Fielding a team of skilled litigators the market-leading environmental practice at Arnold & Porter offers clients coast-to-coast expertise, handling a spread of climate change and environmental litigation cases to do with air and water, hazardous waste, toxic tort and contamination, in addition to Superfund and NRD liability cases. Practice chair Brian Israel splits his time between Washington DC, Los Angeles and California, predominantly dealing with contaminated sites, Natural Resource Damages claims and violations of the Clean Water Act. Also of the DC office, Michael Daneker defends federal and state enforcement actions and citizen action suits, Elissa Preheim specializes in toxic tort, PFAS litigation and environmental damages claims, while Lauren Daniel works with environmental disputes under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA). Zachary Fayne of the San Francisco office is another name to note, his expertise lies in Clean Air Act counselling.

The environmental litigation team at Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP specializes in the prosecution and defense of civil and criminal environmental litigation, with expertise that spans environmental liability, toxic tort actions, violations of the clean air and water acts. Washington DC-based duo Stacie Fletcher and Daniel Nelson stand at the helm, the former handling a spread of cases falling under enforcement defense and environmental pollution, including oil spills, air contamination and hazardous waste, while the latter deals with toxic tort litigation, personal injury claims and class action litigation. Over in Los Angeles, Patrick Dennis handles litigation within the manufacturing, energy, aerospace and oil and gas spaces, alongside Abbey Hudson, who is an expert in incident response, enriched by her post-incident e-discovery and evidence preservation skills. San Francisco-based Peter Modlin represents clients in toxic tort actions, product liability, citizen lawsuits, enforcement actions and natural resource damages, while DC’s Michael Murphy is a name to note for ESG issues, often dealing with enforcement and civil actions involving air, water and waste allegations.

Co-chaired from the Washington DC office by Janice Schneider and James Barrett, the environment, land & resources team at Latham & Watkins LLP expertly handles a variety of environmental litigation cases, relating to climate change, air quality, toxic tort and natural resources. The team is home to Chicago’s Mary Rose Alexander , who represents clients in class actions, product liability, industrial accidents and toxic tort trials alongside trial lawyer Robin M. Hulshizer who, with environmental experience, is known by clients across the oil and gas, energy, manufacturing industries, particularly for her work on greenwashing and environmental justice-based claims. Over in New York, Kegan Brown  specializes in natural resources claims, in addition to product liability case, particularly those involving PFAS, while DC’s Stacey VanBelleghem handles climate change and air quality matters.

Clients turn to the team at Baker Botts L.L.P. for its expertise handling toxic tort, natural resource damage claims, defending against class and individual lawsuits arising from air, water and land contamination. Scott Janoe leads the group from Houston, attracting a spread of clients from the energy, mining and manufacturing sectors seeking assistance with enforcement defense and crisis management. The Washington DC office fields Megan Berge, who is recommended for her experience handling climate change mandates, Steven Solow, who deals with environmental incidents within the maritime, chemicals, mining and utilities spheres, and Nadira Clarke, who has extensive white collar crime and civil trial experience. Shailesh Sahay joined the DC team in July 2023 from Foley Hoag LLP, bringing with him experience handling climate, environmental and sustainability issues at federal, state, and international levels.

The environmental litigation group at Beveridge & Diamond, P.C. assists clients in the waste management, oil and gas and chemical industries seeking assistance with a spread of toxic tort, contamination, product liability claims. John Cruden co-steers the group from the Washington DC office, expertly navigating high-stakes environmental and natural resources claims as well as civil and criminal enforcement mandates, alongside New York’s Daniel Krainin, an expert on product liability matters. Also in New York is Megan Brillault, who is known for her work defending class and mass action environmental and toxic tort claims. The deep bench includes Austin’s Bina Reddy, who is known for defending citizen suits under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), Clean Water Act and Clean Air Act in addition to the New York-based John Paul, who is an expert in environmental and energy law; he routinely deals with enforcement matters relating to waste management and disposal, waste water and emissions. Other names to note are Maddie Boyer, of the Austin office, who is known for her environmental enforcement work and the New York-based Katrina Krebs, whose focus lies within class action defense and waste management and recycling mandates.

Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP acts for clients across the energy, automobile, industrial, oil and gas, real estate sectors, assisting with a gamut of legal challenges surrounding natural resources, waste, chemicals, climate change and air and water contamination. It also regularly defends cases before the Circuit Courts of Appeals and the US Supreme Court. Practice heads Eric Murdock and Deidre Duncan co-lead the Washington DC-based team- the former, with deep experience environmental litigator, adeptly defends enforcement actions, challenges environmental permits and deals with disputes, while the latter is known for her deep knowledge of natural resources claims and regularly handles mandates under the Clean Water Act. Also in DC, F. William Brownell  has experience litigating before the US Court of Appeals and the US Supreme Court, and is a key point of contact for Clean Air Act proceedings affecting the energy sector. Clients praise Charles (Chuck) Knauss  for his ‘out-of-the-box’ thinking and recommend Shannon Broome for her ‘clever, creative, persistent and pragmatic’ approach to her work.

King & Spalding LLP is a name to note for environmental and climate change litigation for its special focus on matters related to air pollution, toxic chemicals and industrial disasters. The team is co-headed by Washington DC’s Granta Nakayama, who handles a spread of environmental health and safety matters, in addition to New York’s Kristen Fournier and San Francisco's Matt Blaschke, who jointly lead the firm’s toxic and environmental torts team, and are recommended for their product liability work. Tracie Renfroe , of the Houston office, attracts clients from across the energy and industrial sector for her national and international arbitration expertise, especially those relating to contamination, toxic tort and product liability, while Atlanta’s Douglas Henderson is well versed in dealing with property rights disputes to do with chemical exposure, groundwater contamination and the Clean Water Act. Over in Los Angeles, Peter Hsiao heads the West Coast environmental, health & safety practice, his wide experience covers natural resources and climate change litigation, in addition to toxic tort work.

The team at Mayer Brown is highly sought after for its experience litigating environmental matters, particularly those to do with tort claims and those falling under the Clean Water Act and Clean Air Act. The practice is co-led from Chicago by Mark Ter Molen, who handles enforcement matters and regulatory hearings and appeals conducted before state and federal agencies, Rich Bulger, who co-leads the environmental action group representing clients in environmental, toxic tort, and administrative law matters, in addition to Timothy Bishop , who has extensive experience handling water contamination issues. Also based in Chicago, Jaimy Hamburg is recommended for her wide practice which encompasses a spread of toxic tort suits, class actions, citizen suits and government enforcement actions.

Fielding practitioners across Atlanta, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Washington DC, Alston & Bird LLP is well-equipped to defend a spread of mass torts, citizen suits, class actions and government enforcement matters before state and federal courts; its workload also encompasses mandates falling under the CAA, CWA, CERCLA, RCRA, NEPA and ESA. Over in San Francisco, Greg Christianson deals with environmental damages claims and defends federal and state enforcement actions, Atlanta’s Meaghan Boyd is known by companies facing lawsuits arising from environmental damages and contamination claims, while Clay Massey, also in Atlanta, has experience handling mass tort environmental claims and land use claims. Jeffrey Dintzer, of the Los Angeles office, is another name to note, he is a go-to for clients within the energy, manufacturing and oil and gas sectors seeking assistance with high-stakes administrative proceedings.

Attracting clients from across the energy, oil and gas and chemicals sector, the wnvironment, lands and resources group at Bracewell LLP is a key name to note for clients seeking aid with environmental litigation, prosecution and enforcement. The group is co-led by Kevin Collins  from the Austin office, who is known by clients within the chemicals sector for his adept handling of major incidents, alongside  Washington DC’s Jason Hutt , specialist in the defense of administrative, civil and criminal enforcement actions to do with environmental justice he also works on mandates relating to wetlands and air contamination. DC’s Ann Navaro is recommended for her wide knowledge of the natural resources law, while the Austin-based David Super handles environmental claims under the National Environmental Policy Act and Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, as well as the Clean Water Act, and Clean Air Act.

The environmental team at Greenberg Traurig LLP assists a spread of industrial and commercials clients, including those from within the chemical, mining, manufacturing sectors, in relation to air, water and land contamination, waste management issues, hazardous waste and natural resources claims. The deep bench includes the likes of David Weinstein, who, based in Tampa, specializes in toxic tort defense and Clean Air Act mandates, Denver’s Christopher Neumann, who is known by clients in the oil and gas, mining and construction industries for his ability to handle environmental incidents and response and the Miami-based Kerri Barsh , who deals with climate change and contamination matters. In New York, Steven Russo handles toxic tort litigation, environmental crimes and the environmental aspects of land use law, while David G. Mandelbaum  regularly represents clients facing challenges related to water rights, and waste management from Philadelphia. Will Wagner joined the firm in California from Arnold & Porter.

The Hogan Lovells US LLP environment and natural resources team is well versed in handling matters related to the Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act and Toxic Substances Control Act. The group is steered by Denver’s Scott Reisch , who is a name to note for his ability to deal with contamination issues and Washington DC’s Adam Kushner who, as a former federal prosecutor and national director of the EPA’s air and civil enforcement programs, brings with him inside knowledge of federal environmental law to the group’s offering. Also in DC, James Banks has a track record of challenging EPA regulations and enforcement orders, and is a not only key contact for clients within the oil and gas, agriculture, mining and waste management spheres, but is also a go-to lawyer for environmental groups seeking to protect lands. San Francisco’s Tom Boer is known for his adept navigation of high-stakes environmental litigation and enforcement actions.

Fielding a team of ‘clever thinkers and fearless litigators’, the environmental litigation team at Kelley Drye & Warren LLP remains ‘at the forefront of emerging trends and changing regulations, and new developments in the law.’ Led by natural resource damages claims specialists William Jackson and John Gilmour, the firm is also a first point of contact for states and government entities and seeking assistance with damages claims, particularly those related to contaminated waterways, river systems and groundwater sites. William Petit attracts clients from across the energy, transport, manufacturing and real estate sectors for his experience in commercial and environmental litigation, while Jennifer Barks, who was promoted to partner in 2023, ‘excels in complex litigation’, regularly handling a variety of contamination and tort related matters. All lawyers mentioned are based in Houston.

With offices across the Bay Area, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, New York, Salt Lake City and Washington DC, Kirkland & Ellis LLP offers environmental expertise to clients located throughout the US, assisting with a spread of enforcement defense and regulatory compliance work, though clients praise it for being the ‘best of the best for mass tort litigation.’ Andrew Running is experienced with hazardous waste issues, product liability and environmental contamination, while Nader Boulos is a key contact for clients within the energy, aerospace, telecoms and pharma spaces seeking assistance with issues relating to toxic tort. Bradley Weidenhammer, who handles environmental and commercial disputes, represents clients in federal and state trial and appellate courts across the US. All recommended lawyers are based in Chicago.

Headquartered across California, New Jersey, Texas, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts and Washington DC, Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP boasts a nationwide practice, with a team equipped to handle a wide spread of enforcement actions and hazardous waste lawsuits, regularly assisting clients in remediation matters and natural resource damages claims. James Dragna, of the Los Angeles office, is a key point of contact for energy, aerospace and manufacturing clients seeking aid with hazardous waste proceedings, Princeton-based John McGahren is a key name for mandates under the Clean Water Act and Clean Air Act, while Stephanie Feingold, also based in Princeton, represents major corporations like chemical and energy companies in investigations and enforcement actions brought by environmental agencies. Over in Washington, Duke McCall is known for his knowledge of issues under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act and the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act.

The environmental team at Norton Rose Fulbright acts for industrial, utilities, retail and public agencies in matters concerning government enforcement actions, defense of administrative, civil and criminal proceedings. It is also particularly strong in Superfund site matters, handling toxic tort mandates across the US. Edward Lewis steers the group from Houston, handling incident response and governmental enforcement actions alleging environmental violations. In the Los Angeles office, Elizabeth M Weaver and Jeffrey Margulies are recommended, the former dealing with Superfund, toxic tort, water related issues and matters falling under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, while the latter is known for defending land and air contamination cases as well as those associated with hazardous waste.

Manufacturing, oil and gas, mining companies turn to the environmental & natural resources team at Vinson & Elkins LLP for its ability to handle high-stakes contamination cases. Ronald Tenpas leads the group from Washington DC, representing clients in criminal investigations related to environmental violations. The deep bench fields Matthew Dobbins , of the Houston office, whose handles indemnification claims and industrial incidents, Washington DC’s Corinne Snow, who is sought after for her experience challenging as well as defending federal regulations and the Houston-based Brandon Tuck, whose background in environmental and natural resources law, equips him to handle a spread of environmental issues surrounding project development and enforcement defense mandates.

Dentons offers clients coast-to-coast experience across the spectrum of environmental law matters, including those related to the Endangered Species Act, Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, Administrative Procedure Act, and National Environmental Policy Act. It also has deep experience handling chemical and pesticides regulation, regularly litigating matters under the Toxic Substances Control Act. The group is steered from the Los Angeles office by Robert Schuda, who has a track record of litigating before all levels of state and federal courts.

Fielding teams of skilled practitioners across the US, Jones Day attracts clients, who often come from the chemicals, energy, oil and gas, mining, manufacturing and waste management spheres, for its wide experience litigating environmental matters before state and federal courts. The group is home to Kevin Holewinski  of the Washington DC office, whose practice encompasses environmental, climate change and toxic tort work, Thomas Donnelly  who, based in San Francisco, has deep environmental law experience under his belt and is known for his ability to navigate litigation and regulatory enforcement proceedings within the oil and gas, mining and automotive industries. Over in Pittsburgh, Jane Story offers clients her expertise in representing Comprehensive Environmental Response and Compensation and Liability Act cases and defends clients against federal and state enforcement actions for alleged violations of environmental law.

The team at K&L Gates litigates a spread of work related to natural resources damages, brownfield redevelopment projects and environmental justice. The team is home to the Seattle-based Ankur Tohan, who regularly defends governmental and citizen enforcement actions, particularly those related to carbon management and energy development, Newark’s Brian Montag, who is a key point of contact for clients within the manufacturing sectors for his strong track record handling hazardous waste matters, product liability and toxic tort before administrative, state, and federal court proceedings, in addition to Craig Wilson, of the Harrisburg office, who is known by oil, gas, energy and chemicals clients for his defense of enforcement proceedings. Also in Newark, Dawn Lamparello is another name to note, she is recommended for her deep knowledge of federal and state environmental statutes.

Clients look to the environmental & mass tort department at McGuireWoods LLP for its experience handling climate change matters relating to air, water, waste and natural resources law. The deep bench fields Benjamin Hatch of the Norfolk office, who is known for representing manufacturing, transport and aerospace clients with regard to environmental law violations, Gregory Evans in Los Angeles, who handles environmental issues within the energy and infrastructure sectors, in addition to Eugene Mathews, who, based in Richmond, is a key contact for clients in the agriculture, waste management and chemicals industries. The Washington DC-based Makram Jaber’s focuses on the Clean Air Act, while over in Atlanta, Adam Sowatzka forms part of the crisis management & incident response team and handles environmental health and safety matters. David Franchina, of the Charlotte office, also navigates matters related to environmental incidents.

Nossaman LLP attracts a spread of public agencies, publicly regulated utilities companies, corporations and non-profit organisations for its ability to handle the gamut of environmental disputes and litigation work, including hazardous waste, air quality, natural resource damages and endangered species. The group is co-led by Irvine’s Ben Rubin, who navigates land use issues and Los Angeles’ Alfred Smith II, who is an expert in water rights law. The Irvine office fields Paul Weiland, who deals with construction claims and disputes litigation and Robert Thornton, who is a name to note for environmental issues arising from infrastructure projects. Brooke Marcus, of the Austin office, is also noteworthy for her practice, which encompasses both natural resources and land use law.

The environmental and natural resources practice at Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP has a strong presence in the energy, real estate and industrial sectors, navigating land contamination, health and safety, and waste regulation and disposal issues. The Los Angeles office fields Mark Elliott, who specializes in matters relating to Superfund and toxic torts and Michael McDonough, who is a key contact for clients within the utilities, manufacturing, oil and gas, automotive and waste management spheres, while over in Washington DC, Jeffrey Knight challenges EPA legislation and Clean Air Act regulations. Also of note is Margaret Rosegay, who splits her time between San Francisco & Silicon Valley and handles hazardous waste and water quality matters, and Amanda Halter who is based in Houston and Austin, and represents domestic and global industrial clients in environmental liability matters.

Headquartered in San Francisco, the environmental, energy and natural resources team at Paul Hastings LLP deals with a spread of environmental law issues, regularly handling the environmental facet of real estate and renewables mandates. Chris Carr leads the group and has a track record of representing clients in the renewables, conservation and energy storage spaces. The team is also home to Navi Dhillon, who is a name to note for high-stakes Endangered Species Act litigation, in addition to Deborah Schmall, who takes the lead on matters related to hazardous waste regulation, enforcement defense, as well as contaminated land remediation and redevelopment.

The team at Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP is known for its ability to navigate a full spread of environmental issues relating to soil and groundwater contamination, land use, hazardous waste and water and air quality. The group is led from Los Angeles by Jeffrey Parker, who predominantly handles product liability cases, and Whitney Roy, who is a name to note for tort litigation. In San Francisco, Nicholas Van Aelstyn’s wide practice encompasses cost recovery actions and regulatory enforcement actions, regularly handling a range of Superfund and contaminated sites matters.

Led by Peter Gould in the Denver office, the environmental, safety & health group at Squire Patton Boggs represents a diverse clientele of mining, energy, chemicals and manufacturing companies seeking assistance with toxic tort defense and enforcement actions, as well as challenging new legislations. The Columbus office fields Karen Winters, who is a name to note for large-scale environmental liability and compliance issues and Vincent Atriano, who has extensive experience in the defense of governmental enforcement actions and citizen suits, indemnification claims and toxic tort class actions, in addition to Douglas McWilliams, whose workload includes matters related to the Clean Air Act and the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act. Denver’s Carolyn McIntosh is also recommended for her ability to handle a spread of environmental, natural resources, and complex commercial litigation cases.

Clients turn to the team at Troutman Pepper for its ability to handle a full scope of environmental and natural resources litigation, which extends to the challenging of regulations. Richmond-based Andrea Wortzel leads the team, offering clients her experience handling permitting, compliance and environmental enforcement defense. Also in Richmond, Brooks Smith deals with environmental and natural resources litigation and enforcement defense, while Atlanta’s William Droze, who offers extensive trial and appellate practice, is known for his representation of clients in state and federal courts across the US.

The environmental team at Winston & Strawn LLP is particularly strong in civil and criminal enforcement proceedings, dealing with natural resource damage claims as well as matters related to the Endangered Species Act, the Clean Water Act and the Toxic Substances Control Act. The practice is co-chaired by Washington DC’s Jonathan Brightbill, who defends clients in civil litigation and class actions, along with Eleni Kouimelis, of the Chicago office, whose regularly brings actions to enforce the air, water, toxic statutes in judicial and administrative proceedings.