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Licenses and Education

Admitted to State Bar, Texas 1990; Professional Engineer, Texas 1990; Vanderbilt
University (Bachelor of Engineering) 1976; University of Houston (J.D.) 1989;
American Arbitration Association Construction Industry Arbitrator Training 1999;
University of Texas Dispute Resolution Center Mediator Training 2000.

Practice Areas

Mr. Birch represents clients on environmental and administrative matters before state
and federal agencies and courts. Currently, approximately eighty percent of his time
is spent on environmental practice areas. He is experienced in air quality; industrial,
hazardous, and municipal solid waste; underground storage tanks; water quality;
environmental audits; and other areas of environmental, municipal, and administrative
law, and contracts. His prior engineering experience includes design, construction,
and operation in the chemical manufacturing industry, including mechanical (e.g.,
piping, structural, fabrication, foundation), heat transfer (e.g., exchanger, boiler,
furnace, refrigeration, insulation) and fluid flow (e.g., compressor, turbine, pump)
systems. Additionally, Mr. Birch is involved in arbitrations, mediations, settlement
negotiations, and litigation in private practice and in public hearings of contested
matters as Public Interest Counsel for the Texas Water Commission.

Work History

Partner, Birch & Becker, L.L.P., 2001-present; Attorney, Self-employed, 2000-2001;
Attorney, Lloyd, Gosselink, Blevins, Rochelle, Baldwin & Townsend, P.C., 1993-2000;
Attorney, Texas Water Commission, 1990-1993; Engineer, Monsanto Chemical Co.,
1977-1990; Engineering Assistant, Aladdin Industries, 1977.

Memberships and Associations

Member, State Bar of Texas (Alternative Dispute Resolution, Environmental and
Natural Resources Sections); American Bar Association; Travis County Bar
Association (Vice-chair, Mediation Section); American Arbitration Association;
American Society of Mechanical Engineers; Texas Association of Business and
Chambers of Commerce; Semi-Conductor Safety Association; San Antonio
Manufacturers Association.

Publications and Speaking Engagements

Mr. Birch is a frequent speaker on environmental and administrative topics;
conducted public meetings for the Texas Water Commission; and was a former
instructor of technical training courses, managerial problem solving, and diversity
issues. He has also published several articles on similar topics, including Changing
Water Laws: New Motivation for Water Reuse and Conservation, Industrial &
Hazardous Waste Recycling: The Solid Waste Gumball Machine, and Environmental
Audits: A Legal Perspective and Overview. For a more complete listing of Erich's
recent speaking history and published articles, click here.