R. Clay Larkin

R. Clay Larkin is a Partner in the Lexington office, specialising in Environmental Law. He has devoted a significant portion of his practice to representing energy and mining companies with an emphasis on the coal, oil and gas, and electricity generation industries.

Clay regularly represents clients in environmental litigation and compliance counseling matters under SMCRA, the Clean Water Act and other environmental statutes, and also has experience in general litigation and transactional matters in the energy and natural resources field.

Clay holds a J.D. from the University of Kentucky College of Law, where he was elected to the Order of the Coif (2007), and a B.A. in Political Science from Western Kentucky University (2004).

He is recognised by Chambers USA in Environment, Natural Resources & Utilities: Environment (2018–2026) and by The Best Lawyers in America in Natural Resources Law and Environmental Law (2023–2026). He was named "Lawyer of the Year" by Best Lawyers in Lexington in Natural Resources Law (2026). Clay has served as President of the Energy & Mineral Law Foundation (2022–2023) and currently serves as a Senior Policy Advisor and Board Member of the Kentucky Coal Association.