Arnold & Porter regularly advises on the Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, Oil Pollution Act, and the Endangered Species Act. Across 2024 Stacey Halliday, Brandon Neuschafer, and Jeffrey Talbert joined the experienced team co-chaired by the Washington DC-based duo Jonathan Martel and Allison Rumsey. With prior experience from the EPA, Martel is known by clients for regularly assisting on Clean Air Act regulatory matters, while Rumsey is active in state and federal regulatory enforcement actions and permits for large infrastructure. The DC office is also home to Ethan Shenkman, who has positioned himself as a key advisor on climate change policy and regulations, Lawrence Culleen who advises clients on chemical, pesticide, and antimicrobial regulations, as well as Halliday, formerly at Beveridge & Diamond, P.C., who represents electronics and textile clients on product compliance and global supply chain matters. Air quality is a key pillar of the firm’s practice and on this front, San Francisco-based Zachary Fayne is a key point of contact, as an expert on the Clean Air Act. The deep bench also includes Chicago’s Neuschafer, who joined in 2024 and advises clients on regulatory matters regarding food, agricultural, and chemical products, and Sarah Grey, who is noted for her work on energy transition, decarbonization, and climate change policy and regulation from the Denver office. Brian Israel  departed from the team in August 2024.

Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP serves a diverse client base across the industrial, manufacturing, energy, and conservation sectors, offering expertise in air, natural resources, water, and chemical matters. The practice is jointly led from the Washington DC office by Eric Murdock and Deidre Duncan. Murdock is a seasoned practitioner in environmental compliance and risk management, while Duncan is known by clients for her knowledge of water and natural resource compliance and permitting matters. Other notable practitioners at the DC office include Kerry McGrath, a natural resources and environmental lawyer who assists clients on environmental statutes including the Clean Water Act, Endangered Species Act, and National Historic Preservation Act; Matthew Leopold, who handles air quality, chemicals, and hazardous substances and site cleanup mandates; and Charles (Chuck) Knauss , who advises energy, automotive, and manufacturing clients on compliance and risk management. Over in San Francisco, Shannon Broome co-chairs the ESG and climate change practice, advising renewables, manufacturing, and oil and gas clients on regulation and risk management. Also operating out of the San Francisco office is Samuel Brown, who focuses on the development and implementation of corporate climate change-related strategies, and Clare Ellis, whose knowledge of emission credit and trading programs positions her to advise the transportation and energy sectors.

 

Latham & Watkins LLP  environmental team advises the full spectrum of clients, spanning from transport to media, across climate change, air quality, water quality, energy & natural resources projects. The team is chaired by Washington DC’s Janice Schneider, who has proven experience at the intersection of energy and environment, handling onshore and offshore development, as well as the National Environmental Policy Act and Endangered Species Act. Schneider and Stacey VanBelleghem are praised by their clients for their ability to ‘bring real, practical experience to a complicated practice’ and VanBellegham, based in the DC office, fields a strong track record in climate change and air quality matters, with a recent highlight of advising the National Coalition for Advanced Transportation on emission standards under the Clean Air Act. Julia A. Hatcher is active in the firm’s DC office, advising on environmental, health, safety, and product defense mandates, while Devin O’Connor handles federal land use matters involving the National Environmental Policy Act and Endangered Species Act. Gary Gengel is well-positioned to advise automotive, chemical, and food manufacturing clients with on-site investigation, remediation, and general regulatory matters from the New York office. James R. Barrett retired from the partnership in December 2024 and Kegan Brown  left the team in Jan 2024.

 

Under the leadership of Houston’s Scott Janoe, Baker Botts L.L.P.  offers a wide-ranging practice encompassing energy transition, incident response, contaminated sites, as well as air and water quality. In Washington DC, Debra Jezouit offers clients spanning from energy to pharmaceutical a wealth of experience in the Clean Air Act, while for climate change matters at the state and federal level, Megan Berge is a key name, advising clients of permitting and the EPA rulemaking process. The team in Austin includes Derek R. McDonald, who focuses on the permitting of projects and infrastructure, and Stephanie Bergeron Perdue and Paulina Williams, who advise clients on water quality and rights, air quality, and natural resource mandates. With a broad practice across environmental health and safety issues and investigations, Houston-based Scott Elliott is a key advisor to the chemical and energy industries. Alexandra Dunn departed from the team in March 2024.

 

The environment, lands, and resources team at Bracewell LLP  is prepared to support clients in the energy, chemical, and infrastructure segments, a key example of this is the team serving as outside counsel to Equinor Wind concerning its offshore wind business. Jason Hutt and Jeffrey Holmstead lead the practice from Washington DC. Hutt focuses his practice on enforcement actions, investigations, and major incidents, while Holmstead is a key point of contact on the Clean Air Act and climate change. Other key members in Washington DC include Kevin Ewing , who advises on energy development, and Ann Navaro , who brings government experience to advise on natural resources. Over in Austin, Kevin Collins ’s expertise in internal investigations positions him as a key advisor to the energy and petrochemical industries. while Sara Burgin is a name to note across a breadth of sectors on water mandates, and Matt Paulson advises oil and gas and chemical manufacturing industries on permitting and compliance. Austin’s Timothy Wilkins is recommended for energy transition, climate change, and enforcement matters, while Whit Swift  is equally recommended for permitting and regulations.

 

Praised by clients as the ‘best in class’, Hogan Lovells US LLP’s maintains a strong market position across the manufacturing, energy, transportation, chemicals, and agriculture sectors. The practice is co-led by Washington DC’s Adam Kushner , a former member of the EPA’s Air Enforcement Division and Civil Enforcement Office, who is the go-to advisor for matters involving the Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, and the Superfund statute, and Denver’s Scott Reisch , who is equally recommended to client’s seeking environmental contamination and compliance advice on brownfield redevelopment and cleanup statute matters. Over in the San Francisco office, Tom Boer draws from his government background to assist with environmental emergencies and chemical releases.  Hilary Tompkins predominately handles clean energy and ESG matter, while Jim T. Banks aids in the Clean Water Act and National Environmental Policy Act. Both are based in the DC office. Lily Chinn, Nadira Clarke, and Anne Carpenter joined the practice from Baker Botts L.L.P. in April 2024.

 

 

King & Spalding LLP ’s team is well-established across a range of matters, including materials compliance, incident response, extended producer responsibility, as well as, renewable fuels. A key example of this is practice-head Ilana Saltzbart from the Washington DC office, who is recommended for her work on renewable fuels-related issues, as well as, new regulations involving battery storage, recycling, and transportation. Leading the government matters and regulation sub-practice from DC, Granta Nakayama has positioned himself as a key advisor across a broad practice covering air, water, waste, toxic chemicals, pesticide enforcement, and compliance work. Karl Heisler of the Chicago office handles a breadth of incident response issues, spanning from fires and explosions, right through to pipeline releases and the abandonment of hazardous waste, while drawing from his chemical engineering background Los Angeles-based Peter Hsiao heads the firm’s West Coast environmental, health & safety practice. The firm has seen an increased caseload on ESG and sustainability claims and on this front, Joseph Eisert  is a key contact, while Cynthia Stroman, also based at the DC office, assists on PFAS matters.

With a client list fielding a broad range of industries, DLA Piper LLP (US)’s environmental practice is equipped to handle matters across compliance, climate change, contaminants, and ESG. The practice, which handles complex matters regarding emerging contaminants, is under the joint leadership of San Francisco’s George Gigounas and Washington DC’s Gwendolyn Keyes. Gigounas takes the lead on product enforcement and compliance, as well as, hazardous wastes and toxic exposures, while Keyes, with experience from the EPA, is a key advisor on emerging contaminants and ESG. New York’s Jeff Salinger, is praised by his clients as ‘the best in the market’ across his broad practice of ESG, climate change, and brownfield redevelopment. The San Francisco office is home to Adam Baas, a seasoned practitioner on emerging contaminants and PFAS-related liability, and Caroline Lee, who advises clients from a span of industries on natural resources and product safety.

With a client roster of domestic and international companies, Greenberg Traurig LLP is prepared to advise on energy, water, food, climate, resource use, and manufacturing mandates. Formerly at Arnold & Porter, Will Wagner joined the practice in April 2024, joining the team led by David Weinstein, Kerri Barsh , Christopher Neumann, and Steven Russo. Tampa’s Weinstein is known for clients for toxic tort and product liability expertise, while Barsh is well-equipped to advise public and private clients on energy and infrastructure projects, permitting, and climate change from the Miami office. Over in Denver, Neumann advises oil and gas and mining clients on incidents, enforcement, and compliance, New York’s Steven Russo offers abroad practice across permitting, brownfields redevelopment, toxic tort, and real estate mandates. Other key points of contact are Houston-based Christopher J Neumann , who handles incident response, enforcement, and investigations, and Paul Seby , operating out of Denver, who provides aid to energy, mining, and manufacturing clients on state and federal regulation matters.

With a nationwide presence, Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP  has developed a wide environmental practice, including enforcement, investigations, natural resource permitting, development projects, contaminated sites, and contaminants. James Dragna and John McGahren lead the team from Los Angeles and Princeton respectively, with the former frequently instructed by clients from the energy, aerospace, and manufacturing on environmental crises and enforcement and the latter fielding considerable expertise on natural resource damage claims and Superfund matters. The West Coast practice includes Los Angeles-based Rick Rothman , who is sought out by energy, manufacturing, and consumer clients on air and water quality, hazardous substances, and climate change mandates, San Francisco’s Ella Foley Gannon who focuses her practice on natural resource permitting and land use entitlements, and Los Angeles-lawyer David Brown, an expert on air quality, water quality, hazardous substances, and climate change matters. Splitting her practice between Princeton and New York, Stephanie Feingold aids clients on contaminated sites and matters involving drinking water contamination.

Vinson & Elkins LLP‘s environmental & natural resources group is turned to by energy, oil and gas, and manufacturers on complex contamination mandates. Ronald Tenpas  leads the group from Washington DC, representing energy, oil and gas, and manufacturing clients in civil and criminal environmental violation investigations and enforcement. The group fields Houston-based Brandon Tuck , who combines a natural resources law background with a broad practice, including representing companies on pipeline development projects’ permitting and statute issues, and DC’s Corinne Snow, whose broad practice handles environmental compliance, regulatory changes, and internal investigation. Over in Texas, Matthew Dobbins is a leading name across a comprehensive environmental practice, with experience spanning to permitting issues in connection with carbon capture and sequestration projects to environmental liability management.

Baker McKenzie LLP’s environmental practice has notable sector-specific strength in oil and gas, automotive, pharma, renewable energy, food and agriculture, and mining. Overseeing the Chicago-based team is John Watson, whose practice covers the development and implementation of environmental compliance programs and day-to-day compliance aid. David Hackett is well-prepared to advise on domestic and international compliance and environmental projects, while Jessica Wicha advises domestic and multinational companies on risks and liabilities arising under federal and state laws.

Sitting with the wider energy, environment, and litigation group Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner’s practice handles chemical and pesticide compliance, redevelopments, natural resource assets, and health and safety mandates. At the helm of the practice is Bryan Keyt, based in Chicago, who fields a broad practice spanning management of risks and liabilities associated with air, water, and waste management, as well as, Superfunds, process safety and risk management, and occupational safety and health. Elsewhere in the Chicago office, Thor Ketzback focuses on the Clean Air Act and permitting, while St Louis-based Dale Guariglia works with chemical, mining, finance, and agriculture clients on counseling and enforcement on matters involving Superfund, Clean Air Act, and Clean Water Act. Splitting her time between Chicago and St. Louis, Erin Brooks advises the real estate, manufacturing, and fleet management industries on environmental, health, and safety mandates.

Dentons provides its broad client base with a coast-to-coast regulatory offering across chemicals, pesticides, consumer products, energy, restoration, and remediation. The Los Angeles office comprises practice head Robert Schuda’s broad practice spans manufacturing and registering of chemicals and pesticide products, hazardous waste management, and preserving natural resources. Other key names on the West Coast are San Diego’s expert in hazardous waste and toxic tort, Stephen Marsh, and Gary Roberts, who represents companies on California Proposition 65. Operating out of the Chicago office, Jeffrey Fort takes point on internal environmental investigations and the implementation of environmental compliance programs, while Julie Vanneman is equipped to advise on remediation at contaminated sites from Pittsburgh. Salt Lake City-based Bradley Cahoon advises on contaminated sites, Clean Water Act, and Clean Air Act issues.

K&L Gates’s environment, land, and natural resources practice is geared to support state and federal regulation of air, water, wetlands, mining, oil and gas, and waste management. As a ‘key resource’ for clients, Harrisburg’s Craig Wilson is a key point of contact for clients on permitting and land approvals for the development and operation of energy projects. The deep bench also fields Brian Montag, of the Newark office, who aids chemical, manufacturing, and construction clients on Superfund sites, hazardous waste, and product liability, and Seattle’s Ankhur Tohan, who focuses his practice on renewable energy development and carbon management compliance. Other key names include Raleigh-based Stanford Baird, who represents manufacturing clients on contaminated properties and development permitting, and Tad Macfarlan, who aids on air emissions, wastewater, and hazardous waste management regulatory regimes from the Harrisburg office.

McGuireWoods LLP‘s client roster features domestic companies from a breadth of industries across energy, transportation, manufacturing, and chemicals. Operating out of Charlotte, David Franchina is active across a breadth of regulatory issues, with his expertise spanning hazardous waste, water and air pollution, and chemical issues. Washington DC-based Makram Jaber predominantly focuses on matters relating to the the Clean Air Act, while Atlanta’s Adam Sowatzka leverages prior EPA experience to position himself as a key advisor on air, water, and waste issues. All co-lead the team. Key names in the DC office include Allison Wood, who leads the ESG Task Force, and Aaron Flynn, who aid utilities, manufacturers, and oil & gas clients on the Clean Air Act.

With an active regulatory compliance counseling practice, Morrison Foerster is well-prepared to issues related to hazardous waste management, government reporting obligations, hazardous materials in products and packaging, air emissions, energy, and water quality. The team is led from the San Francisco office by William Tarantino  and Susan Mac Cormac , with the former focusing his practice on environmental and consumer protection law, while the latter chairs the ESG, social enterprise and impact investing sub practice, with experience extending to corporate governance and corporate transaction matters. While chiefly focusing on environmental, climate, and green claim issues,  San Diego-lawyer Krista deBoer is also a key advisor on regulatory approvals, compliance, and risk mitigation.

The full-service environmental and natural resources practice at Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP fields a varied caseload including air and water pollution, Superfunds, endangered species, and chemical regulation. Splitting his practice between Los Angeles and San Francisco, practice head Mark Elliott’s experience extends to site remediation, hazardous material, and soil, water, and air quality. In Washington DC Jeffrey Knight acts primarily for energy and infrastructure development, real estate, and chemical clients on agency rulemaking and compliance with the Clean Air and Clean Water Acts. The ‘top-notch’ Margaret Rosegay offers expertise on solid and hazardous waste and water quality permitting and compliance across San Francisco and Silicon Valley. In Houston, a key name to note is natural resources expert Amanda Halter , whereas Michael McDonough , of the LA office, focuses his practice on air quality regulations.

Sidley Austin LLP advises energy clients spanning from oil and gas to offshore on regulatory matters, with a recent matter highlight advising Dow Chemical on waterbody Superfund matters of the Berry’s Creek Study Area. The practice is jointly led by Timothy Webster and Justin Savage in Washington DC, and Byron Taylor in Chicago, with Webster specialising in Clean Air and Water Act matters, Savage advising on risks linked to emerging contaminants, and Taylor focusing on high-stakes environmental incidents. Houston’s Heather Palmer co-leads the ESG and climate change sub-group, while Maureen Gorsen aids clients on hazardous waste, emission controls, and air quality from Century City. Other notable practitioners are Andrew Stewart, who aids with permitting requirements and environmental obligations, and Peter Whitfield, whose practice particularly focuses on conventional and renewable fuels regulation. Both are based in the DC office.

With a particularly active electric utility practice, Troutman Pepper Locke LLP’s environmental practice handles natural resources and permitting for renewable energy projects, as well as, contaminants and the Clean Water Act. Leading the team from Richmond is Andrea Worzel, who offers a broad practice across the Endangered Species Act, Clean Water ACT, and National Environmental Policy Act, elsewhere in Richmond, Brooks Smith leads the environmental and natural resources practice group. Over in the Atlanta office, Fitzgerald Veira advises domestic and international clients on the Clean Water Act and Mack McGuffey specializes in the Clean Air Act. San-Francisco based Shawn Zovod offers a broad practice spanning from the Clean Water Act to Endangered Species Act, as well as others, Washington DC’s James Beers takes point on air and waste mandates.