Offering coast-to-coast services, Arnold & Porter has a notable track record for representing market-leading clients from a range of industries in cutting-edge environmental litigation. The firm houses a strong group of litigators who combine district, trial and appellate court experience with deep knowledge of environmental regulations. Practitioners handle a busy caseload which features high-exposure disputes involving toxic tort, Superfund liability, climate change, citizen suits, public nuisance, air and water issues, covering all aspects of federal and state environmental law. Leading the department is Brian Israel , who receives praise for his trial experience in Natural Resource Damages (NRD) cases. He is based in the Washington DC office, where Michael Daneker  is a notable practitioner in the fields of enforcement actions defense, CERCLA and Clean Water Act litigation. Also in DC, Elissa Preheim concentrates her practice in environmental claims related to contaminated sites and large toxic tort class actions. The firm is additionally singled out for its deep bench of experts in California, who are often called upon by clients in relation to challenging regulations and chemical listings under Proposition 65. Sarah Esmaili in San Francisco leads on this type of work. In the same office, Trent Norris  is a key contact for the consumer product and retail sectors, while Zachary Fayne is seasoned in challenges to state and federal rulemakings as well as toxic tort litigation.

Some of the most prominent companies in the United States and international clients operating in a wide range of sectors seek Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP‘s representation in the full array of environmental litigation matters. Specializing in high-stakes civil and criminal environmental claims, the group is noted for its capabilities in highly complex disputes involving cost recovery actions, enforcement defense, asbetos liability, Superfund sites, permitting obligations and mass tort claims, including multi-party and multi-forum proceedings. The team is managed out of Washington DC by Stacie Fletcher, who handles significant cases under federal and state environmental statutes, and Daniel Nelson, whose notable areas of practice include class action lawsuits and mass tort. In the same office, Raymond Ludwiszewski is a name to note for the defense of environmental civil enforcement cases and complex toxic tort cases. The DC team was further strengthened by the arrival of David Fotouhi, who joined the firm after nearly four years in the Office of General Counsel at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Also noteworthy is the group’s offering in California, where Patrick Dennis is counsel of choice for numerous manufacturing, energy, real estate, and construction industry clients. He is based in Los Angeles. Perlette Jura, who co-chairs the ESG practice, and Abbey Hudson are key individuals in LA for multi-district environmental litigation.

Latham & Watkins LLP fields one of the largest and most experienced cross-discipline teams in the country specialised in high-value and complex environmental litigation. The practice provides nationwide coverage to a number of leading corporations in the chemicals, energy, manufacturing, transport and defense sectors involved in high-stakes disputes encompassing climate change, air and water quality, toxic tort, energy and natural resources projects and enforcement issues. The group, which features numerous former senior US Government officials, is jointly led by James L. Arnone  in Los Angeles, Janice M. Schneider  in Washington DC, and Chicago-based Mary Rose Alexander , the latter of whom is a ‘top-notch’ attorney with a wealth of experience in multi-district class actions and precedent-setting cases. Also in Chicago, Robin M. Hulshizer ‘s expertise spans every major environmental statute, demonstrating particular strength in litigation involving toxic tort, Superfund sites, citizen suits and mobile emissions matters. Kegan Brown  is the name to note in New York; he has played a critical role in environmental cases involving the consumer products, chemicals, oil and gas, automotive and manufacturing industries.

With an impressive client roster including a number of well-known energy companies, Baker Botts L.L.P. is highly regarded for handling trial litigation involving environmental law issues. The firm’s deep environmental bench offers coast-to-coast expertise and is regularly involved in multi-media cases arising from natural resource damage claims, climate tort, class actions stemming from environmental accidents, and CERCLA cost-recovery matters. Practitioners bring to the table experience in every major environmental statute and regulatory program, and are often sought after by clients responding to crisis situations, including oil spills and chemical releases, Superfund cases and remedial work. Houston-based Scott Janoe, who has nearly two decades’ experience in environmental litigation, enforcement defense and crisis management, oversees the group with Megan Berge  in Washington DC. Berge stands out for her proficiency in permitting, climate change and ESG matters. Other key inidividuals to note in DC include Steve Solow, who is recommended for environmental incidents that are the subject of government investigations and criminal enforcement, and Nadira Clarke, who is often retained by oilfield services, refiners, manufacturing and chemical clients.

Rated by clients for its ‘deep level of knowledge‘, Beveridge & Diamond, P.C. is an environmental boutique with an extremely strong reputation in the United States. The firm’s litigation practice is skilled at handling high-profile cases with national and international significance, especially cutting-edge legal matters involving toxic tort, soil and water contamination, citizen suits, constitutional law, and enforcement defense. Recent mandates saw the team represent major companies and trade associations in defending or settling multi-party claims involving PFAS liability and disposal, plastic waste, climate change, environmental justice, product stewardship, and EHS issues related to COVID-19. Complex contaminated site cost recovery claims also feature on the team’s caseload. The full-service practice is jointly managed by Megan Brillault in New York and John Cruden in Washington DC; Brillault acts for Fortune 500 companies, trade associations and businesses in civil and criminal environmental proceedings, and Cruden is a preeminent attorney in high-stakes natural resources and environmental litigation. John Guttman, who splits his practice between New York and DC, combines expertise in toxic tort, environmental litigation and natural resource damages claims. David Weber in Seattle serves as co-chair of the firm’s air and climate change group, and focuses on litigation and enforcement matters. Sitting in the San Francisco office, Susan Smith maintains a national litigation practice covering toxic torts, insurance coverage and drinking water contamination. Bina Reddy is a key practitioner in Austin.

Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP has a long history of acting in high-exposure environmental claims and has represented large energy, manufacturing, commercial real estate development, petroleum product terminating and mineral extractive industry clients in environmental litigation in the US and beyond. Covering all major federal and state environmental statutes, the team’s impressive track record includes significant Clean Air and Water Act matters, precedent-setting greenhouse gas public nuisance suits, complex enforcement defense proceedings involving chemicals, waste management and site clean-up. The environmental group is led out of Washington DC by Eric Murdock and Deidre Duncan, the latter of whom has a notable reputation in the oil and gas sector. Also in the DC office, Chuck Knauss maintains a broad base environmental practice, demonstrating particular strength in enforcement, permitting, risk management and climate change matters, while permitting natural resources mandates are core areas of activity for Kerry McGrath. Matthew Leopold, who also sits in the DC office, is ‘exceptionally skilled and an expert in environmental law‘, bringing to the table strategic insights as the former General Counsel for the US Environmental Protection Agency. The ‘world-class team of professionals‘ also includes Shannon Broome, who is a leading practitioner in landmark nuisance litigation in California. She is based in San Francisco and represents clients from the oil and gas, renewable energy and manufacturing industries.

The sizeable department at King & Spalding LLP ‘has a wealth of knowledge on how to deal with environmental litigation in challenging jurisdictions‘. With seasoned trial lawyers based across the country, the team is adept at handling high-exposure environmental cases which oftentimes involve bet-the-company significance and issues ranging from toxic chemicals, groundwater contamination to environmental incidents, including fires, chemical releases and explosions. The firm is a go-to destination for clients in the energy sector, but also offers representation to several Fortune 100 companies operating in a range of industries engaged in high-profile waste, soil, water, air and climate change-related litigation in the US and abroad. Based in Washington DC, Granta Nakayama jointly heads up the group with Kristen Fournier in New York and Matt Blaschke in San Francisco. Working out of Houston, Tracie Renfroe  often receives mandates from energy and industrial clients in groundwater and drinking water contamination and toxic tort mandates. Douglas Henderson in Atlanta has tried numerous cases involving chemical exposure, RCRA and the Clean Water Act. On the West Coast, Charles Correll  is a name to note in San Francisco for natural resource damage claims and environmental litigation, while Peter Hsiao in Los Angeles is a solid litigator in matters concerning air and water issues, CERCLA cost recovery and toxic tort.

Bringing together experience in environmental enforcement, compliance and litigation, Kirkland & Ellis LLP has successfully defended major companies in a variety of civil, criminal and administrative environmental proceedings. Contentious matters related to groundwater contamination is an area of strength for the group, which is often retained by clients from the chemicals, manufacturing, oil and gas sectors and public entities in such claims. In addition, typical mandates include mass tort and class actions, Superfund cases, climate change litigation and challenged to federal and state rulemakings. Andrew Running is a key point of contact within the team; the practitioner is based in Chicago and has achieved numerous victories for clients in environmental contamination, product liability and toxic tort cases. Kevin Van Wart is seasoned in acting for major corporate clients in class actions and mass tort lawsuits, while Bradley Weidenhammer has substantial experience in federal and state trials as well as appellate courts throughout the US. Clients in the aerospace, manufacturing, telecoms, energy and pharmaceutical sectors regularly turn to Nader Boulos for assistance with environmental tort cases.

Standing out for its global presence, the environmental team at Mayer Brown is well-placed to advise clients facing litigation and navigating enforcement concerns. Its extensive experience litigating major cases in state and federal courts across the US makes it a suitable choice for high-stakes matters relating to greenhouse gas emissions, mass tort claims, PFAS litigation, challenges to EPA regulations and criminal environmental proceedings. The Illinois-based team has recently been involved in complex putative class actions and multi-district litigation involving the Clean Water Act. The practice is under the leadership of two practitioners: Mark Ter Molen , who demonstrates broad capabilities in environmental tort cases and enforcement matters, and Rich Bulger , whose government experience make him a go-to choice for enforcement proceedings and mass tort litigation. Environmental and land use litigation are notable areas of practice for Timothy Bishop , whose expertise cuts across water and air issues, and nuisance law. Counsel Jaimy Hamburg not only assists with civil and criminal government investigations, but is also adept at defending corporate clients in toxic tort, citizen suits and class actions. All named attorneys are based in Chicago.

Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP‘s environmental counseling and litigation practice is adept at trying high-stakes cases, including those stemming from enforcement investigations, mass tort claims and multi-party hazardous waste lawsuits. Remediation of contaminated sites and natural resource damage assessments under CERCLA are other notable areas of practice for the team, which fields further strength in defending energy and infrastructure permits in state and federal courts. Co-head James Dragna takes on a leading role in major litigation and environmental crises mandates, often acting for multiparty groups in hazardous waste proceedings; he works out of Los Angeles. Fellow co-leader John McGahren manages the New Jersey-based litigation team; he has a wealth of experience in prosecuting and defending citizen suits, Superfund and RCRA cases. Stephanie Feingold  in Princeton is regularly retained by chemical, energy, telecoms and manufacturing companies engaged in multi-district litigation. Based in Washington DC, Duke McCall is a crucial member of the environmental practice with decades of first-chair experience representing clients in some of the largest matters handled by the team.

With extensive experience in environmental litigation before state and federal courts across the US, Bracewell LLP is skilled at handling bet-the-company civil, administrative and criminal proceedings on behalf of clients from a range of industries, with a particular focus on the energy sector. The firm excels in assembling cross-office teams to handle major environmental cases involving air, water, waste, climate change and infrastructure development, and negotiating the resolution of enforcement cases opposite EPA and the Department of Justice. The department is jointly led by Jason Hutt  in Washington DC, whose experience covers major industrial accidents, multi-party and multi-media environmental cases and enforcement actions, and Austin-based Kevin Collins , who is counsel of choice for leading energy and petrochemical clients. Also in DC, Kevin Ewing  is another key contact for energy companies, while Jeffrey Holmstead  is singled out for his expertise in air and climate change matters. Ann Navaro  is a solid litigator who is regularly engaged in permitting and enforcement-related cases.

Greenberg Traurig LLP fields a team of attorneys specialised in the resolution and settlement of complex civil and criminal environmental cases. On the civil litigation side, the team is well placed to represent clients in class actions, multi-district litigation, citizen suits and enforcement matters. Furthermore, the group is skilled at trying high-stakes cases, including those involving alleged soil, water and air pollution, on behalf chemical, refining, mining, manufacturing and other industrial clients. Offering expertise on the full-array of environmental law matters, practitioners are also retained in mandates pertaining to environmental releases, crisis management and climate change. Kerri Barsh  in Miami and David B. Weinstein in Tampa oversee the nationwide environmental department. Based in Philadelphia, David G. Mandelbaum  is seasoned in water rights, waste management and Superfund-related cases. Civil and criminal enforcement are among Christopher L. Bell‘s areas of activity; he is based in Houston and also focuses on litigation and emergency response. Francis Citera is a key individual in the Chicago office; he has defended clients in several class actions, toxic tort claims and environmental litigation before federal and state courts.

Jones Day represents clients in a variety of environmental litigation in federal and state courts, showcasing strong credentials in the area of climate change and emerging contaminants. The team is comprised of attorneys with former experience in federal agencies, including the EPA, and draws on resources throughout the US and Europe to assist clients operating in the chemical, energy, mining, waste management, forest products, automobile manufacturing, real estate development and agriculture sectors in toxic tort and insurance coverage litigation matters.  Department head Kevin Holewinski  manages a busy caseload featuring high-stakes environmental, climate change and toxic tort litigation; he is based in Washington DC. Jane Story is a noteworthy practitioner in Pittsburgh, who is recommended both for CERCLA litigation and compliance issues, while Thomas Donnelly  stands out in the San Francisco office for his longstanding experience in administrative proceedings before environmental agencies and litigation.

Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP offers comprehensive advice in the fields of environmental and natural resources litigation matters to an array of market-leading and transformative businesses across all industrial and energy segments. Recently, the team, which couples trial capability with deep environmental experience, has been involved in several matters involving the State Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC). Furthermore, the practice undertakes works involving all major federal and state environmental laws, and handles contentious matters concerning air and water issues, waste management, emerging chemicals, toxic torts, Superfund and endangered species. Mark Elliott in Los Angeles is skilled in environmental litigation at the state and federal levels, including cases involving Superfund sites, Proposition 65, and the Clean Water Act. Based in San Francisco, Margaret Rosegay  is a leading attorney in California, who is recommended for hazardous waste permitting, RCRA and site remediation. They jointly chair the group with Houston-based Amanda Halter, who oversees the crisis management team, and Jeffrey Knight in Washington DC.

The environment, safety and health practice group at Squire Patton Boggs excels in handling complex litigation, ranging from challenging new environmental regulations to defending enforcement actions, cost recovery claims, class actions and multi-party toxic tort matters. Clients operating in the steelmaking, mining, chemical, manufacturing, oil and gas, energy and consumer products sectors benefit from practitioners’ long history of working with state and federal regulators, and their track record in site remediation, brownfield redevelopments and water rights issues. Based in Columbus, department head Karen Winters is proficient in environmental tort claims and in the management of large-scale environmental liabilities. In Denver, Carolyn McIntosh is extremely active in environmental litigation and compliance issues, and Peter Gould assists clients with administrative law, government investigations and environmental disputes. In the same office, Alexander Arensberg  is skilled at acting for clients in litigation and regulatory matters before federal and state agencies.

Vinson & Elkins LLP is skilled at handling a huge variety of environmental mandates, ranging from regulatory and permitting matters to federal environmental litigation. The team is well-versed in contentious and historical contamination cases across the country, and in litigating EPA’s regulations of national importance. Larry Nettles in Houston jointly heads up the environmental group with Washington DC-based Ronald Tenpas, who stands out for his strong track record in civil and criminal matters related to alleged environmental violations. In the Houston office, George Wilkinson is experienced in litigation before state and federal courts involving a range of environmental issues, including RCRA and CERCLA. Clean Air Act expert Eric Groten is a name to note in Austin for enforcement action defense. Clients engaged in environmental litigation and regulatory matters which involve complex scientific and technical issues regularly seek Margaret Peloso‘s advice. She is based in Washington DC.

Demonstrating strong capabilities in transactions, regulatory matters and litigation involving environmental law, Dentons is noted for its experience in chemical and pesticides regulations under federal and state laws, and its strength in representing major developers in brownfields issues across the United States. Atlanta-based Todd Silliman manages the department; he has served as lead counsel in high-profile cases involving endangered species, CERCLA and PEPA issues, water rights and wetlands. With a strong base in California, the team is regularly retained to advise on Proposition 65 matters, Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) issues and chemical risks. Robert Schuda in Los Angeles has longstanding experience in ESG maters, hazardous waste management and cleanup, and historic preservation.

K&L Gates houses a group of environmental and regulatory specialists whose experience cuts across air, waste management, water, wetlands, mining and oil and gas. The team has strong working relationships with federal ad state regulatory authorities, making it well-positioned to assist major businesses and industry groups in administrative proceedings, permitting issues, and remediation claims. Based in the Newark office, Brian Montag ‘has a breadth of knowledge and expertise in environmental litigation‘. He is regularly retained by clients in the construction, manufacturing, telecoms and chemical sectors in mandates involving environmental justice, Superfund sites, and toxic tort. He jointly heads up the environmental practice Craig Wilson in Harrisburg and Seattle-based Ankur Tohan.

McGuireWoods LLP covers a broad range of environmental litigation and regulatory matters, with significant experience in Clean Air Act contentious matters, emerging contaminants and redevelopment of contaminated property. The team is routinely retained to represent a high-profile and nationwide corporate client roster in claims involving toxic and mass torts, citizen suits, civil and criminal enforcement actions and environmental resource damages claims. The environmental practice is chaired by David Franchina in Charlotte, while Richmond-based Vishwa Link heads up the regulatory and compliance department, and Diane Flannery  leads on environmental and toxic tort litigation mandates. Also in Richmond, Darin Waylett stands out for his involvement in the practice; he advises on the full spectrum of environmental matters.

Based in California, Morrison Foerster represents clients before judicial tribunals in all areas of environmental law, with a particular emphasis in cases arising under the federal Superfund law, claims of wrongful chemical exposure, and remediation of historical uses of soil and groundwater. Led by William Tarantino , the team is a strong performer in Proposition 65 trials and is also adept at assisting with California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) processes from the planning stage through litigation. Other areas of expertise include natural resources claims and challenging contentious matters under the Endangered Species Act and Clean Water Act. Tarantino is seasoned at trying cases in state and federal courts. Justin Fisch is singled out for his comprehensive knowledge of climate change, site cleanups and brownfield development. Both attorneys are based in San Francisco.

The November 2020 addition of a four-member environmental group from Baker Botts L.L.P., including partners Chris Carr and Navi Dhillon, bolstered the depth of Paul Hastings LLP‘s environmental bench significantly. The practice is now well-positioned to handle bet-the-company environmental and natural resources litigation, having already established itself as a go-to choice for clients involved in complex federal and state environmental proceedings in California. Co-head Carr enjoys a strong reputation in the market, especially for representing renewable energy clients. He oversees the practice with Deborah Schmall , who is an expert in enforcement actions, hazardous waste regulations and contaminated property remediation. Trial lawyer Dhillon maintains a robust regulatory practice, while acting for an array of clients in high-stakes environmental disputes. All named practitioners are based in the San Francisco office.

With a strong environmental bench based on the West Coast, Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP is well-versed in high-stakes environmental litigation throughout California and high-profile enforcement actions before various regulatory agencies. Covering all areas of environmental law, the practice is seen with great regularity advising clients engaged in contentious matters arising from soil and groundwater contamination, hazardous waste and air quality issues. Defending companies from the food and beverages, real estate, electronics and consumer goods sectors who have received Proposition 65 Notice of Violations is another area of particular strength for the practice. Jeffrey Parker  is a key contact for this type of work in Los Angeles; he is also singled out for is track record in environmental and tort litigation. Whitney Roy  co-chairs the environmental litigation with Parker in LA; her expertise cuts across Propositiong 65, water contamination, CERCLA and the Clean Air Act.

Under the leadership of Fitzgerald Veira based in Atlanta, the environment and natural resources department at Troutman Pepper offers legal support to major US and international companies, public entities, non-profit organizations and trade associations in relation to federal, state and local proceedings. With nationwide coverage, the team is a strong performer in the defense of agency and citizen enforcement actions, challenged to permits in the energy sphere, issues pertaining to PFAS and toxic tort claims. Key individuals include Brooks Smith in Richmond, who acts as lead counsel in numerous environmental citizen suits and state enforcement proceedings; and William Droze and Mack McGuffey in Atlanta.