Justin Savage > Sidley Austin LLP > Washington DC, United States > Lawyer Profile

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.

Sidley Austin LLP houses a skilled environmental transactional team that works closely with the firm’s M&A team and fields a broad range of experience that includes mergers, acquisitions, capital markets, corporate securities, and global finance. Heading the environmental team from Washington DC are Timothy Webster and Justin Savage, while Byron Taylor leads from the Chicago office. Houston lawyer Heather Palmer utilizes her notable knowledge of regulations and ESG to engage on mandates pertaining to mergers and acquisitions within the oil and gas, refining, chemical, and power sectors. Maureen Crough, of the New York office, offers a broad practice and is positioned to advise domestic and non-domestic purchasers, sellers, and lenders, amongst others, in environmental aspects across an array of transactions.

Sidley Austin LLP is a premier choice for clients seeking top-tier environmental legal services across litigation, regulatory, and transactional matters. Known for its strength in environmental enforcement and compliance, the firm handles complex cases and advises on critical issues like ESG, PFAS, and climate change. Recent successes include guiding Cummins Inc. to a $1.67bn Clean Air Act settlement, the largest civil penalty in its history. The firm also represents Vineyard Wind 1 in ongoing litigation. Global co-leader of the practice Justin Savage is recognized for his litigation and trial prowess. Byron Taylor is noted for leadership in environmental law and diversity, while Heather Palmer co-leads the firm’s ESG and climate change practices, advising on environmental aspects in M&A, corporate securities, and global finance matters.

Sidley Austin LLP‘s transportation department has a well-established presence in the rail industry, offering expertise in regulatory and disputes at the appellate level, along with capabilities in the automotive sector, naming Ford, Tesla, Volkswagen among its portfolio of clients. The team has a strong track record in high-stakes rail disputes, including before the Court of Appeal and Supreme Court at both the state and federal level. The team is also experienced in a variety of rail transaction mandates, and is a port of call for companies requiring regulatory approval or representation before regulatory bodies in various transactional disputes. Washington DC-based Raymond Atkins co-heads the team with Justin Savage, and are both highly sought after for their experience in regulatory litigations, environmental law, and enforcement cases.