Renowned environmental lawyer Gary Davis – founder and long-time owner of Davis Environmental Attorneys in Asheville, North Carolina – has partnered with prominent environmental attorneys Keith Johnston and Billy Ringger to form the new law firm Davis, Johnston, & Ringger, PC.
Davis has over 44 years of experience in environmental and administrative law, litigation, and policy. Davis’ unparalleled reputation in the environmental law profession, coupled with his partnership with Johnston and Ringger, will further enhance the reach, depth, and abilities of the firm.
“This partnership will combine decades of environmental litigation experience and a promise of continued excellence in the legal profession for many years to come,” Davis said.
Johnston and Ringger each have substantial environmental experience as well. Johnston has practiced environmental and energy law for 20 years in both the public and private sectors, spanning all three branches of state and federal government. He spent the last year and a half with Davis Environmental Attorneys and previously led the Southern Environmental Law Center’s Birmingham, Alabama office for 12 years. Prior to this, he clerked for a judge in Alaska and practiced environmental law in Washington, D.C., where he worked on toxic torts and other matters.
Ringger, an expert in health-based litigation, has represented groups of individuals and municipalities in some of the largest environmental and toxic exposure cases in recent history. Ringger was formerly a partner at a large international plaintiffs’ firm specializing in class action and mass tort litigation. For several years, he served as lead counsel representing the hundreds of workers sickened due to their exposures to coal ash during remediation of the Tennessee Valley Authority Kingston Coal Ash Spill – the largest industrial spill in United States history. Building on the initial trial success of the Davis firm, his multi-year efforts were pivotal in obtaining a successful resolution for these injured workers in 2023. Earlier in his career, Ringger practiced with a prominent litigation firm in Knoxville, TN, and served as law clerk and Chief of Staff to the Chief Justice of the Tennessee Supreme Court.
Davis’ firm has for decades represented environmental damage victims, community groups, environmental organizations, state and local governments, and individual clients throughout the country with a focus on the Southeast. As like-minded environmental advocates, Davis, Johnston, & Ringger say they are excited to continue these public interest pursuits with their new partnership and the increased capabilities they will be able to devote to their clients.
The new firm will continue aggressively litigating on behalf of its clients, protecting the environment from the devastating effects of pollution, and making polluters pay for the damages they have caused.
Pursuing environmental cases throughout the country, the firm will continue to be based in Asheville, NC, with additional presence in Knoxville, TN.
Contact Davis, Johnston, & Ringger at (828)622-0044 or visit online at www.enviroattorney.com for more information.
