James L. Noles, Jr.


About Jim

Originally one of Barze Taylor Noles Lowther LLC’s founding partners, Jim Noles assumed a position as Of Counsel with the firm in 2025, after accepting a position as a Professor of Practice with Auburn University’s College of Forestry, Wildlife, and Environment. In the college, Jim now teaches a number of courses and is responsible for developing its Environmental Law minor.

Throughout his career, Jim’s expertise and experience in the law has focused on teaming with clients to help them achieve their individual, corporate, or governmental goals and objectives while complying with the increasingly complex and challenging requirements of modern-day environmental law and regulation.

Over the course of a 27-year law practice, Jim has counseled and assisted clients on issues arising from brownfields redevelopment, environmental due diligence, landfill siting, environmental justice, the Endangered Species Act, the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA), the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA), the Clean Water Act (CWA), wetlands permitting, the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), as well as handling administrative appeals before the Alabama Environmental Management Commission. He was also one of the few lawyers in Alabama who has routinely handled matters arising under the National Historic Preservation Act and associated federal and state historical and cultural resource laws.

In his Of Counsel role, Jim continues, on a limited basis, to advise the firm and its clients with respect to environmental legal matters.

My position at Auburn University provides a unique opportunity to be able to share with future practitioners the practical and academic lessons of my past experiences in the field of environmental law. I hope my students enjoy learning those lessons as much I as did. And, at the same time, I look forward to continuing my relationship with my colleagues at BTNL and assisting the firm, and its clients, with today’s and tomorrow’s opportunities and challenges in the same field.”

James L. Noles, Jr.
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Education

  • United States Military Academy, West Point, NY, B.S., International History, 1990
  • University of Texas School of Law, Austin, TX, J.D., 1997

Admitted to Practice

  • Alabama, 1997

Other Professional Experience

  • Captain, U.S. Army and U.S. Army Reserve (1990-1997)

Awards & Accolades

  • Chambers USA, Environmental, Ranked Individual
  • The Best Lawyers in America, Environmental Law, 2011-Present
  • The Best Lawyers in America, 2016 Lawyer of the Year, Environmental Law in Birmingham, Alabama
  • Mid-South Super Lawyers, 2012-Present
  • B-Metro, Top Lawyer, 2017-18
  • Wayne Greenhaw Service to the Humanities Award (2015)
  • Birmingham Business Journal Outstanding Director (Small Nonprofit Board Category) (2013)
  • Birmingham Business Journal Top 40 Under 40 (2005)
  • Fellow of the Alabama Law Foundation

Memberships & Activities

  • Alabama Environmental Law Section, Executive Council
  • Alabama Governor’s School, Leadership Council (2021-2023)
  • Leukemia and Lymphoma Society – Light the Night, Corporate Chair (Birmingham, Alabama) (2018)
  • Alabama School of Fine Arts, Former Chairman, School Board
  • Mountain Brook Library Foundation, Former President, Board of Trustees
  • Kiwanis Club of Birmingham, Former Secretary and Board of Directors
  • Alabama Humanities Alliance, Former Chairman, Board of Trustees, Chairman

Recent Publications and Speaking Engagements

  • “Leasing Land for Solar Energy Facilities,” Alabama Forestry Association, Orange Beach, Alabama (September 10, 2023)
  • “Legal and Regulatory Changes to WOTUS,” Southeastern Environmental Law and Regulation Conference, Sandestin, Florida (June 16, 2023) (with Blake Smith)
  • “‘Are You My Attorney?’: Independent Representation of Co-Defendants in Environmental Litigation,” Birmingham Environmental Professionals Association Quarterly Meeting, Birmingham, Alabama (May 12, 2023)
  • “The Next Nine Months: Pending Actions, Foreseeable Opportunities, and Developing Trends in Environmental Law, Regulation, and Enforcement,” American Society of Civil Engineers – Alabama Section (Winter Meeting), Birmingham, Alabama (March 7, 2023)
  • “The Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act,” Birmingham/North Alabama/Middle Tennessee Environmental Professionals Associations’ Air Compliance Workshop, Pelham, Alabama (September 15, 2022)
  • “The Old Man and the Sea,” Natural Resources & Environment (Spring 2021)Insurance Coverage

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