Our People
Frederick L. Hitchcock
Shareholder
Rick Hitchcock advises and represents clients in environmental matters, business planning, technology issues, transactions, and trial and appellate litigation. He also counsels businesses and utilities concerning environmental compliance matters.
Mr. Hitchcock has represented clients in significant environmental matters before administrative agencies, regional EPA offices, and several state and federal courts. He has successfully handled a number of appellate cases, including a leading case on the lender exception to liability under the federal Superfund law. He has served as special counsel to local governments on contract, franchise, and constitutional issues and represents electric and telecommunications utilities in strategic business planning. As counsel to the charter study commission of the City of Chattanooga, he served as a principal drafter of a charter framework that was implemented in 1990.
Mr. Hitchcock is involved in a variety of community activities. He helped lead successful voter initiatives to combine local schools and to provide financial resources to support public education. He has been actively involved in the revitalization of downtown Chattanooga.
Representative Matters
- Assisted in development of environmental due diligence protocols for major business acquisitions
- Developed environmental compliance strategies for manufacturers and utilities and assisted in their implementation
- Led efforts to gain passage of enabling legislation to permit electric utilities to offer telecommunications services
- Assisted in strategic planning and implementation of electric utility expansion into cable TV and high bandwidth Internet services
- Successfully represented utilities in telecommunications litigation
- Represented local government intervenors in water utility ratemaking proceedings
- Represented local government agency in successful federal court litigation to obtain repayment for failed computer system installation
- Developed and implemented litigation strategies to halt illegal use of trade secrets by former employees
- Guided design and implementation of forensic strategies in complex litigation
- Assisted local government in development of negotiation and litigation strategy in complex contractual matters
- Represented local governments, utilities, businesses, and individuals in a variety of complex litigation
- Counseled with entrepreneurs and emerging technology businesses concerning business development strategies.
Memberships
- American Bar Association, Environmental Impact Assessment Committee of the Environment, Energy & Resources Section (SEER), Chairman
- Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce, past Board Member
- Chattanooga Area Convention & Visitors Bureau, past Board Member
- Chattanooga Area Regional Transportation Authority, past Chairman of the Board
- Chattanooga Bar Association
- Chattanooga Electric Power Board, past Assistant General Counsel
- Rotary Club of Chattanooga, past Chairman, Environment Committee
- Special Counsel on water utility issues, City of Chattanooga, 1998-2000
- Tennessee Bar Association, Environmental Law Section, Executive Committee
- Tennessee Public Transportation Association, past Chairman
- The Company Lab, Volunteer Attorney
- United Way of Greater Chattanooga, past Board Member
Honors
- The Best Lawyers in America, Energy Law
- Leadership Chattanooga, Organizing Committee and past Chairman
- Distinguished Political Science Alumnus, University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
