Peter Gould, Keith Bradley & Glenn Willard

April 2021

Being a volunteer on the Appalachian Trail (A.T.) can mean spending hours under the sun clearing brush or removing a blowdown beneath the shade of the famous green tunnel. But some volunteer work occurs miles away from the Trail — and is equally as crucial for ensuring the A.T. is managed and protected.

This month, we recognize Squire Patton Boggs (Squire) law firm, which has supported the Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC) for the past fourteen years with pro bono legal representation, proving to be an immense value to the ATC and the entirety of the A.T.

“Whether the Squire Patton Boggs staff advises on engaging with Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), the best way to obtain protections for vulnerable lands along the Trail, or compliance in financial reporting, our work is made easier and the Trail is better protected due to the enthusiasm and commitment of our pro bono counsel at Squire,” said Brendan Mysliwiec, ATC Director of Federal Policy and Legislation.

Recognizing the importance that nature provides to us all, three Squire representatives share why they give back to the Trail.

Peter Gould, who oversees Squire’s representation of the ATC, advises his clients in a variety of areas, including chemicals, energy, natural resources, transportation, environmental, and industrial health and safety. During law school, Gould worked as a law clerk at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maine. After living for 25 years near the Trail and the “wonderful landscapes and people it connects,” Gould explained, “I’m delighted to now support this national treasure by volunteering my time and attention to the ATC.”

Keith Bradley is co-chair of the Appellate and Supreme Court Practice. He represents companies and individuals in appeals before federal and state courts around the country and has achieved substantial results in litigation across a spectrum of agencies, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Health and Human Services (HHS), Department of Energy (DOE) and more.

“I’ve hiked in many places around the country and the world,” Bradley said. “That means I have benefited from the work of countless trailblazers and trail maintainers over many years before me. Living in Colorado, I can’t easily volunteer for maintenance on the Trail itself. I’m glad I can contribute to maintaining it in other ways.”

Glenn Willard began pro-bono work for the ATC in November 2008 and is proficient in all facets of campaign finance law with a knowledge of federal and state public ethics and lobbying law. Previously, Willard was an administrative law judge in the Michigan Department of Labor.

“I volunteer for the ATC because it is a critical part of the common good in this country, and whose interests are not always respected by more powerful economic and political forces,” said Willard. “Therefore, for my part, compliance with political law should not be a distraction to the ATC’s successful advocacy of its legitimate interests in D.C.”

As a 2,193.1-mile footpath that traverses fourteen states and is within a third of the U.S. population, volunteering helps ensure that the Trail is available for generations to come. Thank you to all volunteers, whose time, energy and effort protect the Trail!