Dorothy E. Watson

Partner

Dorothy E. Watson is a partner and business law attorney with Foley & Lardner LLP. She is also a member of the firm’s Environmental Practice and Energy and Manufacturing Industry Teams.

Dorothy has worked with clients on a wide range of environmental matters, including compliance counseling, rulemaking, permitting, site remediation, brownfield redevelopment, corporate transactions, and litigation matters. Her experience extends to matters under Superfund, RCRA, the Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act, TSCA, FIFRA, MSHA, and OSHA, as well as state environmental regulations. Dorothy has significant experience with chemical and product stewardship regulations and has provided clients with advice on both domestic and foreign compliance matters. She has advised both privately held and publicly traded companies in addition to municipalities and public utilities.

Dorothy has additional experience in the areas of land development, real estate, and municipal law. Her work in these areas has often involved the review of land titles, surveys, development plans, drafting and negotiation of purchase agreements, and crafting of municipal ordinances.

In addition to her legal experience at Foley, Dorothy served as in-house environmental counsel for the global leader in oilfield technology and services. In this capacity, Dorothy provided counsel on environmental matters worldwide, including matters related to chemical regulatory compliance and oilfield-specific regulations.

Prior to joining Foley, Dorothy worked as an associate executive director at Association Management Service Partners, Inc., and a director of programs/communications for Total Association Management Services, Inc. In these positions, she worked with professional associations in the hospitality, legal, and medical fields. While attending law school, Dorothy served as a federal judicial intern for the Honorable James S. Moody and the Honorable Elizabeth A. Jenkins.

Awards and Recognition

  • Recognized, “40 Under 40,” Orlando Business Journal (2013)
  • Recipient, Stephens/Register Memorial Award, Environmental and Land Use Law Section of The Florida Bar
  • Recipient, New Attorney Award of Excellence, Legal Aid Society of the Orange County Bar Association (2012)

Presentations and Publications

  • Co-presenter, “PFAS: From Here to Eternity,” 36th Annual Texas Environmental Superconference (August 2, 2024)
12 November 2024 Events

2024 NAM Manufacturing Legal Summit

The National Association of Manufacturers will be hosting its third annual Manufacturing Legal Summit on November 12-13 in Washington D.C at the Willard InterContinental. The conference is for manufacturing lawyers addressing the latest pressing challenges across the legal regulatory landscape.
14 August 2024 Viewpoints

Understanding Recent Ruling on Greenwashing Allegations

A Maryland federal judge recently ruled that federal law preempts a proposed class action against United Airlines for allegedly...
02 August 2024 Events

Texas Environmental Superconference – PFAS: From Here to Eternity

Dottie Watson will be speaking during the panel “PFAS: From Here to Eternity” during the Texas Environmental Superconference.
04 October 2023 In the News

Dorothy Watson Discusses Proposal to Incorporate Climate Impact in Penalty Considerations

Foley & Lardner LLP partner Dorothy Watson is quoted in the E&E News article, “Biden admin floats idea of adding climate impacts to fines, penalties.”
11 July 2023 Manufacturing Industry Advisor

Top Legal Issues Facing the Manufacturing Sector in 2023

As we embark on the second half of 2023, this second annual Manufacturing White Paper examines the business and legal considerations that continue to impact the industry and offers the perspectives and insights of attorneys with deep experience serving as trusted advisors to manufacturing companies.
31 May 2023 Viewpoints

Wetlands No More? U.S. Supreme Court Limits Federal Regulation of Wetlands in Sackett v. EPA Decision

On May 25, 2023, the Supreme Court issued a decision in Sackett v. EPA, effectively narrowing the scope of federally protected wetlands to which the Clean Water Act applies.