Environmental Law

Published November 30, 2016 by Virginia Business

Timothy O. Trant II

Kaufman & Canoles PC
Newport News and Williamsburg

Other legal specialties:  My practice focuses on real estate development and business transactions in addition to environmental law and includes zoning/permitting, acquisition, financing, development and leasing of real estate, as well as the formation, acquisition, disposition, corporate governance, contracts, regulatory compliance and joint venture of business entities.  My environmental practice has grown out of my real estate work and my civil engineering background.
Birthplace: Surry County
Education:  Bachelor’s degree with distinction, Virginia Military Institute; law degree, Marshall-Wythe School of Law, College of William & Mary.
Spouse: Molly E. Trant, senior corporate counsel, Riverside Health System
Children: Elizabeth A. Trant and Timothy O. Trant III
Hobbies or pastimes: Spending time with my family, hunting and fishing.
First job as a lawyer: Associate with Kaufman & Canoles.
Fan of: My children’s sports teams
Favorite vacation spot: Bahamas
Recently read book: “Mere Christianity” by C.S. Lewis
Career mentors:  Frank Trant (uncle) and Ken McDermott (client and dear friend)

Are environmental regulations hurting Virginia’s economy?
The evolution of the regulatory definition of what constitutes a wetland and the corresponding authority asserted by the federal government under the Clean Water Act is having, in my view, a very significant impact on Virginia’s economy, particularly within its coastal plain.

What was your most memorable case?
My most memorable case is not actually an environmental case (though environmental issues were involved).  The case entailed representing a church in connection with its desire to acquire a site for a new sanctuary.  After an extensive search, the church identified its desired site.  There were substantial challenges, however, with the entitlement process for the property, which took over two years to complete.  During this time, the church conducted itself with a degree of faith, dignity and grace that deeply inspired me.  As a result of this and other factors, including the moral courage of a number of individuals, I am pleased to report that the governing body of the locality unanimously approved a rezoning of the property to allow the church.