William L. "Bill" Penny has a wide range of environmental legal experience at the federal, state and local levels. He focuses primarily on advice and litigation regarding natural resource law, wetlands, water quality, and mining. He also represents clients in CERCLA litigation, RCRA matters, and brownfield redevelopment. Bill has represented numerous utilities and individuals in federal and state citizen complaints. He regularly counsels clients on environmental compliance issues and represents businesses in permit appeals, enforcement, and advocacy before federal and state environmental boards and agencies, including the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

Bill was one of the founders and was the first chair of the Environmental Law Section of the Tennessee Bar Association, and in 2013 he was elected Chair of ABA’s Section on Environment, Energy & Resources (“SEER”). He was the first general counsel for the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation and served as general counsel for the former Department of Health and Environment for many years.

Bill is rated “AV Preeminent© Peer Review Rating” in Martindale-Hubbell. He is recognized in Chambers USA, since 2010 as tier 1 for environmental law. He was listed in The Best Lawyers in America® since 2005 for Environmental Litigation and Environmental Law, and was named as “Lawyer of the Year” on four occasions, including 2025. He has been named by Mid-South Super Lawyers since 2006 and was listed in the publication in either the top 50 or 100 lawyers in Tennessee numerous times. The Nashville Business Journal, named him “Best of the Bar” at least 10 times since 2006. The Nashville Post listed him as “In Charge: Legal” at least 8 times.

When he’s not at work, Bill likes to attend the University of Tennessee sporting events.

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