A&O Shearman is a popular choice for major US corporations, government agencies, and NGOs, including the US Department of Energy and General Electric seeking assistance with product responsibility, chemicals, and energy. Ken Rivlin is at the helm of the firm’s US and global environmental law group and he takes an active role advising on regulatory and risk issues of transactions. Jason Pratt offers ‘sound advice’ to companies and financial institutions regarding the impact of environmental and climate change laws on commercial transactions. Felise Cooper co-leads the firm’s global producer responsibility and product compliance team and frequently assists business enterprises, investors, and sponsors in assessing ESG risks on projects and environmental risks in transactions, while Maria Christopher Bell is predominantly active in drafting and negotiating indemnity, having served as a key advisor to General Electric. Other key members include Nick Ognibene,a n expert on environmental risks in complex cross-border transactions and Washington DC-based Jake Ely and Brendan Holman who are highly recommended for environment-related transactional risk management. All the team, other than Ely, are based in New York.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • ‘Ken Rivlin is very easy to work with. He is smart, practical, and commercial.’

  • ‘The team is very business-oriented in mindsight and does not do extra work unnecessarily while still ensuring that we understand the potential risks of a transaction.’

  • ‘Maria Christopher is very practical, business-oriented, and thoughtful in her guidance on complex situations.’

  • ‘Jason Pratt is an excellent attorney who is well-versed in both environmental law and transactional matters. He provides sound advice on transactions that reflects both environmental risks and how they fit into the broader context of business goals for specific transactions.’

Key clients

  • General Electric
  • Equator Principles Association
  • Apollo
  • OCI Global
  • HSBC
  • Citibank
  • RHI Magnesita
  • Blackrock and Grain Management
  • DSD Renewables
  • energyRe

Work highlights

  • Advised GE as strategic environmental advisor and lead outside transactional counsel on environmental risk in many of its major transactions.
  • Represented Apollo Management Holdings on the EU taxonomy for sustainable activities and related matters.
  • Advised Nevada Copper in relation to the sale of substantially all of its assets to Kinterra Capital in Section 363 Bankruptcy Sale.

Lawyers

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Next generation partners

Junior partners with significant recognition from clients and peers in the market and key roles on multiple matters.

Leading associates

Leading associates with regular involvement in their team's key work, and recognition from peers or clients as being ones to watch.

Practice head

Ken Rivlin; Jason (Jake) Pratt

Other key lawyers

Felise Cooper; Maria Christopher Bell; Nick Ognibene; Jake Ely; Brendan Holman