Mike Zody is the chair of Parsons Behle & Latimer's Energy, Environmental and Natural Resources practice teams. Mike is a seasoned environmental and compliance litigator with more than 30 years' experience who helps mining and industrial clients present their best strategic position in administrative, and state and federal court proceedings. His expertise includes rulemaking challenges, enforcement defense and permit defense cases.
Michael A. Zody
Environmental & Natural Resources Practice Area Chairperson Shareholder Salt Lake City
The Exceptional Views of Glacier National Park.
Capabilities
Biography
Mike Zody is the chair of Parsons Behle & Latimer’s Energy, Environmental and Natural Resources practice teams. He is also a member of the Litigation, Trials and Appeals and Employment and Labor practice teams.
Environmental Practice:
With more than 30 years of experience, Mike's environmental practice spans the full range of environmental and natural resources litigation and covers state and local administrative proceedings, federal administrative proceedings, and state and federal court actions. Mike's practice focuses on defending civil and criminal enforcement actions, toxic tort defense, environmental property damage litigation, citizens’ suits, permit defense actions, administrative agency litigation and other aspects of environmental litigation. His recent areas of focus have included complex Clean Air Act litigation and defense of permit appeals, defense of several complex environmental criminal enforcement matters, NEPA cases, multiple rulemaking and permit challenge hearings before administrative agencies and defending IBLA appeals. His practice also encompasses EPA rulemaking challenges in the federal circuit courts of appeal, including the D.C. Circuit where he is admitted and has argued.
Employment Practice:
Mike's employment practice focuses on OSHA and MSHA. Mike has developed a specialty in whistleblower and retaliation cases. He also handles internal investigations and independent investigations.
Mike has been heavily involved in the Labor and Employment Law Section of the Utah State Bar, serving in every position and ultimately holding the title of chair of the Section for 1999 - 2000.
Mike is listed in Best Lawyers in America and Chambers USA.
Experience
Parsons Represents Barrick in Acquisition of its Mercur Mines LLC by Revival Gold
Parsons represented Barrick Gold Exploration Inc. in a sale of the Mercur Mine to Revival Gold Inc. The project is anticipated to be Utah’s largest gold producer and contribute more than $4 billion to Utah’s economy creating an estimated 400 direct jobs during construction and 300 direct jobs over 10 years plus operation. Parsons’ corporate attorneys advised in all aspects of the transaction with Parsons’s corporate, real estate and environmental attorneys handling environmental due diligence, contracts and permitting.
First Ever in the US CERCLA Off-Site Rule Reconsideration Hearing
In a first-ever reconsideration appeal of a CERCLA Off-Site Rule Determination to a Regional Administrator, Mike successfully convinced the EPA Region 8 Administrator to modify an adverse Off-Site Rule Unacceptability Determination. The result allowed the client to begin accepting off-site wastes after having been precluded from doing so for several months.
Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Project
Assisted on an environmental, social and governance (ESG) project for the San Juan County Clean Energy Foundation LLC to establish a fund designed to contribute to the near communities.
Accomplishments
Academic
Indiana University (J.D., cum laude, 1990)
Purdue University, (B.A., 1987)
Professional
United Way of Salt Lake 2010 Young Leaders Member of the Year
Extensive Pro Bono work, past Salt Lake County Bar
Association Pro Bono Lawyer of the Year
2007 Child Advocate of the Year, awarded by Voices for Utah Children
2008 Outstanding Domestic Violence Service Partner, awarded by Legal Aid Society of Salt Lake
Listed in Best Lawyers in America and Chambers USA
Recognized in Utah Business Magazine’s 2023 Legal Elite
Best Lawyers in America 2019 "Lawyer of the Year" for Labor Law - Management, Salt Lake City
Associations
Professional
American Bar Association,
Environment, Energy and Resources, and Litigation Sections
Member
Community
Chair, Environmental Committee, Utah Manufacturers Association
Member, Board of Directors, Voices for Utah Children - 2018-2022
United Way of Salt Lake
Board of Directors, Past Member
Impact Council, Past Co-Chair
Public Policy Committee, Past Chair
Young Leaders, Past Chair
Insights
Parsons Behle & Latimer Ranked Among Top Law Firms by Chambers and Partners USA: Thirty-one Attorneys Ranked Among Nation’s Top Practitioners
Parsons Behle & Latimer Attorneys Recognized by Best Lawyers in America:™ Sixty attorneys recognized as “Best Lawyer,” “Lawyer of the Year,” and “Ones to Watch in America”
Parsons Behle & Latimer Ranked Among Top Law Firms by Chambers and Partners USA: Twenty-nine Attorneys Ranked Among Nation’s Top Practitioners
Parsons Behle & Latimer Attorneys Recognized by Best Lawyers in America

