Robert J. Joyce

Bob Joyce focuses his practice on environmental and toxic tort litigation, regulatory compliance and enforcement and transactional matters. Drawing on his background as a chemical engineer in the petroleum industry, Bob has developed particular expertise with environmental and regulatory issues affecting refineries, pipelines and other midstream and downstream oil and gas facilities, as well as manufacturing, aviation/aerospace and mining companies. He has a diverse environmental, health and safety practice with particular emphasis on defense litigation, as well as compliance and enforcement issues related to hazardous waste treatment, storage, transportation and disposal, site remediation, wastewater and storm water treatment and discharges, underground waste injection wells, above-ground and underground storage tanks and facilities, EPCRA/SARA Title III, and OSHA. Bob also advises clients on DOT issues including issues related to the pipeline and trucking industry.

Bob represents clients in complex environmental litigation, arbitration, and enforcement proceedings involving issues such as common law toxic tort and property damage claims, CERCLA enforcement, cost recovery and allocation, natural resource damages, contribution and contractual indemnity claims, and regulatory noncompliance. Bob has significant experience in working with testifying experts to develop strong positions and in obtaining exclusion of opposing expert testimony. Bob has represented numerous Fortune 500 companies.

In addition to his litigation practice, Bob works extensively on regulatory compliance issues associated with day-to-day operation of commercial and industrial facilities. Much of this work involves hazardous and solid waste issues under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA). His experience with RCRA issues includes work on the closure of RCRA treatment, storage and disposal facilities (TSDs), post-closure care of such facilities, and negotiation and implementation of risk-based closures and cleanups. In addition, Bob specializes in providing advice to TSDs and hazardous waste generators and transporters regarding the application of the environmental regulations to their operations and regarding methods for reducing or eliminating regulatory impediments to current or proposed business practices. He has successfully represented clients before state and federal agencies regarding a wide variety of enforcement issues under RCRA, the Clean Water Act and other environmental regulatory programs. Bob has also provided extensive input and comment on numerous proposed EPA regulations and works with businesses and industry groups to develop comments.

On the transactional side, Bob represents clients on environmental issues, permit transfers, due diligence and indemnities arising in the course of purchase and sale transactions, and in the course of the development and expansion of facilities.

Bob’s experience and expertise have earned him inclusion in Chambers USA Guide to America’s Leading Lawyers for Business, The Best Lawyers in America (commercial litigation; environmental law; environmental litigation; mining law) and Oklahoma Super Lawyers. He was selected by Best Lawyers as “Tulsa Environmental Lawyer of the Year” for 2018 and “Tulsa Environmental Litigation Lawyer of the Year” for 2021, honors given to a single lawyer in each legal specialty in each market.

Bob previously served as leader of the firm’s Environmental Group.

Prior to joining McAfee & Taft in 2009, Bob was a partner with Joyce & Paul, PLLC, a law firm he co-founded in 2000. His extensive career experience includes serving as executive partner of the Tulsa, Oklahoma, office of Gardere & Wynne, LLP, process/project engineer in the natural gas liquids division of OXY/Cities Service Company, and as senior attorney and manager of environmental compliance for Hilti, Inc.