas Railroad Commission, the Public Utility Commission of Texas, the New Mexico Environment Department, and the Environmental Protection Agency.
Prior to Jackson Walker, Taylor practiced at an international law firm and served as in-house regulatory counsel for a midstream energy company.
Education
B.A., summa cum laude, Texas A&M University
J.D., with high honors, The University of Texas School of Law
- Texas Law Review
- Order of the Coif
Bar Admissions
Texas
- Defending clients in Clean Air Act enforcement actions, including actions brought by the TCEQ and the New Mexico Environment Department’s Air Quality Bureau
- Advising midstream company on development of carbon capture and sequestration projects
- Representing clients before the EPA and TCEQ on various Clean Air Act and Clean Water Act compliance and permitting issues
- Writing comments for industry and trade groups on bevy of federal environmental rule proposals
- Representing clients in wholesale water rate proceedings at the Public Utility Commision of Texas
- Arbitrating environmental dispute on behalf of private equity company
- Shepherding environmental audits of Texas and New Mexico facilities
- Advised asset management companies on environmental aspects of transactions
- Represented gas utility in various regulatory matters, including in rate case hearings at the Texas Railroad Commission
- Represented clients before the Texas Railroad Commission, including in hearings regarding Statewide Rule 32 flaring permits
- Advised on permitting of cross-border reclaimed water pipeline
- Defended mining company against state court allegations regarding violations of environmental laws
- Represented a large coal and coke export facility on the Gulf Coast in defense of a Clean Water Act citizens suit initiated by a combination of local and national environmental NGOs
- Represented clients in contested case hearings at the State Office of Administrative Hearings
- Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business, Up and Coming in Environment – Texas, 2023
- The Best Lawyers in America (Woodward/White Inc.), 2022-2024
- Environmental Law, 2022-2024
- Litigation – Environmental, 2024
- Featured in “US Ruling Could Upend Gas Bans Far Beyond Berkeley” by Energy Intelligence (April 2023)
- Presenter, “How the NMED’s Ozone Precursor Rule May Affect Your Facilities Part 2 with a Lawyer’s Perspective,” Trinity Consultants Webinar (November 2022)
- Author, “December Weatherization Deadline Looms for Texas Natural Gas,” Hart Energy (October 2022)
- Presenter, “Rinse & Repeat: Reusing Recycled Produced Water,” Jackson Walker’s Hot Topics in Oilfield Produced Water Webinar (July 2022)
- Co-Author, “U.S. Supreme Court Endorses Major Questions Doctrine as Interpretive Canon in EPA Ruling,” Jackson Walker Insights (July 2022)
- Co-Author, “The SEC’s Climate Disclosure Requirements Are Heating Up,” Jackson Walker Insights (April 2022)
- Presenter, “Check Your (Texas Audit) Privilege: It Might not be Available in Federal Court,” Dallas Bar Association Environmental Law Section (October 2021)
- Co-Author, “Check Your (Texas Audit) Privilege: It Might not be Available in Federal Court,” Texas Lawyer (August 2021)
- Presenter, “EPA’s Cooling Water Intake Structure Regulations – What They Are and What They Mean,” ERCOT Market Summit in Austin, Texas (February 2015)
- Presenter, “EPA’s New Rules on Impingement and Entrainment: How Will They Affect the Power Sector?,” Gulf Coast Power Association Luncheon in Dallas, Texas (June 2014)
- Co-Author, “Legislation Could Keep Good Times Flowing in Texas Shales,” E&P (June 2014)
- Co-Author, “Roadblocks Ahead for EPA’s Stationary Source GHG Permitting?,” Zephyr Currents (January 2014)
- Side by Side Kids, Board of Directors and Secretary
- Texas Environmental Superconference, Planning Committee, 2021
- West Lake Hills City Council, Member, 2012-2015
August 17, 2023
Attorney News‘The Best Lawyers in America’ Honors 287 Jackson Walker Attorneys in 2024 Edition, Including 12 “Lawyers of the Year” and 80 “Ones to Watch”
The Best Lawyers in America has recognized 287 Jackson Walker attorneys across 5 offices and 82 specialty practice areas in its 2024 edition, including 12 Lawyers of the Year and 80 Ones to Watch. In this year’s guide, Jackson Walker saw the largest number of attorneys in the areas of Commercial Litigation (66 attorneys) and Real Estate Law (60 attorneys) and the addition of 35 attorneys as Best Lawyers.
June 1, 2023
SpotlightChambers and Partners Recognizes Jackson Walker Attorneys and Practices in 2023 USA and Global Guides
Jackson Walker is pleased to announce that Chambers and Partners has selected 51 attorneys and 17 departments for inclusion in the 2023 edition of the Global and USA guides. Attorneys recognized in the guides were ranked in 19 practice areas, with 4 attorneys listed among multiple areas and 6 named among the top attorneys nationwide in their respective areas.
April 25, 2023
MentionsTaylor Holcomb Featured in ‘Energy Intelligence’ Discussing US Ruling That Could Upend Gas Bans Beyond Berkeley
The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals recently tossed Berkeley, California’s 2019 ban on natural gas infrastructure in most new construction. In an interview with Energy Intelligence, Taylor Holcomb stated, “While other cities with similar gas bans will argue that their ordinances are distinguishable from Berkeley’s, the bottom line is that this is a broad ruling that binds federal judges in the 9th Circuit.”
February 7, 2023
MentionsThe Dotted Line: What’s up with WOTUS? | Construction Dive
A new EPA rule could result in additional costs of $1 million per acre for projects adjacent to certain waterways. In this Construction Dive article, Taylor Holcomb notes, “The Biden Administration’s version of the rule should be considered a middle ground between the Obama and Trump-era WOTUS rules.”
November 16, 2022
InsightsDecember Weatherization Deadline Looms for Texas Natural Gas | Hart Energy (Subscription Required)
Taylor Holcomb provides advice to natural gas facility operators on what to expect from Texas’ new weatherization rules, which take effect on December 1.
October 20, 2022
Speaking EngagementsTaylor Holcomb to Discuss Impact of New Mexico’s Ozone Precursor Rule on Upstream and Midstream Facilities
Taylor Holcomb will partner with air quality permitting and compliance specialist, Adam Erenstein, from Trinity Consultants to provide perspectives on the New Mexico Environment Department’s (NMED) new Ozone Precursor Rule during a webinar presented by Trinity Consultants on November 3, 2022.
September 9, 2022
InsightsThree Key Provisions in New “Weatherization” Rules by Railroad Commission of Texas
By Taylor Holcomb | In the aftermath of Winter Storm Uri, the Texas Legislature in Senate Bill 3 (2021) required the Railroad Commission of Texas to adopt rules requiring certain pipeline facility operators to weatherize equipment in order to maintain reliability during extreme weather conditions. The Railroad Commission’s implementing rules, adopted August 30, 2022, and memorialized in Statewide Rule 66, impose immediate compliance obligations on a number of upstream and midstream operators.
August 18, 2022
Attorney News‘The Best Lawyers in America’ Honors 214 Jackson Walker Attorneys in 2023 Edition, Including 11 “Lawyers of the Year” and 41 “Ones to Watch”
The Best Lawyers in America has recognized 214 Jackson Walker attorneys across 6 offices and 79 specialty practice areas in its 2023 edition, including 11 Lawyers of the Year and 41 Ones to Watch. Best Lawyers listings are based on an exhaustive peer review survey of thousands of attorneys who vote on the legal abilities of others in their practice areas.
July 6, 2022
InsightsU.S. Supreme Court Endorses Major Questions Doctrine as Interpretive Canon in EPA Ruling
By Michael Nasi, Jennifer Caughey, Taylor Holcomb, & Cody Vaughn
The United States Supreme Court held in West Virginia v. Environmental Protection Agency (No. 20-1530) that EPA may not rely upon Section 111(d) of the Clean Air Act to “force a nationwide transition away from the use of coal.” Citing the “major questions doctrine,” the Court explained that a Congressional delegation of “unprecedented power” requires a clear statement that is simply not present in the Clean Air Act.
July 27, 2022
WebinarsJoin Jackson Walker for “Hot Topics in Oilfield Produced Water” Webinar
Wednesday, July 27, 2022 | 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. CT
Join Patrick Knapp, Reagan Marble, Ben Rhem, and Taylor Holcomb for this upcoming webinar as they provide an overview of how the midstream water business is among the fastest-growing segments of the oil and gas industry.