Sidley Austin LLP‘s environmental, health, and safety practice excels at environmental enforcement defense and compliance, having expanded with the hires of Jason Mills and Alana Genderson from Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP in March 2025, bringing OSHA experience. Washington DC’s Justin Savage brings experience across environmental, transportation, and administrative matters, and Timothy Webster covers civil and criminal environmental enforcement defense, as well as challenges to government action, internal investigations, and regulatory advocacy. Chicago-based Byron Taylor takes point on crisis response, internal investigations, and regulatory advocacy. The three co-head the practice. Maureen Gorsen, who is based in Los Angeles, defends clients in federal and state enforcement matters, including hazardous waste, emissions controls, and air quality matters. Also acting out of DC, Peter Whitfield assists clients with environmental issues prior to, during, and after project development and operation.
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Key clients
- American Fuel and Petrochemical Manufacturers
- Costco
- Amsted Rail
- Specialty Market Equipment Association
- National Truck Equipment Association
- HF Sinclair
- Cenovus Energy
- California Fuels and Convenience Alliance
- Delek US
- CHS Inc.
Work highlights
Secured an important victory in the U.S. Supreme Court for the American Fuel and Petrochemical Manufacturers (AFPM) in a high-profile challenge to the EPA’s approval of California regulations requiring automakers to manufacture more electric vehicles.
Represents Amsted Rail in a major lawsuit filed under the Clean Air Act (CAA) in federal district court in the Southern District of Ohio. The claims arise under the CAA New Source Review (NSR)/Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD) program related to Amsted’s steel foundry in Groveport, Ohio.
Represented the Specialty Equipment Manufacturing Market Association (SEMA), the 7,000+ member trade association that represents companies in the $400 billion aftermarket auto industry, and the 2,100+ member National Truck Equipment Association (NETA)—The Work Truck Association—in the organizations’ efforts to prevent the enactment of Advanced Clean Fleets (ACF) regulations proposed by the California Air Resources Board (CARB).
Lawyers
Leading partners
The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.
Practice head
Timothy Webster; Justin Savage; Byron Taylor
Other key lawyers
Maureen Gorsen; Peter Whitfield