Rita Bolt Barker, Associate
Rita works primarily in the area of general litigation, with an emphasis on environmental and insurance coverage issues. Her varied environmental experience includes advising clients on matters arising under the Endangered Species Act, the Administrative Procedure Act, the Comprehensive Environmental Response Compensation and Liability Act, the Clean Water Act, and the SC Pollution Control Act. She assists clients in investigating and responding to matters before administrative agencies and has taught Administrative Law for Clemson University's Masters of Public Administration program. Rita advises clients on assessing environmental risks and incentives associated with corporate transactions, including mergers, acquisitions, and real estate deals. Rita is also involved in the firm's architectural copyright infringement litigation team.
Representative Matters
Rita's recent experience includes:
- Advising real estate developers to enroll property in the SC brownfields program;
- Representation of a major metropolitan city in complex water allocation litigation;
- Appellate litigation regarding statutory interpretation of significant coastal development legislation;
- Assisting various national corporations to secure insurance coverage for defense and indemnification costs;
- Advising a buyer of potential environmental liabilities associated with the purchase of an international manufacturing company;
- Assisting businesses to pursue green incentives for renewable energy and energy efficiency projects;
- Representing property owners in litigation to recover diminution of property value caused by contamination;
- Assisting manufacturers to comply with the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act; and
- Representing real estate developers in litigation to enforce restrictive covenants.
Professional Background
| 2007– Present | Wyche Burgess Freeman & Parham, P.A. |
|---|---|
| 2005–2007 | Associate, King & Spalding, LLP, Atlanta, Georgia |
| 2004–2005 | Law Clerk, Hon. Beverly B. Martin, United States District Court, Atlanta, Georgia |
Educational Background
| 2004, J.D. | Harvard Law School; Harvard Women's Law Journal, Executive Editor; President, Board of Student Advisers; Legal Writing and Research Teaching Assistant |
|---|---|
| 2001, B.A. | Clemson University, Political Science & Speech and Communication Studies, (summa cum laude); Student Body President, Norris Medal Winner |
Professional Activities and Memberships
- Greenville Chamber of Commerce, Environmental Issues Committee
- Georgia Bar Association, Environmental Section
- South Carolina Bar Association, Environmental Section
- American Bar Association
- Urban Land Institute
Bar and Court Admissions
- Georgia Bar, 2004
- South Carolina Bar, 2008
Representative Community Activities
- Clemson University Library Ambassador
- Harvard Law School Alumni Association Volunteer
- Honorary Chair, South Carolina 4-H Congress
- Upstate Forever
- Greenville Forward, Board of Directors
Publications and Presentations
Greenhouse Gas Emissions, Guest Attorney, South Carolina Business Review, September 2009
Redeveloping Contaminated Sites: Turning Brownfields Into Green, Guest Attorney, South Carolina Business Review, July 2008
Insurance Recovery in Connection with Property Damage and Interruption of Business, Web Client Seminar, August 2006
Awards and Honors
- Harvard Law School Dean's Award for Community Leadership
- Connections: Women Leaders of the Upstate, Class of 2010
- Leadership Greenville, Class 37