Environmental boutique Beveridge & Diamond, P.C. is singled out for the ‘depth and breadth of its environmental bench,’ which can support a diverse roster of agriculture, chemical, retail, and technology sectors. The firm is adept at handling emerging issues such as PFAS liability, climate change, and plastic waste. Operating out of Washington DC, co-head John Cruden is well-versed in environmental and natural resources litigation, while from New York, co-head Daniel Krainin assists clients on alleged soil and groundwater contamination and natural resource damages. Operating from the DC office, Nessa Horewitch Coppinger has a solid track record of litigating multi-party federal and state statutory and common law claims, whereas James Slaughter is a key figure in mass tort, class action, and preemption litigation. Austin-based Maddie Boyer chiefly focuses on air permitting and litigation for the chemical manufacturing and petroleum refining sectors, and San Francisco’s Susan Smith concentrates on toxic tort defense. Katrina Krebs and Parker Moore, in New York and DC respectively, are also recommended.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
‘Really, the go-to environmental litigation firm. In 2025, we greatly benefited from Beveridge & Diamond's CERCLA litigation expertise in a federal appellate matter, and their insight and knowledge base are unmatched.’
‘Justin Smith has been a superstar for us, and I can't strongly recommend him enough, especially for CERCLA and related litigation (nuisance, trespass, etc.). Dan Krainin's litigation strategy skills and environmental knowledge base have been invaluable.’
‘What sets Beveridge & Diamond apart is the depth and breadth of its environmental bench. Unlike traditional full‑service firms where environmental law is a smaller practice group, at Beveridge & Diamond it is the firm’s core.’
‘Clients benefit from a team that deeply understands regulatory agencies’ expectations, industry pressures, and the operational realities of complex facilities and global supply chains.’
- ‘The firm’s approach is both practical and forward‑looking: translating complex regulatory frameworks into actionable guidance and building strategies that anticipate—not simply react to—emerging risks.’
- ‘Beveridge & Diamond's litigation team works seamlessly with in‑house legal, EHS, and operational teams to deliver solutions that work in the real world.’
Key clients
- American Petroleum Institute
- BASF Corporation
- Bayer Cropscience
- National Waste and Recycling Association
- DC Water and Sewer Authority
- City of San Francisco
- Textron
- United Airlines
- Walmart
- Waste Connections
Work highlights
Represents Evraz, the owner of an active steel mill and several historical properties within the site of Portland Harbor, a contaminated 12-mile stretch of the Willamette River.
Defends Waste Connections, Inc., and certain subsidiaries in four putative class action lawsuits and 11 mass tort actions filed on behalf of 800 individual plaintiffs.
Serves as lead litigation counsel for Clarios in federal CERCLA litigation at the most high-profile environmental justice site in California.
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.
Next Generation Partners
Junior partners with significant recognition from clients and peers in the market and key roles on multiple matters.
Parker Moore
Katrina Krebs
Practice head
John Cruden; Dan Krainin
Other key lawyers
Nessa Horewitch Coppinger; James Slaughter; Maddie Boyer; Susan Smith; Justin Smith; Dan Krainin; Katrina Krebs; Parker Moore