The environment practice at King & Spalding LLP possesses broad regulatory capabilities, with expertise spanning water rights, air emission issues and soil contamination. The group particularly excels in enforcement proceedings, but is also well versed in matters involving products and supply chains regulated by federal and state agencies. Granta Nakayama is one of the main points of contact for clients from the energy sector. Nakayama is based in the Washington DC office, alongside Cynthia Stroman. Adam Sowatzka is a name to note in Atlanta.

King & Spalding LLP possesses extensive first-chair disputes experience, evidenced by its impressive track record in high-exposure environmental litigation throughout the country. With environmental specialists in Houston, Chicago, Atlanta, Washington DC and California, the firm has served as lead counsel in trials, arbitrations, and administrative hearings involving groundwater, waste, soil, water, air and climate issues. Of particular note, the group is renowned for its energy law credentials, fielding specialist knowledge in environmental issues relating to project development, including Clean Air Act disputes and citizen suits. Granta Nakayama heads up the environmental, health and safety practice from Washington DC, while the global toxic and environmental torts group is led by Carol Wood in Houston. Tracie Renfroe is a core member of the Houston-based team; she specializes in the defense of energy and industrial clients in toxic tort and environmental contamination matters. Disputes involving chemical exposure, groundwater contamination, the Clean Water Act and RCRA are among Douglas Henderson‘s notable fields of activity; he is based in Atlanta.

King & Spalding LLP offers legal support to lenders, underwriters and investors on a litany of business transactions in the US and abroad. Supporting the firm’s prolific energy practice, the environmental team is particularly active in transactions in the oil and gas, LNG, petrochemicals and renewables sectors, including project financing. Another key feature of the department is its work for private equity firms in relation to their portfolio deals. Based in Washington DC, Granta Nakayama leads the nationwide practice group; Cynthia Stroman is a contact for  environmental transactional issues involving the energy and chemicals sectors; and Joseph Eisert is a go-to lawyer for private equity clients.

Beyond traditional car and truck companies, King & Spalding LLP represents new entrants and technology developers throughout the autonomous vehicle space. The practice is equally adept in single plaintiff catastrophic injury cases (on behalf of companies), as well as in multi-district litigation and class actions. It is co-led by regulatory specialist Jackie Glassman and environmental law expert Granta Nakayama from the firm’s Washington DC office. Glassman is particularly focused on safety responsibilities and fuel efficiency initiatives; and Nakayama’s experience includes representing automakers facing tort and liability litigation. In New York, John Hooper is highly regarded for mass tort litigation, while Atlanta-based Susan Clare‘s experience includes acting as part of the team representing General Motors in high-exposure litigation. Since publication, Christie Iannetta left the firm.