Environmental

  • November 06, 2025

    Troutman Adds Transactions Pro From Kirkland In NY

    Troutman Pepper Locke LLP has expanded its energy transactional practice group in New York with a private equity and mergers and acquisitions attorney from Kirkland & Ellis LLP, the firm said Thursday.

  • November 06, 2025

    Nuclear Waste Storage Site Opponents Appeal To High Court

    Opponents of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission's approval of a temporary nuclear waste storage site in New Mexico have asked the U.S. Supreme Court to review the D.C. Circuit's decision to toss their challenge.

  • November 06, 2025

    FEMA Says States 'Mistaken' On Disaster Mitigation Program

    The Federal Emergency Management Agency on Wednesday urged a Massachusetts federal judge to throw out a lawsuit by 22 states and the District of Columbia over the future of a program that funds infrastructure-hardening projects to mitigate the effects of natural disasters.

  • November 05, 2025

    6th Circ. Scraps Objections To $600M Train Derailment Deal

    The Sixth Circuit on Wednesday affirmed a $600 million class settlement between Norfolk Southern and residents affected by the East Palestine, Ohio, train derailment disaster while dismissing an appeal by objectors who challenged the deal, noting the resulting delay had prejudiced 55,000 claimants awaiting critical payouts. 

  • November 05, 2025

    Energy Co. Execs Lied About Biz, Mont. Project, NJ AG Says

    Two Breezy Point Energy executives duped investors into pouring more than $3 million into a renewable energy project in Montana that was never in development, while using the money to cut themselves big salaries, rent a mansion and lease luxury cars, New Jersey prosecutors announced Wednesday. 

  • November 05, 2025

    Fruit Co. Must Face Tribe's Pollution Suit, Mich. Judge Rules

    A Michigan federal judge on Tuesday said a fruit and vegetable company can't dodge a Native American tribe and two environmental groups' claims it unlawfully contaminated nearby wetlands with polluted wastewater discharges.

  • November 05, 2025

    Dems Nab PSC Spots As Georgians React To High Utility Bills

    Georgia Democrats rolled to victory Tuesday over two Republican members of the state's utility oversight board, breaking the GOP's monopoly on the Public Service Commission and opening the door for shakeups in Peach State energy policy, experts say.

  • November 05, 2025

    11th Circ. Backs US Claim To Fla. Keys Island In Title Dispute

    The Eleventh Circuit sided with the U.S. government Wednesday in a dispute over ownership of an island off the coast of Key West, Florida, disagreeing with a developer that argued the property was merely a byproduct of soil dredging for which the government had no intended future use.

  • November 05, 2025

    Trump Taps Former GOP Congressman To Lead BLM

    President Donald Trump on Wednesday nominated former New Mexico Republican congressman Steve Pearce to lead the Bureau of Land Management, the U.S. Department of the Interior office that oversees energy development on federal lands.

  • November 05, 2025

    American Airlines Workers' Attys Seek $8M In ESG Battle

    Class counsel representing American Airlines workers who prevailed on claims their employer violated federal benefits law by allowing an unchecked emphasis on environmental, social and governance factors in their employee retirement plan asked a Texas federal court for $7.9 million in fees.

  • November 05, 2025

    Taft Adds DC Water Leader To New Government Practice

    The top attorney at D.C. Water, the independent authority overseeing water and wastewater matters in the nation's capital, has joined a new team at Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP, the firm announced Tuesday.

  • November 05, 2025

    Native Hawaiians Sue Over Blocked Access To Sacred Temple

    A group of Native Hawaiians are asking a federal court to bar a homeowners' association from blocking their access to an ancient Indigenous temple located within the community, alleging their requests have repeatedly been denied and they are being harassed by residents with entrance rights to the property.

  • November 04, 2025

    Judge DQs Levi & Korsinsky Over 'False Press Releases'

    A California federal judge disqualified Levi & Korsinsky from serving as lead counsel in a proposed investor class action after finding that the firm issued press releases to attract clients with headlines stating it had filed certain suits when in fact, the firm hadn't actually filed those cases.

  • November 04, 2025

    Clippers Owner, BakerHostetler Named In Fintech Fraud Suit

    Nearly a dozen investors have filed an amended lawsuit in California state court alleging Los Angeles Clippers owner Steve Ballmer and others, including BakerHostetler, helped financial technology company Aspiration Partners Inc. defraud them by propagating a false narrative that the business was financially solvent.

  • November 04, 2025

    Industry, Enviros Oppose EPA Plan To Ditch GHG Reporting

    Industry and environmental groups alike are pushing back against the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's proposal to repeal a program that requires power plants, fossil fuel and natural gas suppliers, and other facilities to report their greenhouse gas emissions.

  • November 04, 2025

    Judge Voids DOT Directive Tying State Grants To Immigration

    The U.S. Department of Transportation cannot condition billions in grants on states cooperating with President Donald Trump's immigration crackdown, a Rhode Island federal judge ruled Tuesday, saying the administration "blatantly overstepped" its authority by imposing sweeping and unlawful conditions on federally appropriated funds.  

  • November 04, 2025

    DC Circ. Backs DOE's Tougher Furnace Efficiency Rules

    The D.C. Circuit on Tuesday upheld the U.S. Department of Energy's tighter energy efficiency standards for furnaces and water heaters, rejecting arguments from gas utility and industry groups that the rules unlawfully force an expensive switch to new appliances.

  • November 04, 2025

    Ohio School Says Liberty Mishandled Roof Collapse Claim

    A Liberty Mutual unit must cover losses stemming from a roof collapse at a high school after a heavy snowfall, an Ohio school district told a federal court, saying the insurer's handling of the claim prolonged the building's exposure to the elements and worsened the damage.

  • November 04, 2025

    Wilson Elser Picks Up 6-Atty Team In LA From Booth

    Wilson Elser Moskowitz Edelman & Dicker LLP announced Tuesday that it has hired a six-attorney team from the now-shuttered Booth LLP in Los Angeles, including that firm's former managing partner.

  • November 04, 2025

    Kirkland, Davis Polk Steer Aircraft Maker Beta's $1B IPO

    Electronic aircraft and propulsion system manufacturer Beta Technologies made its public debut on Tuesday after raising $1 billion in its upsized initial public offering, with Kirkland & Ellis LLP advising the company and Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP advising the underwriters.

  • November 03, 2025

    W.Va., Chamber Say NY Climate Superfund Law Is Preempted

    States and business groups on Friday told a New York federal judge that the state Climate Change Superfund Act is preempted by the Constitution and the Clean Air Act and should be struck down.

  • November 03, 2025

    2nd Circ. Urged To Revive Norfolk Southern Fraud Suit

    The Second Circuit was told Friday that a proposed securities fraud class action against Norfolk Southern Corp. investors should be revived, as the rail giant misled investors by falsely extolling safety commitments while the company winnowed its workforce and cut costs.

  • November 03, 2025

    Meat Giant JBS Inks $1.1M NY AG Deal Over Climate Claims

    New York Attorney General Letitia James announced Monday that JBS USA Food Co. and an affiliated holding company will pay $1.1 million to support climate-focused agriculture programs in the state as part of a settlement over allegations they misled the public about efforts to reduce their carbon footprint.

  • November 03, 2025

    DC Circ. Fight Grows Over Energy Dept.'s Coal Plant Order

    The U.S. Department of Energy is facing an expanded challenge over its move to keep a Michigan coal-fired power plant open, as Illinois and Minnesota have asked the D.C. Circuit to overturn the agency's extension of its emergency order through Nov. 19.

  • November 03, 2025

    Calif. Can't Enforce 'Clean Trucks' Pact, Judge Says

    California cannot enforce a 2023 agreement that would have subjected heavy-duty truck manufacturers to stringent state emissions standards and stiff penalties for noncompliance, after a federal judge signaled that federal law likely preempts the Golden State's standards.

Expert Analysis

  • Resilience Planning Is New Key To Corporate Sustainability

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    While the current wave of deregulation may reduce government enforcement related to climate issues, businesses still need to evaluate how climate volatility may affect their operations and create new legal risks — making the apolitical concept of resilience increasingly important for companies, says J. Michael Showalter at ArentFox Schiff.

  • Cos. Face EU, US Regulatory Tension On Many Fronts

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    When the European Union sets stringent standards, companies seeking to operate in the international marketplace must conform to them, or else concede opportunities — but with the current U.S. administration pushing hard to roll back regulations, global companies face an increasing tension over which standards to follow, say attorneys at Baker McKenzie.

  • How EU Is Tweaking Enviro Laws After US Trade Deal

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    While a recent joint statement from the European Union and the U.S. in the wake of their trade deal does not mention special treatment for U.S. companies, the EU's ongoing commitment to streamline its sustainability legislation suggests an openness to addressing concerns raised by the U.S., say attorneys at Debevoise.

  • Series

    Being A Professional Wrestler Makes Me A Better Lawyer

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    Pursuing my childhood dream of being a professional wrestler has taught me important legal career lessons about communication, adaptability, oral advocacy and professionalism, says Christopher Freiberg at Midwest Disability.

  • Restored Charging Project Funds Revive Hope For EV Market

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    While 2025 began with a host of government actions that prompted some to predict the demise of the U.S. electric vehicle market, the Trump administration's recent restoration of federal funding for EV charging infrastructure under new terms presents market participants with reason for optimism, says Levi McAllister at Morgan Lewis.

  • Series

    Law School's Missed Lessons: Adapting To The Age Of AI

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    Though law school may not have specifically taught us how to use generative artificial intelligence to help with our daily legal tasks, it did provide us the mental building blocks necessary for adapting to this new technology — and the judgment to discern what shouldn’t be automated, says Pamela Dorian at Cozen O'Connor.

  • Ch. 11 Ruling Voiding $2M Litigation Funding Sends A Warning

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    A recent Texas bankruptcy court decision that a postconfirmation litigation trust has no obligations to repay a completely drawn down $2 million litigation funding agreement serves as a warning for estate administrators and funders to properly disclose the intended financing, say attorneys at Kleinberg Kaplan.

  • Demystifying The Civil Procedure Rules Amendment Process

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    Every year, an advisory committee receives dozens of proposals to amend the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, most of which are never adopted — but a few pointers can help maximize the likelihood that an amendment will be adopted, says Josh Gardner at DLA Piper.

  • Parenting Skills That Can Help Lawyers Thrive Professionally

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    As kids head back to school, the time is ripe for lawyers who are parents to consider how they can incorporate their parenting skills to build a deep, meaningful and sustainable legal practice, say attorneys at Alston & Bird.

  • Series

    Teaching Trial Advocacy Makes Us Better Lawyers

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    Teaching trial advocacy skills to other lawyers makes us better litigators because it makes us question our default methods, connect to young attorneys with new perspectives and focus on the needs of the real people at the heart of every trial, say Reuben Guttman, Veronica Finkelstein and Joleen Youngers.

  • Navigating Brazil's Regulations, Incentives For Green Projects

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    Brazil's evolving environmental regulatory framework and ongoing moves to attract international capital for climate-focused projects may appeal to U.S.-based companies and investors interested in sustainable development — but taking advantage of these opportunities requires careful planning and meaningful stakeholder engagement, says Milena Angulo at Guimarães.

  • Federal AI Action Plan Marks A Shift For Health And Bio Fields

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    The Trump administration's recent artificial intelligence action plan significantly expands federal commitments across biomedical agencies, defining a pivotal moment for attorneys and others involved in research collaborations, managing regulatory compliance and AI-related intellectual property, says Mehrin Masud-Elias at Arnold & Porter.

  • Data Center Construction Trends, Challenges In Ill. And Texas

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    Data centers in Illinois and Texas are reshaping the industrial landscape, but this growth brings legal complexity, so developers, contractors and corporate legal departments must have a deep understanding of each state's legal terrain and take a proactive approach to risk management, say attorneys at Hicks Johnson.

  • 5 Key Steps To Prepare For Oral Arguments

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    Whether presenting oral arguments before the U.S. Supreme Court or a local county judge, effective preparation includes the same essential ingredients, from organizing arguments in blocks to maximizing the potential of mock exercises, says Allison Rocker at Baker McKenzie.

  • Definitions Of 'Waters Of The United States' Ebb And Flow

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    The issue of defining whether "waters of the United States" include streams and channels that sometimes have water and sometimes do not has been fraught since the U.S. Supreme Court's 2006 Rapanos decision, but a possible new rule may help property owners stay out of court, says Neal McAliley at Carlton Fields.

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