Arnold & Porter’s environmental team fields a strong bench and offers clients broad expertise in regulatory compliance and in the defense of enforcement proceedings pertaining to the Clean Air Act (CAA), Clean Water Act (CWA), Oil Pollution Act (OPA) and Endangered Species Act (ESA), among other areas. Brian Israel, who splits his time between Los Angeles and Washington DC, heads the practice and is strong in both regulatory matters and contentious issues, with a strong track record in contaminated sites across the US. Jonathan Martel  is recommended for CAA issues and often represents clients before the environmental protection agency (EPA), while Ethan Shenkman is a key name climate change policy and regulatory matters. California’s Zachary Fayne is another name for air quality issues, as well as consumer protection law matters, while Sarah Grey in Colorado, who was recently promoted to partner, acts for clients in the energy, manufacturing, and automotive sectors on EPA and transactional matters. Judah Prero joined as counsel from the American Chemistry Council and Lauren Daniel was promoted to partner. Attorneys are based in Washington DC, unless otherwise stated.

Boutique environmental specialist Beveridge & Diamond, P.C. handles matters nationwide, and the team, which is led by Washington DC’s Paul Hagen and Seattle’s Allyn Stern, includes department of justice (DOJ) and EPA alumni. It acts for top-tier domestic and international clients on a broad range of regulatory matters, including perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and other contamination issues, plastic waste, climate change, Superfund and environmental, social and governance (ESG) matters. Hagen is a key name for market access, global supply chain, and product stewardship, while Stern, a former EPA regional counsel, offers 30 years’ experience in environmental matters, with a focus on compliance and enforcement matters. In Austin, Maddie Boyer heads the Latin American practice and is recommended for sustainability issues, such as emerging chemicals and circular economy initiatives. Also in DC, John Cruden is an DOJ alumnus who handles environmental and natural resources litigation, and civil and criminal enforcement matters, while Stacey Halliday is a key name for environmental justice issues. Karen Hansen, who is also based Austin, co-leads the water practice and is particularly experienced in Texas water law, including regulatory compliance and policy issues. Former chairman Benjamin Wilson retired in December 2021.

The environmental team at Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP offers coast-to-coast expertise on environmental policy debates, regulatory developments, and litigation. It is particularly strong in issues relating to air, water, waste, chemicals and climate change at the state, local, and federal level. The team is led by Eric Murdock and Deidre Duncan, with Duncan offering strong experience in compliance and permitting, particularly in relation to the CWA, and also the national environmental policy act (NEPA) and ESA. Matthew Leopold is former general counsel for the EPA and is experienced in shaping environmental law; he is strong in air quality, chemicals and hazardous substances matters. Kerry McGrath is experienced in National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) matters and water issues, with a focus on the mining, agriculture, and utilities sectors. In San Francisco, Shannon Broome is a name for risk management and ESG matters and environmental matters relating to California, while counsel Clare Ellis advises clients on California’s emissions laws, policy matters and CAA matters. Chuck Knauss is recommended for compliance, enforcement and litigation. Attorneys are based in Washington DC unless otherwise stated. 

The environmental, safety, and incident response team at Baker Botts L.L.P. offers services coast-to-coast and has particular strength in crisis response and prevention. Permitting, compliance, investigations and enforcement are also key tenets of the practice, and it is particularly experienced in the air, water and waste sectors. In Houston, Scott Janoe heads the team, while Scott Elliott is recommended for environmental, and health and safety issues, in the chemical and energy industries. In Washington DC, Debra Jezouit is recommended for CAA and climate change matters, as well as ESG issues, while Alexandra Dunn, who was a former Assistant Administrator for the EPA’s Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention, is a key name for EPA issues, particularly those pertaining to Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and PFAS chemicals. Martha Thomsen and Allison Watkins Mallick were both promoted to partner in DC and San Francisco respectively, in early 2022. Kimberly White left for EOG Resources and Jennifer Keane retired.

Bracewell LLP has a strong presence in Texas and Washington DC and acts for high-profile oil and gas, and pipeline companies on infrastructure development, climate change regulation, liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports, enforcement issues and carbon sequestration. Its client roster also includes businesses in the renewables, chemicals, manufacturing and technology sectors, and the team includes government and regulatory agency alumni. The practice is led by Jason Hutt and Jeffrey Holmstead, with Hutt handling administrative, civil and criminal enforcement actions, and Holmstead a key name for climate change and CAA matters. Brittany Pemberton has notable experience of compliance and enforcement matters, and in assisting associations participating in the federal rulemaking process. Austin’s Timothy Wilkins is recommended for permitting, energy transition matters and ESG issues, and also advises clients on disputes and transactional matters. Catherine Little and Annie Cook joined from Troutman Pepper in June 2022 and in August of the same year, Steven Cook joined as of counsel from the EPA in Houston. Named attorneys are based in Washington DC unless otherwise stated.

The environment and natural resources team at Hogan Lovells US LLP is led by Denver’s Scott Reisch and Washington, DC’s Adam Kushner and acts for top clients in relation to both regulatory and contentious matters. Key areas of focus for the practice include crisis management, compliance, investigations by regulators, permitting, and public and Native American land issues; client sectors include oil and gas, aviation, renewables and real estate. Reisch is a key name for contamination issues, compliance counseling and transactional matters, while San Francisco’s Tom Boer, a DOJ and EPA alumnus, brings considerable expertise in environmental statutes to the team; he handles regulatory issues, enforcement matters and litigation. Hilary Tompkins, also in DC, is strong in emerging areas, such as clean energy and ESG.

King & Spalding LLP offers clients ‘subject matter experts who have keen insights on the issues, can apply past learning to current risks and use those insights to identify emerging trends’. With teams on both coasts, the firm is well placed to handle regulatory matters across the US, under the leadership of Washington DC’s Granta Nakayama. It is particularly strong in enforcement defense matters and negotiations with regulators, such as the EPA; mobile source emissions; compliance in highly regulated sectors; and issues around toxic chemicals, such as PFAS. Nakayama is a key name for compliance and enforcement matters, while in Los Angeles, Peter Hsiao, a former DOJ environmental attorney, is recommended for natural resources and toxic tort law. Ilana Saltzbart, also in DC, is an EPA alumna with considerable experience of the CAA. Chicago’s Karl Heisler is noted for incident response and workplace health and safety work. Marcella Burke left in July 2022. Adam Sowatzka has also left the firm.

Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP offers coast-to-coast expertise on high-profile regulatory and litigation matters, with a strong presence in Los Angeles and Princeton. It offers a wealth of experience in contamination cases and investigations and enforcement matters by regulators, as well as remediation issues. James Dragna and Princeton’s John McGahren lead the practice, with Dragna experienced in environmental crises in the energy, aerospace, and manufacturing industries, and McGahren a key name for compliance, litigation and natural resource damage claims. In San Francisco, Ella Foley Gannon is recommended for obtaining and defending entitlements against administrative and judicial challenges, and is active in state and federal courts, While Rick Rothman handles environmental and energy litigation. David Brown was recently promoted to partner, alongside Washington DC’s Doug Hastings, and is active in regulatory and compliance matters pertaining to air quality, water quality, hazardous substances, and climate change. Angelo Calfo joined from Calfo Eakes in Seattle and Jeffrey Hurwitz retired. Lawyers based in LA unless otherwise stated.

The environment and land, water and natural resources team at Van Ness Feldman LLP has a strong Washington DC presence and a core focus on environmental work. The firm is active in the automotive, utilities, oil and gas, transport and marine sectors and is particularly strong in air pollution, climate change, regulatory investigations and enforcement, clean water, hazardous waste and environmental justice matters. The team is led by Stephen Fotis, Britt Fleming, Jonathan Simon and Seattle’s Jenna Mandell-Rice. Fleming represents businesses before Congress, and federal and state agencies, and is a key name for regulatory, policy and development issues, with a strong track record in CAA cases. Kyle Danish is recommended for energy projects and regulation, while associate A.J. Singletary, a Department of Transportation alumnus, is a name for climate change issues. Gwendolyn Keyes Fleming left in June 2022. Attorneys based in DC unless otherwise stated.

The environmental practice group at DLA Piper LLP (US) was bolstered in April 2022, with the arrival of Gwen Keyes Fleming from Van Ness Feldman LLP; she splits her time between Washington DC and Atlanta and now co-heads the team alongside George Gigounas, who is based in San Francisco and San Diego. With coast-to-coast expertise, the practice is well placed to handle matters across the US and leverages its international network for support on cross-border mandates. It is particularly strong in emerging contaminants, such as PFAS, climate change and environmental justice issues and provides advice in relation to litigation and transactional matters. Fleming is an EPA alumna with experience in policy, compliance and enforcement defense, while Gigounas is a name for site clean-ups, product-related toxic exposure and pollution liability.

The environmental practice group at Greenberg Traurig LLP has a broad geographic spread and is led by Miami’s Kerri Barsh, Tampa’s David Weinstein, Denver’s Christopher Neumann and Steven Russo in New York. It acts for a domestic and international client base on financial, transactional and regulatory matters, as well as litigation, and is well versed in energy, food, water and climate issues. Barsh is recommended for regulatory, permitting, and litigation matters, while Weinstein handles toxic tort and product liability issues. Russo is a name for NEPA matters and brownfield redevelopments, and Neumann handles civil and criminal investigations and enforcement matters. Timothy Swickard left in October 2022.

The environmental and natural resources team at Vinson & Elkins LLP is active in the oil and gas, and mining industries, among others and has a strong track record in high-stakes government investigations and enforcement matters, permitting, and litigation when things go wrong. The team is led by Washington DC’s Ronald Tenpas, a key name for in civil and criminal investigations and CAA matters. Matthew Dobbins, also in Houston, handles litigation, regulation and transactional issues, with particular expertise of carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) projects and renewable fuels. Larry Nettles has retired.

The environmental group at Dentons is led by Brad Cahoon in Salt Lake City and handles regulatory and transactional matters, and litigation. It is particularly strong in brownfield redevelopment matters and acts for a number of major developers in relation to the ESA, CAA, CWA and NEPA, among other areas. Silliman advises on compliance matters at the federal, state and local levels, while Cahoon administrative and regulatory matters. The Los Angeles-based Robert Schuda is a name for Proposition 65 issues and is active in the chemicals, manufacturing and consumer products. Todd Silliman left the firm in June 2023.

K&L Gates acts for mid-size and Fortune 500 companies on a range of environmental regulatory matters, with particular experience of permitting, and air and water issues. The team is led by Brian Montag in Newark, Craig Wilson in Harrisburg and Seattle’s Ankur Tohan. Montag is active in the manufacturing, construction, telecoms and chemical sectors and represents clients before administrative authorities, such as the DOJ and EPA; Wilson has over 25 years’ experience and has a strong track record in environmental issues pertaining to energy projects. Tohan handles energy infrastructure and natural resource development projects and is a name for greenhouse gas matters.

The energy and environment team at Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP is led by Craig Moyer in Los Angeles and advises on regulatory, litigation and transactional matters in the environmental sphere across the country. It acts for businesses, non-profits and public sector entities on crisis and risk management, as well as compliance issues. Moyer is well versed in cases relating to hazardous materials and workplace health and safety incidents and handles investigations and enforcement actions by state and federal regulators. Ted Wolff left in summer 2022.

McGuireWoods LLP has recently been active in emerging issues, including the EPA’s actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from power plants, as well as environmental justice issues and residuals management. The team is also strong in CAA regulatory matters and litigation and is led by Charlotte’s David Franchina and Vishwa Link and Diane Flannery in Richmond. Franchina is a key name for solid and hazardous waste, water and air pollution matters, while Washington DC’s Aaron Flynn and Makram Jaber act for utilities and oil and gas companies on a range of environmental regulatory matters. Amanda Waters joined as counsel in Richmond from Aqua Law in June 2022.

Under the leadership of San Francisco’s William Tarantino and Susan Mac Cormac, the environmental group at Morrison Foerster handles regulatory issues and contentious matters. By virtue of its west coast presence, the practice has considerable experience of dealing with regulatory authorities in California and is particularly active in the manufacturing, utilities, alternative energy, transportation and real estate sectors. It offers clients strong expertise in compliance programs, emergency responses and consumer products law.

Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP environmental team handles both contentious and non-contentious matters, and is spread out across the US; the practice is led by Mark Elliott, who splits his time between Los Angeles and San Francisco, Michael McDonough in LA, Margaret Rosegay in San Francisco, Amanda Halter in Houston and Washington, DC’s Jeffrey Knight. It is particularly strong in energy transition matters, regulatory challenges, transactional issues and compliance counselling. Elliott is a key name for hazardous materials, soil, water, and air quality issues, while Rosegay brings 40 years’ experience to the team, with a focus on permitting and compliance. Halter handles crisis management and environmental liability matters. Chris McNevin and Kevin Fong retired.

Squire Patton Boggs handles regulatory matters in a broad range of sectors, including chemical, manufacturing, transportation and energy, and it also advises on related disputes and litigation, including cost recovery, toxic tort cases and government enforcement matters. Practice head Karen Winters is based in Columbus and is a key name for environmental liability and compliance issues, as well as the defense of federal and state enforcement proceedings. In Denver, Carolyn McIntosh is recommended for compliance, regulatory work and litigation, with a focus on renewable energy and clean technologies, while Cleveland’s Douglas McWilliams is a name for CAA and CERCLA matters.

Troutman Pepper is particularly strong in regulatory matters, policy developments and litigation risks and acts for a range of high-profile companies and industry associations. It has recently been handling a number of mandates relating to the energy transition, including the environmental aspects of electric vehicles, electric vehicle battery manufacturing plants and domestic lithium production. The team is led by Richmond’s Andrea Wortzel, who offers considerable expertise in waste management compliance, permitting, water supply issues and litigation, while in Atlanta, Fitzgerald Veira is a name for nuclear regulatory matters, pollution and CWA and NEPA matters. Catherine Little and Annie Cook left in June 2022, while Randy Brogdon left a month later in July.

The energy, environment and natural resources group at WilmerHale has a strong presence on the west cost and handles regulatory matters, transactions and disputes, with a focus on the manufacturing, energy, defense, real estate and automotive sectors. In addition to regulatory compliance, the practice advises on risk mitigation, health and safety issues, and actions brought by regulators at the federal, state and local levels. Peggy Otum heads the team and is a key name for ESG issues, product liability matters and environmental investigations. The team was bolstered at the start of 2022 with the arrival of Davina Pujari and special counsel Christopher Rheinheimer, who joined from Hanson Bridgett LLP. Attorneys are based in San Francisco.