
King & Spalding continues to be a trusted adviser to clients navigating complex product liability and toxic tort matters, with the team providing extensive environmental class action experience relating to groundwater contamination, vinyl chloride exposure, and PCB and lead contamination. Co-heading the practice from Houston, Tracie Renfroe has developed a strong reputation for handling litigation involving groundwater and drinking water contamination. Renfroe recently succeeded in securing a defense verdict for Baker Hughes in a bellwether trial in federal court arising from property damage claims related to trichloroethylene (TCE) contamination. Based in San Francisco, Matthew Blaschke co-leads the environmental tort team, bringing substantial experience advising on environmental laws and regulations, including the federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act. In Houston, Elizabeth Taber utilizes her combined expertise in environmental contamination and oil and gas-related disputes to advise energy and oilfield services clients on a wide range of matters, including representing 3M in defending claims brought against the company in its capacity as a legacy PFAS supplier. Kristen Fournier, Morton Dubin, John Ewald, and Kevin Hynes left the firm.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Key clients
- 3M
- Baker Hughes
- Beech-Nut Nutrition Company
- Chevron
- Delta Air Lines
- Dow Chemical Company
- Mine Respirator Company, LLC
- Renco Group
- Shell Oil Company
- Terumo BCT, Inc.
- Viking Group, Inc.
- Walmart, Inc.
Work highlights
Secured a complete defense verdict on behalf of Terumo BCT, Inc. and Terumo BCT Sterilization Services, Inc. in litigation targeting sterilization facilities over alleged ethylene oxide (EtO) emission.
Served as lead counsel for the Renco Group and Doe Run Resources in mass tort litigation involving 3,000 claimants in a lead and toxic substances case at the La Oroya smelting facility in Peru.
Representing Baker Hughes and Dresser in a trichlorethylene (TCE) groundwater contamination and vapor intrusion case alleged to have resulted from Dresser’s former Flow and Process Technology Facility.
Lawyers
Leading partners
The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.

Next Generation Partners
Junior partners with significant recognition from clients and peers in the market and key roles on multiple matters.
Practice head
Matt Blaschke; Tracie Renfroe; Andy Bayman
Other key lawyers
Elizabeth Taber

