Standard Lithium Ltd., a leader in Arkansas’ growing lithium sector, has a new general counsel with years of experience at the top of the industry.
Standard, of Vancouver, British Columbia, named Michael Lutgring as its general counsel, effective Aug. 18. Lutgring was formerly vice president and deputy general counsel at Albemarle Corp., the world’s largest lithium producer.
Albemarle, of Charlotte, North Carolina, also has decades of experience in south Arkansas’ brine lands. It draws bromine from the oil and gas fields in Columbia and Union counties, and is investing up to $540 million to expand and modernize two bromine facilities in Magnolia.
Like Standard, Albemarle has plans to extract lithium directly from brine pumped from underground. It is building a pilot plant at its Magnolia West site to test its process.
Lutgring will play a key role in Standard’s leadership as it moves forward with plans to build a $1.3 billion plant near Lewisville to process battery-quality lithium.
‘Wide-Ranging Experience’
“We are excited to have Michael join our senior leadership team,” Standard CEO David Park said in a statement. “Michael’s deep and wide-ranging experience will be critical as we strengthen our capabilities and bring further expertise in-house as we continue our growth and development as a public company.”
At Albemarle, Lutgring led legal work to support global supply chains, manufacturing, engineering, and corporate functions. His quarter century of practice includes expertise in corporate law, regulatory compliance, and commercial transactions.
Lutgring played a pivotal role in Albemarle’s $6.2 billion acquisition of Rockwood Holdings in 2015. That deal assured Albemarle’s ascendance in the lithium business. He also worked to achieve the $3.2 billion divestiture of Chemetall Surface Treatment to BASF.
“He is recognized for his ability to navigate complex regulatory environments and align legal strategy with business objectives,” Standard said.
Lutgring earned his law degree from LSU Law and is a graduate of Southeastern Louisiana University in Hammond.
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