Member

Jennifer J. Cave

Jennifer Cave has over 20 years of experience working as an environmental consultant and attorney across the United States. Serving as Chair of the firm’s Environmental, Energy & Sustainability Service Group, she works closely with businesses to ensure compliance with local, state, and federal environmental laws and regulations. Ms. Cave advises clients on air quality, storm water, wastewater, and solid and hazardous waste permitting and compliance requirements and defends clients in administrative, civil, and criminal enforcement actions. Ms. Cave also regularly counsels equipment manufacturers on the importation and sale of mobile sources under the Clean Air Act and guides clients through transactions involving the purchase and sale of contaminated properties.

In addition to her environmental law practice, Jennifer founded Stites & Harbison’s hemp and medical cannabis practice after being appointed by the Governor to the Kentucky Medical Cannabis Advisory Committee in 2022. She provides counsel on regulatory compliance, business strategy, and risk management issues to medical cannabis businesses and represents medical cannabis businesses in litigation and before the Kentucky Office of Medical Cannabis.

Recent Assignments

Negotiated a coverage settlement on behalf of an excess insurance carrier in a matter involving claims made in connection with contaminated sediments at the Portland Harbor Superfund site.

Conducted a Clean Air Act audit and negotiated penalty amnesty with state air agency for a large, coal-fired power plant.

Obtained hardship relief from U.S. EPA for a manufacturer of non-road equipment following supply chain shortages of compliant engines resulting from the 2011 tsunami in Japan.

Evaluated state and local air permitting requirements for a nationwide product recall by a Japanese automotive manufacturer.

Prepared a combined PSD/Title V Permit Application for a proposed coal-fired power plant.

Bar Admissions

Kentucky

U.S. Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit

U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky

U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Washington

U.S. District Court for the Western District of Kentucky

U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington

Washington

Firm Leadership

Environmental, Energy & Sustainability Service Group, Chair (2024-present)

Louisville Office Recruiting Committee, Prior Member

Memberships

Kentucky Bar Association

,

Environmental, Energy, and Resources Law Section

Louisville Bar Association

Air & Waste Management Association

Community Involvement

Kentucky Horse Park Commission (2023-27)

Greater Louisville, Inc., Environment and Energy Committee, Chair

Greater Louisville, Inc., Public Policy Committee

Team Kentucky Medical Cannabis Advisory Board (2022-present)

Louisville Regional Science and Engineering Fair, Vice President of Legal & Business Affairs (2018-21)

Kentucky Air and Waste Management Association, Board of Directors

Louisville Air Pollution Control District Multi-Pollutant Stakeholder Group

Women Environmental Leaders of Louisville (WELL), Co-Founder

Leadership Louisville, Class of 2019

Education

J.D.,

2004

magna cum laude

Seattle University School of Law

Org / Honor

Environmental Law Society

Faculty Scholar Award Nominee

B.S., Biology,

1997

cum laude

University of Kentucky

Org / Honor

Equestrian Team

Alpha Omicron Pi

More Than Stites & Harbison

Ms. Cave joined the firm after working as an environmental consultant specializing in due diligence investigations and hazardous waste compliance in New England and the Pacific Northwest. In the past, Ms. Cave has served on the Board of Directors of the Lexington Humane Society, the Louisville Energy Alliance, and the KMAC Museum and the Steering Committee of Leadership Lexington. In 2017, she co-founded Women Environmental Leaders of Louisville (WELL), a networking group of over 100 women working in the environmental, health and safety, and sustainability fields in Louisville. Ms. Cave is an avid horsewoman who enjoys competing in the sport of eventing. She also assists her two rescue dogs, Mason and Malcolm, with managing the family farm in Shelby County.

Accolades

Martindale-Hubbell® AV-Preeminent® Peer Review Rated

ChambersUSA, “America’s Leading Lawyers for Business,” Environment, Natural Resources & Utilities: Environment (2021-25)

Best Lawyers in America®, Environmental Law (2017-25)

Best Lawyers in America®, Louisville Area Lawyer of the Year for Environmental Law (2020)

Kentucky Super Lawyers®, Rising Stars (2013-16)

Business First of Louisville, 20 People to Know in Law (2020)

Leadership Lexington Distinguished Leader Award (2013)

The Women We Admire, Top 100 Women Leaders in Law of 2021

Contact Resources

Jennifer Cave's LinkedIn Profile