Profile
John Voorhees focuses his practice on the rail sector and has advised on major rail disputes across the USA. As a veteran litigator, John also advises clients on compliance counseling, particularly on environmental, health care, fraud and white-collar matters. John has defended Superfund, Clean Water Act and financial cases and other civil and criminal cases during a 47 year career. Voorhees has also served as a federal prosecutor in high-profile cases, represented Fortune 100 companies in high-stakes litigation, and individuals and non-profit organizations in pro bono matters.
Concentrations
- Rail & Transit Industry Practice
- Environmental Litigation
- Investigations (rail, environmental, health care)
- Environmental Regulatory Policy and International Standards
- Environmental, Social and Governance Policy
- Complex Civil and Criminal Litigation
Capabilities
Experience
- Address rail disputes throughout the Western United States.
- Competition analysis of merger and acquisitions of major “Class 1” rail carriers.
- Investigations and civil and criminal litigation involving all aspects of rail operations.
- Contamination disputes throughout New England and the Western United States.
- Remediation and resolution of claims regarding legacy environmental matters.
- Civil and criminal litigation of environmental matters throughout the United States.
- Litigation, investigations and health care policy development for health care providers.
- Financial fraud, public corruption, and real estate disputes.
- First international environmental book on environment and governance: International Environmental Risk Management, ISO 14000 and the Systems Approach (CRC Lewis Press 1997) adding ESG, 2nd Edition (CRC Lewis Press 2020).
- Consultant to Chinese government for restoration of drinking water resources in Wuxi, China.
- Advocacy regarding Parthenon Sculptures reunification and return to Greece.
- Moderator and Presenter at International environmental, natural and cultural resources conferences in Warsaw, Prague, Athens, Kuala Lumpur and London.
- Host and sponsor renewable energy conference in Athens.
Recognition & Leadership
- Team Member, a Law360 “Environmental Practice Group of the Year,” 2022
- Listed, The Legal 500 United States
- Dispute Resolution > Product Liability, Mass Tort and Class Action - Defense - Toxic Tort, 2024
- Team member, "Law Firm to Watch - Rail and Road," 2022
- Listed, The Best Lawyers in America, Administrative/Regulatory Law; Litigation - Health Care; Environmental Law, Criminal Defense: White-Collar, 2015-2025
- Named, "Lawyer of the Year," Litigation - Health Care, Denver, 2017, 2019, 2022, and 2024
- Team Member, U.S. News - Best Lawyers®, Best Law Firms Edition,"Law Firm of the Year," Environmental Law, 2016
- Rated, AV Preeminent® 5.0 out of 5.0
Credentials
Education
- J.D., The Catholic University of America, 1976
- B.A., Emerson College, 1973
Clerkships
- Hon John W. Kern, III, District of Columbia Court of Appeals, 1976-1977
Admissions
- Colorado
- Arizona
- District of Columbia
- New Mexico
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
- U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado
- U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia
- U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts
- U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island