Leo Berry

Bio

Mr. Berry graduated from Gonzaga University and the University of Montana School of Law. Mr. Berry served as the Montana Commissioner of State Lands and as the Director of the Department of Natural Resources and Conservation where he was responsible for administration of Montana's water rights program, water development bonding program, mining reclamation programs, and siting of major energy facilities in the state of Montana. Mr. Berry also served on the Council of Environmental Quality, the Western States Water Council, and the Governor's Capital Finance Advisory Committee. Mr. Berry was also Chairman of the Montana Board of Labor Appeals. Mr. Berry's principal areas of practice include superfund, environmental and natural resource litigation, environmental permitting and compliance, government relations, administrative proceedings, regulatory and administrative compliance, and lobbying.  In 2011, Mr. Berry received the Jerome Anderson Award from the Western Environmental Trade Association reocognizing his commitment to Montana natural resource industries.

Representative Matters

• Lead environmental counsel representing a major railroad company in federal district court by the State of Montana in December 1988. The State's suit included claims for response costs and for natural resource damages under both CERCLA and CECRA for contamination at the Livingston rail yard. The client is currently performing remedial actions at the rail yard under a Consent Decree that is being supervised by the federal district court.

• Lead Montana counsel in litigation to recover costs DEQ has incurred and will continue to incur in connection with remedial action activities attributable to or associated with releases and threats of releases of hazardous or deleterious substances at and resulting from three adjoining and/or overlapping facilities. The trial has been held and the case is under appeal.

Professional Experience

BROWNING, KALECZYC, BERRY & HOVEN, P.C.
Helena, Montana
Partner 1985-present
Areas of Practice: Litigation, including Federal Employer’s Liability Act, Medical Malpractice Defense, Administrative Law, Family Law and School Law

MONTANA DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES & CONSERVATION
Helena, Montana
Director, 1981-84

MONTANA DEPARTMENT OF STATE LANDS
Helena, Montana
Commissioner, 1976 - 1980

MONTANA DEPARTMENT OF STATE LANDS
Helena, Montana
Legal Counsel, 1973 - 1976

Lobbying Experience

• Association of Montana Retired Public Employees
• Burlington Northern Railroad Company
• MCI Telecommunications
• Montana Mining Association
• Great Northern Properties

Reg Affairs Experience

• Burlington Northern Railroad Company
• Missoula White Pine Sash Company
• Montana Western Railway Company
• Pacific Steel and Recycling Company
• Pegasus Gold Company
• RARUS Railway Company
• Transcisco Rail Services, Inc.
• Union Pacific Railroad Company

Lobbying Experience

• Association of Montana Retired Public Employees
• Burlington Northern Railroad Company
• MCI Telecommunications
• Montana Mining Association
• Great Northern Properties