Butler Snow attorneys Tray Hairston and Laura Heusel will speak at a Continuing Legal Education (CLE) Seminar hosted by the Mississippi College School of Law entitled ESG & Energizing Economic Development in Mississippi. The seminar will take place on January 13, 2023, from 9:00 am to 3:30 pm. Allison Herren Lee, former Securities & Exchange Commission Commissioner, will be keynoting.
Heusel will present during the ESG Overview panel starting at 9:00 am. She will discuss local and regional perspectives and opportunities for the environmental prong of ESG. Hairston will participate in sessions discussing Environmental Social Governance (ESG) at 12:30 and 1:30 and a panel discussion at 2:30 pm. Hairston will take a deeper dive into ESG Investing issues during the Community Development and Investment Banking portion of the seminar to help attendees better understand the legal nuances involved with these standards and the associated criteria in environmental issues, social aspects, and considerations with ESG governance requirements.
Tray Hairston concentrates his practice on public finance, economic development and site consulting. Before joining the firm, he served as Counsel and Economic Development Advisor to Mississippi Governor Phil Bryant. In addition, he is a Certified Economic Developer (CEcD) through the International Economic Development Council. In his role as a CEcD, Mr. Hairston provides economic development consulting to communities and site selection consulting to companies throughout the U.S.
Prior to his legal career, Hairston was also a member of the Business Development Division at the Mississippi Development Authority where he provided project management assistance to companies and consultants looking to locate new businesses in Mississippi.
Hairston has been recognized by Mid-South Super Lawyers® for Government Finance (2016-2022), Mississippi College School of Law as Young Lawyer of the Year (2013) and Mississippi Business Journal as one of its Top 40 under 40 (2012-2013). In addition, The Bond Buyer publication also recognized him as one of the 28 “Rising Stars” within the public finance field throughout the country. He is a member of the National Association of Bond Lawyers, International Economic Development Council, Southern Economic Development Council, Mississippi Economic Development Council, and Mississippi Bar Association. He received his undergraduate degree from Tougaloo College, his MBA from Belhaven College, and his Juris Doctor from the Mississippi College School of Law.
Laura Heusel’s practice areas include environmental litigation and environmental counseling, government relations, and public utilities that provide drinking water, wastewater, and solid waste management. She currently assists clients in both litigation and regulatory burdens under the Clean Water Act, the Clean Air Act, and state and federal cleanup and redevelopment programs. Prior to her legal career, Heusel spent 15 years as a professional engineer in both the public and private sectors. She applies her practical mindset to help clients navigate the technical challenges of environmental regulations.
Heusel has served as a Law Clerk for the United States Department of Justice, Environment and Natural Resources Division in Washington, D.C., among other impressive distinctions. She is a registered professional engineer in Mississippi and has served as a co-chair of the American Bar Association’s Committee on Water Quality and Wetlands. Heusel is a member of the Mississippi and Alabama Bar Associations and previously served as President of the Air & Waste Management Association (2018). She received her undergraduate degree from Mississippi State University, her M.S in Environmental Engineering from the University of Mississippi, and her Juris Doctor from the Mississippi College School of Law, graduating magna cum laude.
See the registration page for more information.
