Regarded for being ‘prompt, exceptional, and intelligent’, King & Spalding stands out for its ability to support clients on enforcement actions. With the team comprising of individual with technical backgrounds, the firm is well-positioned to advise on high-profile environmental investigations and enforcement. Washington DC’s co-head Ilana Saltzbart is recommended for her work on environmental enforcement defense, with her experience in issues at the federal and state levels. Tracie Renfroe co-heads the practice from Houston, receiving work from energy and industrial clients on environmental contamination, toxic tort, and product liability mandates. DC’s Granta Nakayama has been engaged by clients to support them on air emission regulations at the federal and state levels, while Atlanta’s Douglas Henderson draws from his technical background to act on cases involving, inter alia, chemical exposure and groundwater contamination. Peter Hsiao, operating in Los Angeles, lends his chemical engineering background to natural resources and climate change.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
‘Prompt, exceptional, and intelligent.’
‘The level of knowledge, thorough understanding of the case, and seemingly "caring" about our position.’
Key clients
- New Jersey Governor's Office
- Volkswagen AG
- Chevron
- Baker Hughes
- Dow Chemical Company
- Stellantis (Formerly FCA US LLC and Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV) and various subsidiaries
- The Renco Group
- Walmart
- Neste
- Delta Airlines
- Terumo BCT
Work highlights
Obtained a complete defense verdict on behalf of Terumo BCT, Inc. and Terumo BCT Sterilization Services in a bellwether trail alleging that Terumo had negligently emitted ethylene oxide gas from its Lakewood, Colorado facility since the 1990s, causing the four plaintiffs to develop cancer. We continue to advise Terumo on multiple ongoing cases related to the same issue.
Representing three major truck manufacturers—General Motors Co., Isuzu Technical Center of America, Inc., and Stellantis N.V./FCA US LLC—in a high-profile lawsuit challenging the validity of the Clean Truck Partnership agreement with the California Air Resources Board.
Obtained a defense verdict in the first bellwether trial for Baker Hughes and its subsidiary, Dresser, LLC, in a litigation docket where plaintiffs allege that property damage arose from trichlorethylene (TCE) contamination of several neighborhoods in Alexandria, Louisiana.
Lawyers
Hall of Fame
The lawyers at the very top of the profession, widely known and respected by peers and clients for their longstanding involvement in market-leading work.
Leading partners
The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.
Practice head
Ilana Saltzbart; Tracie Renfroe
Other key lawyers
Granta Nakayama; Douglas Henderson; Peter Hsiao; Randy J. Butterfield; Karl Heisler; Joseph A. Eisert; Sarah Warburg-Koechlin