Charles Franklin

Charles L. Franklin's practice includes a mix of regulatory counseling, litigation and transactional due diligence. Drawing on his prior experience as a federal regulator, he advises clients on domestic and international pesticide and chemicals manufacturing, import and export requirements, and has helped clients resolve compliance and enforcement issues with the appropriate authorities. As part of Akin Gump’s climate change practice, he monitors international climate change policy developments for Akin Gump’s ClimateIntel Blog and tracks domestic climate change policy developments of particular concern to the plastics and chemicals manufacturing sector. Mr. Franklin has represented clients in administrative, federal district court and appeals court proceedings involving the Montreal Protocol, Clean Air Act, Federal Power Act, Federal Insecticide Fungicide and Rodenticide Act, Toxic Substances Control Act and the National Environmental Policy Act. He also counsels clients on environmental issues raised during merger and bankruptcy proceedings. In addition to climate change, two other growing areas of concern for many clients are the European Union’s implementation of new chemical substance registration requirements (known as REACH) and the increased involvement of federal authorities in regulating chemical products of nanotechnology. Mr. Franklin works with clients and relevant technical consultants to develop legal strategies that manage the uncertainties in these evolving areas to achieve client business goals. Mr. Franklin has also maintained an active pro bono practice assisting both individual and institutional clients on issues ranging from child neglect and guardianship proceedings to voting rights litigation. Before joining Akin Gump in 2003, Mr. Franklin served for 13 years at the Environmental Protection Agency as a writer, regulator and branch chief. During his tenure, Mr. Franklin led several multidisciplinary teams that developed lead-poisoning prevention regulations under the Toxic Substances Control Act. As a branch chief in EPA’s Office of Pesticide Programs, he coordinated the agency’s high-visibility press, stakeholder and congressional outreach efforts for a wide variety of pesticide and food safety issues. Mr. Franklin received his B.A. in economics and communications from the University of Michigan in 1989, his M.P.P. from the University of Maryland School of Public Affairs in 1994 and his J.D. cum laude from the Georgetown University Law Center in 2003. He is a member of the Maryland and District of Columbia Bars.