
Practices
Industries
Representative Experience
Jerry D. Worsham II is a shareholder with the firm. Mr. Worsham has an extensive practice in environmental compliance and litigation, natural resource development. His experience includes: approvals and permits for natural resource development; litigation defense on numerous cases involving the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA); Climate Change including comment on issues and regulation development; compliance with the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA); civil and criminal liability defense on environmental matters; ASTM Phase I and Phase II Environmental Site Assessments coordination; emergency incident responses; Prospective Purchaser Agreement negotiations; creation of Conservation Easements; and due diligence associated with mergers, acquisitions and initial public offerings. Mr. Worsham reviews and comments on federal, state and local laws, rules and regulations on a regular basis and represents clients before federal and state environmental agencies.
Associations & Activities
- American Bar Association
- Maricopa County Bar Association
- Governor’s Mining Advisory Council, Board Member
- The Associated General Contractors of America – Appointed Member to the Environmental Forum Steering Committee
- The Member of the Society of Petroleum Engineers (2015 – present)
- Barrow Neurological Foundation, Board of Trustees
- Lou Grubb Friends’ Fore Golf & Gala, Committee Member (2016, 2017, 2018)
- Guest Lecturer on Hazardous Waste Regulation for the Arizona State University, Fulton School of Engineering, The Polytechnic School of Environmental and Resource Management
Awards & Recognition
- AV Peer Review Rating, Martindale-Hubbell
- Recognized “Environmental Specialist” by the New Mexico Board of Legal Specialization, 2000 – present
- Arizona Top Lawyer, 2010
- Who’s Who Top Lawyer, 2015
- Arizona Finest Lawyer 2014 – 2015
- Southwest Super Lawyers, 2017 – 2018
Bar Admissions
- State Bar of Arizona
- State Bar of Texas
- State Bar of New Mexico
- District of Columbia Bar
Court Admissions
- Arizona, 1994
- US District Court of Arizona, 1995
- New Mexico, US District Court of New Mexico, 1989
- District of Columbia, 1994
- Texas, 1996
Education
- University of Denver – Sturm College of Law (J.D., 1988)
- Pepperdine University, (M.B.A., 1982)
- Cornell College, (B.S.S., 1978)
Representative Matters
- Negotiation of a Consent Agreement and Final Order (“CAFO”) with the Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) concerning alleged violations of the EPA’s Lead Renovation, Repair and Painting Rule including a Supplemental Environmental Project (“SEP”).
- Negotiation of a Tolling Agreement and a Consent Decree with the EPA for a CERCLA Site.
- Remediation of a Shopping Center with contamination by a former Dry Cleaner tenant.
- Completion of Environmental Due Diligence Associated with a Solar Energy Project.
- Successful Legal Defense of an Apartment Complex with allegations by tenant of Mold Contamination.
- Completion of a Voluntary Remediation Program (“VRP”) application with the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (“ADEQ”) for a commercial property.
- Obtain a Prospective Purchase Agreement (“PPA”) with the ADEQ for a new Apartment Complex within an Arizona Water Quality Assurance Revolving Fund (“WQARF”) Site.
- Remediation of former Automobile Maintenance and Repair Facility for future sale, lease or financing options
News & Publications
Climate Change – A Different Perspective on Oil and Gas Production
After review of the Biden/Harris campaign literature,1 the Biden/Harris Transition Fact Sheet: List of Agency Actions for Review (January 20, 2021), and the most recent “Executive Order on Tackling the Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad” (Executive Order January 27,...
Distracted Driving Law Updates – KTVK Segment
Firm Attorneys Recognized As America’s Most Honored Lawyers
America's Most Honored Lawyer Recognition The Cavanagh Law Firm is proud to recognize that many of our attorneys have recently received professional honors as America's Most Honored Lawyers by American Registry. Thirteen of the Firm’s attorneys have been awarded the...
Evaluating Environmental Liabilities for Financial Management Reporting
“THE FINAL FRONTIER” The evaluation and disclosure of environmental liabilities may represent one of the key responsibilities for Environmental Attorneys and/or Environmental Managers (“EM”). Generally, the financial reporting requirements of the Securities and...
Paycheck Protection Program Loans, Bankruptcy Protection, and Environmental Considerations Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic
The recent State of Arizona Declaration of Emergency *COVID-19* and Executive Order 2020-07 issued by Governor Douglas A. Ducey on March 11, 2020, forced the Arizona economy into a screeching halt. To provide a robust and integrated response to successfully combat the...
Evaluating Environmental Liabilities For Financial Management Reporting – “The Final Frontier”
The evaluation and disclosure of environmental liabilities may represent one of the key responsibilities for Environmental Attorneys and/or Environmental Managers (“EM”). Generally the financial reporting requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”)...
Environmental Liability Considerations
View the Presentation
Lessee/Tenant CERCLA Liability and Due Diligence – The Build Act of 2018 – A New Wrapper on an Old Package
Since Congress enacted the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act of 1980 ("CERCLA or Superfund") 42 U.S.C.A. §§9601 - 9675, the importance of the environmental aspects of due diligence in real estate transactions has become a significant...
Jerry Worsham Named to National Steering Committee
Senior Member Jerry Worsham II was appointed to a national steering committee for the Associated General Contractors of America-AGC’s Environmental Forum. Members are selected from throughout the construction industry and serve a rolling three- year term.
15 Attorneys Named as 2017 Super Lawyers and Rising Stars
Southwest Super Lawyers selected 12 senior attorneys for its 2017 honor. Named for this honor are Helen R. Davis, William M. Demlong, Philip C. Gerard, Connie T. Gould, Christina S. Hamilton, Ralph E. Hunsaker, Timothy R. Hyland, Steven Plitt, Elliot H. Wernick, Richard J. Woods and Jerry D. Worsham II. Steven J. Gross, Jordan R. Plitt and John K. Wittwer were named as up-and-coming, Rising Stars.