Environmental

  • October 30, 2025

    OpenAI Preps For IPO At $1T Valuation, Plus More Rumors

    Sam Altman's OpenAI is prepping plans for an initial public offering that could value the artificial intelligence behemoth at up to $1 trillion, Facebook-owner Meta is preparing for an up to $25 billion bond offering, and major banks are gearing up for the launch of a $38 billion debt offering to fund data centers to be used by technology giant Oracle.

  • October 30, 2025

    Green Groups Can't Intervene In Feds' NY Superfund Suit

    A New York federal judge won't let environmental groups intervene in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's suit challenging a New York state Superfund law, saying the addition of five defendants would overcomplicate the litigation.

  • October 30, 2025

    Wash. Justices Reinstate $185M Monsanto PCB Verdict

    The Washington State Supreme Court has restored a $185 million jury verdict against Monsanto in the first of a series of chemical poisoning trials tied to a Washington state school site, finding a lower appellate court misapplied choice-of-law principles when overturning the win for three school teachers.

  • October 29, 2025

    Greenpeace Gets Dakota Pipeline Damages Cut To $345M

    A North Dakota state judge Wednesday reduced a jury's $666 million damages award against Greenpeace to $345 million in litigation claiming the group falsely disparaged the Dakota Access Pipeline project during environmental protests, finding that some of the damages awarded by the jury weren't backed by evidence.

  • October 29, 2025

    DOE's Data Center Proposal May Spark Grid Policy Turf War

    The Trump administration's push to convince the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to enable the connection of data centers to the interstate transmission system may ignite a legal turf war with states over their authority to regulate retail electricity sales.

  • October 29, 2025

    BP Unit Sued Over Wash. Refinery's 'Noxious Odor' Emissions

    BP Products North America was hit with a proposed negligence class action in Washington federal court on Tuesday, alleging it emitted noxious odors from its oil refinery that damaged nearby properties, forcing some residents to retreat to Airbnb homes for temporary relief from the foul smells.

  • October 29, 2025

    5th Circ. Backs FERC's Approval Of Pacific NW Pipeline

    The Fifth Circuit has affirmed the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission's approval of a TC Energy Corp. natural gas pipeline, rejecting states' claims that FERC didn't fully consider costs to consumers and green groups' claims that an environmental review was inadequate.

  • October 29, 2025

    Climate Change Heat Death Suit Returns To Wash. State Court

    A Washington federal judge on Tuesday sided with the Seattle-area family of a woman who died during a 2021 heat wave, sending their first-of-its-kind wrongful death suit against oil and gas giants like Exxon back to state court.

  • October 29, 2025

    Ga. Panel Partially Revives Solar Farm Property Dispute

    The Georgia Court of Appeals found a trial court should have let a jury decide whether two solar companies were obligated to pay $150,000 per year in fixed fees to the owners of 295 acres of property in Mitchell County that they planned to develop for solar energy production.

  • October 29, 2025

    Shutdown Forces Tribes To Pick Food Or Heat, Senate Told

    Native American nonprofit leaders say Indian Country is choosing between fuel and food after federal employee layoffs and what stands to be the longest government shutdown in U.S. history have forced tribes to burn through their emergency reserves to continue healthcare, housing and food services.

  • October 29, 2025

    NC Justices Block Du Pont PFAS Suit On Eve Of Hearing

    The Republican majority of North Carolina's highest court on Wednesday issued a stay pausing the state's suit against E.I. Du Pont de Nemours and Co., The Chemours Co. and others over alleged forever chemical contamination the day before the Business Court was set to hold a hearing on summary judgment in the case.

  • October 29, 2025

    Dems Blast Pause Of Army Corps Projects In Blue Cities

    Two Democratic lawmakers demanded the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers identify and pursue $11 billion worth of projects that may have been paused in line with a social media post by Office of Management and Budget Director Russ Vought.

  • October 29, 2025

    Copper Lines Must Stay Due To Wireless Radiation, FCC Told

    A group of people who claim they were injured by electromagnetic radiation are warning the Federal Communications Commission not to move forward with a plan to retire copper lines in phone networks, saying to do so would "endanger the lives of Americans".

  • October 29, 2025

    Fed. Judge Bars US From Enbridge Pipeline Oral Argument

    A Michigan federal judge has denied the U.S. government's bid to participate in an upcoming oral argument in an Enbridge lawsuit against the state's governor over an oil and gas pipeline, saying the parties in the suit are able to address the issues on their own.

  • October 29, 2025

    Green Group Says EPA Posts Misleading PFAS Information

    Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility on Wednesday said the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is misleading the public about the risks of exposure to forever chemicals, and is demanding the EPA correct information on its website.

  • October 28, 2025

    Mondelez Wins Toss Of Clif Bar False Ad Claims

    An Illinois federal judge on Monday tossed a proposed class action alleging that "climate neutral" labeling on Mondelez International Inc.'s Clif Kid Zbars is deceptive, finding that the message was a true statement by a third party.

  • October 28, 2025

    States Ask Supreme Court To Resolve PFAS Removal Dispute

    Maryland and South Carolina are asking the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn the Fourth Circuit's decision to move their state court lawsuits against 3M Co. over environmental contamination from consumer products containing forever chemicals to federal court.

  • October 28, 2025

    3 Firms Guide Apex Treasury's $300M Blockchain, Crypto IPO

    Special purpose acquisition company Apex Treasury Corp., guided by Perkins Coie LLP and Appleby (Cayman) Ltd., has completed a $300 million blockchain and cryptocurrency-focused initial public offering, which was supported by Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP-led underwriters.

  • October 28, 2025

    Green Groups Ask DC Circ. To Revive Climate Grant Class Suit

    Green groups and local governments are asking the D.C. Circuit to revive their now-dismissed proposed class action accusing the Trump administration of illegally terminating a $3 billion environmental justice block grant program.

  • October 28, 2025

    Enviro Groups Seek Ruling To Block Ariz. Forest Road Project

    Environmental groups are asking an Arizona federal judge to block a U.S. Forest Service road project in the Coronado National Forest, asserting the agency didn't adequately consider the risks to jaguar and other threatened species before approving the project.

  • October 28, 2025

    Canada's Cygnet Buying Kiwetinohk In $1B Energy Deal

    Cygnet Energy Ltd. said Tuesday it has agreed to buy fellow Canadian energy company Kiwetinohk Energy Corp. for approximately CA$1.4 billion ($1 billion) inclusive of equity and assumed debt. 

  • October 28, 2025

    Feds Rip Calif.'s Bid To Halt $4B Bullet Train Funds Reshuffle

    The Trump administration has told a federal judge that California is not entitled to billions in continued funding for its beleaguered high-speed rail project, firing back at what it describes as the Golden State's attempt to hoard grant funds that could be allocated to other projects.

  • October 28, 2025

    FERC Chair From V&E Taps Another Firm Atty As GC

    Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Chairwoman Laura Swett, a former Vinson & Elkins LLP energy attorney, has named another V&E energy lawyer based in the nation's capital as the agency's next general counsel.

  • October 28, 2025

    Kirkland, V&E Steer Close Of EnCap's $2B Continuation Fund

    Energy investor EnCap Investments LP, advised by Kirkland & Ellis LLP and Vinson & Elkins LLP, on Tuesday announced that it wrapped fundraising for a continuation vehicle meant to continue its partnership with PennEnergy Resources LLC after securing more than $2 billion in capital commitments.

  • October 28, 2025

    US Partners With Westinghouse For $80B Nuke Plant Buildout

    The Trump administration on Tuesday announced it will partner with nuclear technology manufacturer Westinghouse Electric Co. to build at least $80 billion worth of new reactors in the U.S. to support and accelerate the development of data centers and artificial intelligence.

Expert Analysis

  • Agentic AI Puts A New Twist On Attorney Ethics Obligations

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    As lawyers increasingly use autonomous artificial intelligence agents, disciplinary authorities must decide whether attorney responsibility for an AI-caused legal ethics violation is personal or supervisory, and firms must enact strong policies regarding agentic AI use and supervision, says Grace Wynn at HWG.

  • 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.

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