Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP‘s New York-based environmental practice is home to a team of experienced professionals who continue to advise a broad range of corporate clients, including Brookfield Renewables and RWE, on the full spectrum of environmental and sustainability-related transactions. These range from mergers and acquisitions to divestments, green bond financing, and ESG regulatory issues. Matthew Morreale heads the firm’s environmental team, and is noted for his deep expertise in handling environmental proceedings and investigations, as well as regularly advising on ESG-related issues such as sustainability reporting, acquisition and investment due diligence. Another key contact is ‘first-class’ Annmarie Terraciano, whose broad practice spans mergers and acquisitions, capital markets transactions and environmental litigation, most notably in the heavy manufacturing, chemical and mining sectors.

New York-based Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP maintains a leading position in the US environmental market, where it continues to provide comprehensive advice to a range of domestic and international companies in the oil and gas, energy, chemicals, and mining sectors. In addition to significant experience in managing complex corporate transactions related to climate change and sustainability, the team also provides regulatory assistance to clients in relation to ESG issues, including ESG-related financing, green bond issuances and climate-related disclosure requirements. Loyti Cheng, head of the firm’s environmental practice and an expert in environmental, toxic tort and sustainability issues, is a key contact for US and international corporations, financial institutions and private equity firms, where she handles complex mergers and acquisitions, financings and IPOs. The team also includes counsel David Zilberberg, known for his expertise in real estate and corporate transactions, where he assists on the full range of environmental and sustainability issues. Michael Comstock is another name to note for his expertise in M&A, divestitures, securities offerings and bank financings.

With offices across the US, including Houston, New York and Washington DC, Kirkland & Ellis LLP‘s environmental practice is well-equipped to advise a wide range of clients, particularly leading private equity firms and major players in the energy and infrastructure sectors, on the full range of high-value environmental transactions. In tandem with their regular advisory role in environmental due diligence matters, the team exhibits considerable strength in the transactional space, where it managed complex M&As, multinational acquisitions and divestitures, and various project financing matters. From the San Francisco office, Paul Tanaka leads the practice, routinely assisting energy and infrastructure clients with environmental due diligence assessments, liability and risk allocation issues, and transactions in the power generation, oil and gas, and renewable energy sectors. Dallas-based Jonathan Kidwell leads the firm’s global environmental practice on energy and infrastructure matters, advising on environmental compliance and liability issues related to corporate M&A and divestitures, an area in which Washington DC-based Carleigh Trappe Rodriguez is also well versed. Michael Saretsky splits his time between New York and Bay Area and is an expert in environmental-related business transactions, while environmental due diligence specialist Stefanie Gitler, based between Washington DC and Houston, and Houston’s James Dolphin are also recommended.

A wide range of major financial institutions, private equity firms and large corporations routinely turn to Latham & Watkins LLP for its team’s expertise in handling the full spectrum of environmental transactions, with a particular focus on the chemical, energy, and manufacturing sectors. In addition to advising on mergers and acquisitions both domestically and globally, the team is also known for assisting several blue-chip private equity clients and financial institutions on corporate and project financing matters. Environmental and natural resource issues specialist Janice M. Schneider jointly leads the practice with Washington DC-based James Barrett, a specialist in the energy, oil, and gas sectors, where he routinely advises on acquisitions and divestments of coal, gas, hydro, wind, and solar power plants. New York-based Betty Huber heads the firm’s ESG practice, regularly assisting buyers and sellers on all environmental aspects of equity transactions, assets, mergers, spin-offs and joint ventures. The New York office also includes Jean-Philippe Brisson, noted for his focus on environmental transactions related to carbon capture and sequestration and carbon neutrality, and counsel David Langer, who brings substantial transactional and regulatory experience, particularly in the air and water management sectors. Joel Mack retired in December 2022.

Beyond its proficiency in managing intricate environmental risk and due diligence affairs, especially within hazardous waste management, heavy manufacturing, chemical, and energy sectors, Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP‘s Washington DC-based environmental transactions team regularly collaborates with the firm’s broader corporate department to advise clients on a range of corporate transactions. These range from mergers and acquisitions and divestitures to real estate, financing and capital markets matters. Annemargaret Connolly leads both the firm’s regulatory and environmental transactional practices and is known for her prowess in assessing environmental liability risks in a transactional context, as well as providing comprehensive regulatory advice on sustainability, climate change and related ESG topics. Counsel Matthew Morton advises corporations, private equity sponsors and other institutional investors on a range of transactional and restructuring projects relating to environmental matters, including due diligence, environmental risks and liabilities, and ESG factors, while John O’Loughlin is an expert in environmental, health and safety regulatory matters, particularly in the healthcare, pharmaceutical, medical device and food manufacturing sectors.

A deep roster of major US corporations, government agencies and NGOs, including the US Department of Energy and the Equator Principles Association, regularly turn to New York-based A&O Shearman for its expertise in handling complex transactions in the environmental space. The environmental and ESG team also has considerable experience in the regulatory sector, where it advises clients on ESG reporting, product liability, climate change and emissions trading. The firm’s US and global environmental law groups are led by international environmental and regulatory risk and ESG expert Ken Rivlin, who is also the new chair of the New York Bar Association’s international environmental law committee. Senior counsel in the New York office, Felise Cooper chairs the firm’s global product liability and product compliance team, advising US and multinational clients on environmental issues in commercial transactions, product liability, and environmental and ESG issues in supply chain management, while Maria Christopher Bell is a key contact for drafting and negotiating environmental indemnity agreements and managing environmental issues in M&A, project finance, and real estate transactions. ESG specialist Nick Ognibene is recognized for his prowess in environmental and risks in complex cross-border transactions.

In conjunction with its prowess in environment-related financing transactions, the New York-based practice at Cahill Gordon & Reindel LLP is recognized for handling a wide range of bank lending, M&A, public debt offerings and IPOs for clients from the petroleum refining, power generation, and mining industries. Additionally, the firm consistently delves into investigating ESG issues, encompassing sustainability strategies and reporting, environmental justice, and climate change regulation. Practice head Gregory Battista, a vastly experienced name in environmental law is the key contact, and is routinely assisted by ‘talented’ senior attorney Lynn Schmidt in complex environmental, health and safety compliance and enforcement issues.

As part of the firm’s broader corporate department, Debevoise & Plimpton LLP‘s New York-based environmental practice continues to handle high-value environmental transactions, with a particular focus on the mining, energy and natural resources sectors. Here, the team advises on complex mergers and acquisitions, securities offerings and financings, while also continuing to address environmental risks and liabilities both in the US and abroad. Stuart Hammer heads the practice and regularly advises private equity firms and corporations on ESG and environmental risk issues in a range of industries, such as energy and natural resources, paper and chemicals, while ESG senior advisor Ulysses Smith serves as a point of contact for major multinationals, NGOs and government institutions in a range of sustainability and governance issues. The team also includes Harry Zirlin, who focuses on the environmental aspects of bankruptcy matters.

O'Melveny & Myers LLP‘s environmental and natural resources practice represents clients in a variety of environmental transactions, including complex infrastructure projects, before all major environmental review agencies at the state and federal level, such as the Environmental Protection Agency and the New York Department of Environmental Conservation. The team is also active in advising on environmental litigation and regulatory proceedings. Practice head John Rousakis is the go-to choice for a number of private equity firms, financial institutions, commercial and industrial bodies, and regularly advises on their strategic investments as well as on litigation and regulatory matters. From the New York office, Eric Rothenberg focuses on environmental diligence and documentation of transactions, financings, restructuring, and reorganizations related to industrial and commercial properties, while John Renneisen, based in Washington DC, is known for his expertise in the context of mergers and acquisitions, debt and equity financing, and compliance, where he advises on hazardous waste management, site remediation, water and air pollution, and toxic substance regulation. The team also includes Kelly McTigue from Los Angeles, an expert in water, air, climate change and greenhouse gas regulation.

Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP‘s New York-based  environmental practice is known for its focus on sustainability, greenhouse gas issues, and ESG issues. In this context, the team regularly provides counsel to a diverse clientele, including public and private companies, asset managers, financial services firms, covering the entire spectrum of ESG-related concerns. This spans ESG reporting, risk and compliance matters, and structuring of ESG-related credit facilities. The practice is jointly led by William J. O’Brien, noted for his expertise in restructuring, financings, M&A, and securities offerings, and Julia Quigley, who routinely advises clients in the healthcare, energy, and infrastructure sectors on complex M&A, litigation, and restructuring transactions.

Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP  advises on a variety of environment-related transactions. This encompasses environmental risk assessment, regulatory advice on sustainability and climate change, as well as involvement in mergers and acquisitions, securities offerings, and lending matters, for which practice co-head Mike Isby in New York is a key contact, routinely advising private equity clients and portfolio companies on complex environmental transactions and environmental regulatory compliance. The team also includes Toby Chun, co-head of the practice from the Washington DC office, who routinely assists clients with the full range of environmental aspects of complex and often cross-border transactions.

White & Case LLP has a strong environmental and climate change practice that continues to assist clients in a range of environmental transactions. The team is also known for its expertise in regulatory compliance, climate change, and sustainability, advising on renewable energy and other projects related to energy transition and decarbonization. In the New York office, co-head Seth Kerschner advises domestic and international clients on the full spectrum of environmental transactions, which include mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, financings, securities offerings, bankruptcies, and real estate transactions. In Boston, fellow co-head Taylor Pullins also heads the firm’s global ESG and sustainability interest group and is known for his expertise in the energy sector, where he advises on ESG and energy transition issues. The team also includes New York’s Hayden Baker, who focuses on mergers and acquisitions, energy and infrastructure projects, and Los Angeles-based Laura Mulry, who advises clients on renewable energy certificates, carbon offsets and carbon credits, including in the context of mergers and acquisitions.

Bracewell LLP advises on the full spectrum of transactional and regulatory environmental issues throughout the United States, with particular strength in the energy sector. Matters range from energy infrastructure development projects and climate change regulation to major accidents and law enforcement actions. The team has significant experience in the renewable energy and oil and gas sectors, where it routinely advises on complex joint ventures, acquisitions, strategic partnerships, and investments. The firm’s environmental, lands, and natural resources group is led by Austin-based Timothy Wilkins, who specializes in environmental litigation, energy transition, climate change, and ESG, and Washington DC-based Jason Hutt, known for representing clients in administrative, civil, and criminal actions related to federal and state agencies that regulate energy and environmental issues, including the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Energy. The team also includes natural resources expert Kevin Ewing, based in Washington DC, who represents leading companies in offshore wind, LNG and natural gas pipelines projects, and Austin’s Matt Paulson, whose focus is on the oil and gas, power and chemical manufacturing industries.

Led by San Francisco-based litigator George Gigounas and regulatory expert Gwen Keyes Fleming, based between Washington DC and Atlanta, DLA Piper LLP (US) continues to advise a range of clients in heavily regulated industries on a variety of environmental issues related to corporate, financial and real estate transactions. Jeff Salinger, based in New York, is a key contact and routinely advises on ESG issues, climate change disclosure, and brownfield redevelopment. In Washington DC, regulatory compliance expert Paul Wierenga is known for advising oil industry clients on energy and environmental issues, including those related to renewable fuels, air quality standards, US policy on oil imports and renewable fuels, and climate change legislation and regulations.

Greenberg Traurig LLP regularly advises developers, investors, and lenders on the full range of environmentally-related real estate and corporate transactions, including environmental due diligence and negotiating environmental terms in transaction documents. Miami-based Kerri Barsh, who co-heads the firm’s environmental practice with Tampa-based David Weinstein, is a key contact, advising on a range of environmental regulatory, permitting and litigation matters, including transactional support and due diligence, energy and infrastructure projects, climate change issues and hazardous materials’ contamination. From Denver, fellow co-head Christopher Neumann is known for his extensive transactional experience in the oil and gas, mining, and hazardous waste sectors. Steven Russo chairs the firm’s environmental practice in New York, and is an expert in environmental law and litigation, environmental permitting, land use and real estate law. Philadelphia’s Paul McIntyre and Houston’s Christopher L Bell are also recommended.

Alongside its expertise in mergers and acquisitions, restructuring, projects, and financing in the environmental sector, King & Spalding LLP‘s environmental team is known for advising private equity and energy companies on the full spectrum of their green transition objectives. Practice head Granta Nakayama has considerable knowledge of the energy sector, regularly advising companies on a range of regulatory and enforcement issues. The team also includes Cynthia Stroman, a specialist in the energy, renewables and environmental sectors, Joseph Eisert, an expert in transactional, enforcement and incident response matters, and Chicago-based Karl Heisler, who chairs the firm’s environmental, health and safety’s practice in the Midwest. Attorneys are based in Washington DC unless otherwise stated.

Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP’s environmental practice advises a range of clients, most notably from the manufacturing, energy, chemical, and pharmaceutical sectors, on a variety of environmental issues, including transactions, litigation, and regulatory proceedings. In the transactional space, the team is noted for its expertise in handling mergers, joint ventures, financings and offerings. Further core workflows of the practice include defending and asserting environmental claims based on contracts and business bets, as well as advising on environmental liabilities and risk, environmental compliance and operational issues. From the Washington DC office, practice head Elizabeth Malone handles complex environmentally-related corporate transactions, while also advising clients on environmental liabilities and compliance issues.

Vinson & Elkins LLP’s environment and natural resources group is led by Washington DC-based Ron Tenpas and advises on a diverse array of regulatory and transactional matters in the environmental domain, spanning from asset acquisitions and sales to project development, financing, and mergers and acquisitions. Additionally, the team regularly manages crucial permits for development projects, addressing contested air, water, and wetlands permits for power plants, alongside overseeing water supply and wastewater discharge permits. Houston’s Matthew Dobbins is a key contact for permitting issues related to carbon capture and sequestration projects, negative emissions projects, and renewable fuels and credits, while, from the New York office, Corinne Snow assists in drafting and negotiating environmental terms in purchase and sales contracts.

Akin‘s environment and natural resources team counsels clients on the full spectrum of environmental matters, encompassing the evaluation of risks tied to environmental requirements and negotiating related terms. The firm is also actively engaged in mergers, divestments, and financial restructuring endeavors. Known for routinely assisting lenders, sellers and buyers on the full gamut of environmental liabilities in transactions, Washington DC-based David Quigley heads the team, which includes ESG expert Stacey Mitchell and environmental law, climate change and sustainability expert Kenneth Markowitz.

Jones Walker LLP provides counsel on a diverse array of environmental regulatory matters and transactions, spanning mergers and acquisitions, environmental permitting and litigation, defense against agency enforcement actions, and addressing wetlands issues. In New Orleans, the firm’s environmental practice group is jointly led by Meghan Smith, who routinely assists oil and gas companies, chemical manufacturers, and engineering firms, in state and federal litigation and private arbitrations, and Robert Holden, whose extensive practice encompasses regulatory compliance, enforcement actions, responses to spills and other industrial accidents, and involvement in commercial litigation. Another key contact is Lafayette’s Alex Prochaska, who regularly assists buyers and sellers of industrial facilities and commercial properties with environmental due diligence, pre- and post-closing remediation activities, and drafting and negotiating indemnities, releases and warranties in purchase agreements.

Alongside its expertise in regulatory matters and environmental litigation, K&L Gates advises on several environmentally related corporate and real estate transactions. Both based in Harrisburg, Craig Wilson is noted for routinely handling business transactions and litigation matters involving environmental rights or liabilities, and for advising on environmental permits and zoning, while Timothy Weston’s practice focuses on environmental counselling and litigation. The team also includes Chicago-based David Rieser, whose broad practice spans regulatory advice and corporate, commercial, and real estate transactions, and Seattle’s Ankur Tohan, an expert of energy infrastructure and natural resource development. Newark’s Brian Montag is another key contact in the team.

McGuireWoods LLP continues to be actively involved in a variety of environmental matters, ranging from site remediation and closure to environmental litigation and due diligence for commercial, energy and real estate transactions. Co-head David Franchina in Charlotte is regularly assisted by fellow co-head Makram Jaber in Washington DC, an expert on the Clean Air Act. Richmond-based counsel Heather Nixon Stevenson is known advising on environmental permitting and compliance matters, as well as business transactions. Atlanta’s Adam Sowatzka recently joined the team from King & Spalding LLP, bringing new expertise in investigations of catastrophic accidents and environmental crisis management matters.

A range of clients from the petroleum and natural gas, renewable fuels, wastewater, and construction sectors routinely turn to Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP for its team’s expertise in the full spectrum of environmental matters, spanning business and real estate transactions, legal and regulatory compliance, project development and finance. Global environmental practice head Mark Elliott notably focuses on hazardous materials, soil, water, and air quality regulation and litigation, while San Francisco’s environmental group leader Margaret Rosegay is a key contact for regulation matters related to oil and gas exploration. The firm’s Washington DC office is led by Jeffrey Knight, who is well-versed in environmental risk management, compliance, and renewable energy development and acquisitions. The team also includes co-leader of the hydrogen practice and leader of the firm’s climate change and sustainability practice Sheila McCafferty Harvey, based in Washington DC. Houston managing partner Amanda Halter and Los Angeles’ Michael McDonough are also names to note.

Proskauer Rose LLP’s environmental team is based in New York and offers comprehensive assistance to clients in the chemical, industrial, manufacturing, and pharmaceutical sectors. The team excels in various facets of environmental law, covering enforcement, compliance, and transactional advice. Their expertise extends to managing intricate merger and acquisition transactions, as well as handling capital market deals, underwritings, and financings. The team is led by Aliza Cinamon, noted for her knowledge of environmental issues related to complex corporate, real estate, financing, and bankruptcy transactions, and is actively involved in ESG, sustainability and climate change, as well as in environmental compliance and enforcement proceedings.

Reed Smith LLP‘s climate change team continues to assist clients with a range of environmentally related transactions, spanning M&A, restructuring and corporate deals. The practice is jointly led by Houston’s Ben Patton, San Francisco-based and ESG specialist Todd Maiden, environmental litigation and regulatory matters expert Megan Haines, who divides her time between Houston and Pittsburgh, and newly promoted sustainability partner Jennifer Smokelin from the Pittsburgh office, who stands out for her expertise in representing clients on complex environmental and energy issues and greenhouse gas legislation. Peter Trimarchi, from the New York office, advises on complex financing and renewable energy project development.

In the environmental sector, Sullivan & Worcester LLP is known for handling a range of due diligence and regulatory work in REIT transactions, where the team is actively involved in land use, zoning and environmental permitting issues. Based in Washington DC, Jeffrey Karp heads the firm’s environmental practice, routinely advising on regulatory compliance issues and the negotiation of environmental, energy, sustainability, and climate conditions in transactional agreements. From the Boston office, Victor Baltera also advises on regulatory compliance and permitting matters related to environmental law and land use. Boston-based Gregory Sampson recently joined the team from Womble Bond Dickinson, bringing new expertise in the development of contaminated properties and renewable energy and infrastructure projects.

Troutman Pepper assists several US and international companies, trade associations, and non-profit environmental organizations on a range of environmental transactions in the energy sector, including advice on power generation facilities, renewable energy projects and other infrastructure and real estate development, such as permitting, site acquisition and development, greenhouse gas regulation, and climate change. In Richmond, the team is led by water law expert Andrea Wortzel, and includes New York-based Andrew Perel, noted for his expertise in development projects, remediation of contaminated properties, and environmental compliance and due diligence for real estate transactions. In Atlanta, risk management and mitigation of environmental issues specialist Buck Dixon is also recommended.

Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP advises clients, including developers and financiers, on a spectrum of environmental law issues. This encompasses transactions in M&A and real estate developments. The team is also adept at providing guidance on regulatory developments, environmental compliance, and reporting. Washington DC-based William Thomas heads the practice and is recognized for his expertise in international environmental law, as well as for advising on environmental litigation and compliance.