Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP‘s New York-based environmental transaction practice is regularly turned to by corporate clients and their boards of directors on business transactions, encompassing M&A, divestitures, and financings. The firm provides assistance to clients on the identification, assessment, and allocation of environmental liabilities in corporate transactions, covering remediations and disclosure requirements. Practice head Matthew Morreale is engaged by clients on environmental matters related to M&A deals, securities offerings, and financings. Morreale combines this with astute knowledge of environmental-related proceedings and investigations. Annmarie Terraciano is a key advisor to clients from a range of industries, including heavy manufacturing, chemical production, and transport, on M&A deals, capital markets transactions, and financings.

Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP is a leading firm in the market for clients across numerous sectors, including oil and gas, mining, energy, chemicals, manufacturing, and construction. The group is highly active on climate-related disclosure requirement guidance, including California’s climate-related disclosure rules and laws. Loyti Cheng heads up the New York-based department and has been a longstanding advisor on environmental and ESG disclosure obligations and climate-related matters arising out of corporate transactions. David Zilberberg is another key member of the team, serving clients from environmentally sensitive industries, including oil and gas exploration and transportation, who require assistance with complex corporate and real estate transactions. Michael Comstock primarily focuses on M&A, divestitures, securities offerings, and bank financings, as well as seasoned experience in ESG-linked financings.

With expertise in handling energy, infrastructure, and general industrial transactions, Kirkland & Ellis LLP remains a leading practice for environmental transactions. With experience spanning the entire transaction process, from pre-deal counseling to environmental disclosures, the practice has built an impressive client roster of private equity sponsors, including Blackstone and KKR. Splitting his time between San Francisco and Houston, Paul Tanaka is highly regarded for his work within the energy and infrastructure space, where he assists with due diligence assessments, liability and risk allocation issues, and risk-mitigating solutions. Dallas-based Jonathan Kidwell is the primary contact for identifying and managing environmental, regulatory, and permitting liabilities and opportunities within the practice. James Dolphin routinely acts for private equity and industry clients on energy-focused transactions and projects out of the Houston office. DC attorney Sara Michaelchuck Webber is noted for her work on environmental liability solutions, while Michael Saretsky is equally recommended for his broad practice out of the New York and San Francisco office, which extends to bond offerings, public and private M&A, and restructuring.

Latham & Watkins has a deep bench of talent that combines environmental transactional expertise with specialist knowledge in highly regulated industries, including chemicals, energy, and manufacturing. New York-based Gary Gengel and DC-based Stacey L. VanBelleghem lead the practice, which is highly regarded by its portfolio of financial institutions and private equity firms. Jean-Philippe Brisson plays a central role in environmental transactions related to carbon capture, sequestration, and carbon neutrality, while Betty Huber‘s far-reaching knowledge extends to stock, asset, and joint venture transactions. David Langer leverages his regulatory and compliance background to assist clients on complex environmental transactions. The three are active out of New York, while Joshua Marnitz splits his practice between Los Angeles and Houston, with particular ability in transactions in the energy and infrastructure sectors. Out of the Los Angeles office, air quality and climate change expert Aran Potash covers the environmental, health, and safety aspects of transactions.

Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP has established itself as a key advisor to clients on matters arising from transactions, including work related to environmental risk, liabilities, compliance, and regulatory and enforcement developments. With expertise in corporate transactions, the group has developed a diverse client roster spanning manufacturing, energy, and technology sectors. Toby Chun sits in the DC office and plays a central role in managing environmental aspects in corporate and real estate transactions for both domestic and international clients. The DC office recently expanded with the hire of Carleigh Rodriguez from Kirkland & Ellis LLP in March 2025. Rodriguez is engaged by private equity and corporate clients across the full spectrum of commercial transactions. In the New York office, Michael Isby brings additional transactional expertise to the practice, having recently acted for Paramount Global in its merger with Skydance Media, LLC. The three jointly head up the practice.

The environmental practice at Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP offers expert assistance to corporate transactions within the firm. This enables the practice to handle a diverse range of corporate activities, including M&A deals, divestitures, financing, and restructuring. Additionally, the practice is well-regarded for its involvement in transactions that arise from bankruptcy. Spearheading the practice from Washington DC, Annemargaret Connolly is vastly experienced in the quantification of environmental and sustainability risks within transactions, receiving praise from clients as ‘one of the pioneers of the practice’. Matthew Morton is noted for his ‘solid understanding of the intersection of environmental and business considerations’, which he lends to a diverse portfolio that includes clients from heavy industry, chemical manufacturing, and transport. John O’Loughlin assists private equity and corporate clients on environmental, health, and safety regulatory issues during transactions. The two practice out of DC. New York-based Seth Kerschner joined the practice from White & Case LLP in February 2025, with the group benefiting from his broad environmental practice and experience across the entire deal process.

A&O Shearman‘s New York-based environmental group combines deep expertise in ESG with knowledge of speciality areas, such as product responsibility, chemicals regulation, emissions trading, and contaminated land. This broad expertise is sought by a client roster comprising domestic corporations, private equity firms, and government agencies. As the global co-head of the environment, climate, and regulatory law group, Ken Rivlin‘s expertise in regulatory and risk issues in transactions has positioned him as a key advisor to corporations, financial institutions, funds, and NGOs. Jason Pratt primarily focuses on the impact of environmental and climate change laws and regulations on commercial transactions. As co-head of the firm’s global producer responsibility and product compliance team, Felise Cooper is a notable name for clients for assistance on compliance requirements related to global substance disclosure, control, and product take-back requirements. Nick Ognibene departed from the practice in September 2025.

Debevoise & Plimpton LLP's environmental practice works in tandem with the firm's corporate department and its network of international offices to advise on domestic and international transactions. Notable areas of activity for the group include providing support on PFAS issues in acquisitions and representing clients who invest in renewable energy, green technology, and low-carbon transportation. At the helm of the New York practice, Stuart Hammer is the name to note for private equity firms and corporations seeking environmental advice on M&A deals, financings, securities offerings, and other transactions. Another area of activity for Hammer is assisting with ESG issues associated with investments by private equity firms. Ulysses Smith sits as the firm's ESG senior advisor, positioning him as a key point of contact for multinationals, NGOs, and governments on sustainability and governance issues.

Regarded for 'extensive knowledge and experience', Milbank provides support to environmentally sensitive industries in corporate and finance transactions. The firm is particularly notable for its expertise in energy project financings, with the firm's activity on wind and solar projects a cornerstone of the practice. In New York, Matthew Ahrens has a demonstrable track record in domestic and foreign M&A, project finance, and leveraged finance transactions. Meanwhile, Washington DC's Thomas Goslin brings knowledge in environmental regulations to energy and project deals at the firm, having advised on environmentally sensitive transactions and restructurings.

O'Melveny is well-equipped to offer clients a variety of environmental transaction services, including pre-development assessments and compliance reviews for both federal and state environmental regulations. The firm has extensive experience representing clients before environmental enforcement agencies and collaborates closely with consultants, engineers, and other experts on development projects and remediation efforts. Practice head Eric Rothenberg manages the diligence and documentation of transactions, financings, and restructurings from the firm’s New York office. Over in the Washington DC office, John Renneisen is a go-to for M&A, debt and equity financing, and compliance counseling, with activity in the conventional and alternative energy space. Chris Bowman of the Newport Beach office is another key contact at the firm, regularly representing clients on health and safety and ESG mandates in connection with acquisitions and divestitures.

Working closely with the M&A team at the firm, Sidley Austin LLP‘s environmental practice stands out for its expertise in handling a range of environmental issues, including risk identification, assessment, and management in corporate transactions. Alongside its transactional capabilities, the firm provides ESG and sustainability guidance, covering ESG due diligence and compliance. Washington DC’s Timothy Webster and Justin Savage, head up the environmental, health, and safety practice alongside Chicago-based Byron Taylor. Houston’s Heather Palmer is a name of note for ESG services, paired with a strong track record of assisting clients with the environmental aspects of M&A, capital markets, and global finance matters. New York-based Maureen Crough is a go-to for domestic and non-domestic purchasers, sellers, and lenders in a range of financial transactions.

The environmental practice at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP has a robust offering that covers mergers, asset sales, joint ventures, financings, and offerings. The group has extensive knowledge of project development, often advising on renewable, traditional energy, transportation projects, as well as brownfield redevelopment. Alongside its project development offering, the practice acts for both public and private companies, financial institutions, and private equity firms on ESG matters. The robust practice is headed from Washington DC by Elizabeth Malone, who has a strong track record advising on environmental risks, liabilities, and mitigation strategies in corporate transactions. Malone combines this strong aptitude in environmental claims and liabilities arising out of bankruptcy proceedings.

Akin‘s well-positioned to advise clients on all phases of transactional support, within clients’ M&A, divestitures, and financial restructurings. This is coupled with the firm’s environmental impact evaluation services within foreclosures and its role as an active advisor to lenders and investors in evaluating environmental conditions. The practice is based primarily in Washington DC. David Quigley oversees the practice, acting for lenders, sellers, and buyers on the environmental liabilities associated with transactions. Los Angeles’ Andrew Oelz‘s far-reaching transactional practice encompasses warranties, indemnities, and financial restructurings, while Jessica Maloney oversees the evaluation of environmental liabilities associated with commercial, multifamily, and industrial transactions. The team is well-supported by a team of associates, including Brecken Petty and Shivani Swami.

Bracewell LLP’s environmental, lands, and resources group stands out for its expertise in the energy, chemical, and infrastructure sectors, having recently acted for Phillips 66 on its acquisition of the remaining ownership interest in WRB Refining LP from subsidiaries of Cenovus Energy Inc. Jason Hutt co-heads the practice from Washington DC and is recommended for his work on enforcement defense, having acted on matters relating to the EPA’s national enforcement initiatives. Co-heading the practice from the firm’s Austin office, Timothy Wilkins works closely with clients on environmental compliance audits. Taylor Stuart represents energy, infrastructure, and industrial clients in regulatory and litigation matters related to offshore wind development, midstream, and downstream energy from the DC office. The office is also home to Kevin Voelkel, a name of note for assistance with a host of regulatory, enforcement, and policy matters.

DLA Piper LLP (US) is well-equipped to advise on corporate, real estate, and finance transactions, working closely with the lawyers in its regulatory and environmental dispute practice on post-closing disputes and operational challenges. The firm’s expertise in insurance, products liability, and PFAS issues adds further depth to its diligence and risk allocation work. The group is led by a duo: Jeff Salinger, a New York-based expert on environmental issues in M&A deals, securities offerings, and real estate development, and Washington DC’s Andrew Cooper, who possesses a firm grasp of environmental risks and liabilities in corporate, financial, and real estate transactions. Working out of the DC office, Douglas Lavey is engaged by a diverse client roster, ranging from Fortune 50 companies to startups, for assistance with debt financings, M&A deals, and real estate ventures, among other services.

Greenberg Traurig‘s environmental practice serves as a trusted advisor to national companies and public bodies, providing expertise in the evaluation, management, and mitigation of environmental risks associated with acquisition, development, financing, and sales. Kerri Barsh acts out of the Miami office and provides transactional support, due diligence, environmental assessment, and liability services, and Christopher Neumann, a key name in the Denver office for oil and gas, mining, and hazardous waste clients on environmental incidents, enforcement, and compliance. Typical engagements for New York-based Steven Russo involve brownfield redevelopments, environmental permitting, and the environmental aspects of land use. The three co-chair the practice. Elsewhere in the team, Philadelphia-based Giuliano Apadula is active on the negotiation and drafting of environmental insurance programs and agreements for risk transfer processes.

Offering assistance on complex mergers and acquisitions, restructurings, projects, and financings, King & Spalding‘s environmental team works with the broader practices at the firm, including project finance, power, and private equity, to broaden its transactional capabilities. Under the leadership of Ilana Saltzbart, the team has been active on emerging environmental issues, making it a good choice for businesses seeking assistance with PFAS liabilities. Cynthia Stroman is noted for her aptitude in advising on projects and transactions in the energy, renewable, and environmentally intensive industries, having recently been active on remediation, chemical regulatory compliance, and land use issues within transactions.

The environmental practice at Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP works with a host of clients on environmental law issues and diligence matters in a variety of transactions, with activity on financings, acquisitions, and restructurings. The bench recently expanded with the hire Stefanie Gitler to the Washington DC office in March 2025, where she acts on environmental due diligence for private equity and industry clients. New York-based William J. O’Brien is a leading advisor to private investment funds on the environmental aspects of their investments, coupled with an aptitude in financings and securities offerings. Acting out of the New York office, Julia Quigley takes point on M&A and real estate transactions, and Lauren Katz has been engaged by clients in the metals, manufacturing, and infrastructure industries on transactions.

Vinson & Elkins LLP has a strong grasp of environmental regulatory matters, which equips the group to expertly advise on the environmental risks in transactions. Based in the Houston office, department head Matthew Dobbins routinely advises private equity, financial institutions, and companies on environmental liabilities. Also based in Houston, Brandon Tuck obtains and defends permits and authorizations for projects. In Washington DC, George Hopkins covers structured allocations of liability in M&A deals, while splitting her time between both DC and New York, Corinne Snow takes on the drafting and negotiation of environmental terms.

Environmental and ESG expert Michael Murphy co-heads the practice at the Washington DC-based environment transaction practice at Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP. Stacie B. Fletcher and Daniel Nelson co-head the practice, covering environmental litigation. Murphy's expertise in identifying environmental risks and negotiating transactional documents is a defining characteristic of the practice group, complemented by his litigation acumen, which enables him to advise a diverse roster of clients across the manufacturing, services, technology, and financial services industries.

Jones Walker LLP is positioned to support clients on a broad remit of environmental aspects of transactions by working closely with environmental consultants, engineers, regulatory agencies, and governmental bodies. The group is co-led from New Orleans by Robert Holden and Meghan Smith. The former assists energy, chemicals, and manufacturing companies with their operations, while the latter is a go-to name for state regulatory schemes pertaining to injection, mining, groundwater remediation, among other areas. Alex Prochaska advises lenders, buyers, and sellers of industrial facilities and commercial real estate across environmental due diligence to warranties in purchase agreements from the firm's Lafayette office.

Sitting within the broad environmental practice, K&L Gates’s transactional offering benefits from the firm’s aptitude in state and federal regulation, enabling the firm to act across a varied caseload of transactions. Newark-based Brian Montag heads up the practice alongside Harrisburg’s Craig Wilson, who is noted for his work on energy project development, agricultural property transactions, and environmental permitting. Operating out of Chicago, David Rieser‘s broad environmental knowledge enables him to advise on corporate, commercial, and real estate transactions, as well as regulatory and compliance issues.

Regarded for its 'top-notch support for environmental aspects of asset and project acquisitions', McGuireWoods LLP works closely with the firm's corporate, finance, and real estate practices to offer a varied roster of clients environmental due diligence in transactions. Washington DC's Makram Jaber chiefly focuses on the Clean Air Act, having acted for clients on the obtaining and defense of permits and on rulemaking proceedings, while Adam Sowatzka works closely with clients from the firm's Atlanta office on PFAS matters. The two lead the practice alongside Charlotte-based David Franchina. Heather Nixon Stevenson is a name of note from the Richmond office, advising clients on environmental diligence in transactions.

Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP is a trusted adviser to a diverse client base of state, national, and international clients. Coupled with regulatory and litigation capabilities, the environmental transactional offering extends from business and real estate transactions to development and financing. Operating out of San Francisco and Los Angeles, Mark Elliott takes point on regulatory compliance, while San Francisco's Margaret Rosegay oversees the due diligence and negotiation of the environmental aspects of transactions. Amanda Halter splits her time between Houston and Los Angeles, lending her experience in environmental regulation and public policy to clients on transactions. The three head up the practice alongside Jeffrey Knight and Michael McDonough. Ashleigh Myers operates out of Austin and Houston, advises client on environmental liabilities.

Maintaining a varied caseload of transactional work, Reed Smith LLP is active across M&A, real estate transactions, restructuring, and corporate deals. The firm is adept at environmental compliance support, providing guidance on real estate transactions and renewables transactions. Pittsburgh-based Jennifer Smokelin is a key contact for energy and manufacturing companies on transactions and co-heads the practice alongside Houston’s Benjamin Patton and Megan Haines, who splits her time between Pittsburgh and Houston. Also based in Houston, A.J Wissinger covers commodities transactions and renewable energy development.

With strong regulatory capabilities, Troutman Pepper Locke LLP is turned to by a roster of domestic and international companies, trade associations, municipal governments, and NGOs, with particular activity on real estate acquisition and development projects. Practice head Andrea Worzel, operating from Richmond, advises clients on infrastructure projects such as hydropower projects, pipelines, and wind projects. Chicago's Susan Charles concentrates on identifying, delineating, and quantifying environmental risk. In Dallas, Susan Rainey advises property owners and corporations in transactions, while Elizabeth Mack assists developers, manufacturing concerns, and energy companies in transactions.

Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP has substantial experience in ESG programs and issues, combining this expertise with knowledge in M&A, project financing, and real estate developments. The practice is spearheaded from Washington DC by William Thomas, who couples his aptitude in transactions, projects, and formulation of compliance strategy with knowledge of EHS legal regimes and international environmental law and policy.