Environmental

  • January 05, 2026

    ​'Truly Extreme': 9th Circ. Judges Decry Trump Layoffs Ruling

    The Ninth Circuit on Monday refused to revisit a three-judge panel's decision rejecting the Trump administration's challenge of a lower court's ruling requiring production of its plans for large-scale layoffs and reorganizations at various federal agencies, a decision that was met with fiery dissent from several of the court's Republican-appointed judges.

  • January 05, 2026

    House To Review Trump's Veto On Tribal Everglades Bill

    Members of the U.S. House of Representatives have agreed to consider Thursday objections to President Donald Trump's veto of bipartisan legislation that would save a Florida tribe's camp within Everglades National Park from flooding.

  • January 05, 2026

    SEC Won't Review FINRA Delay On Carbon Offset Co. Petition

    The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission has dismissed a bid brought by shareholders of Entrex Carbon Market Inc. to review what they said is the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority's harmful failure to act on the carbon offset trading platform's requests for a name change and approval of stock splits.

  • January 05, 2026

    NJ Panel Tosses Bid To Gut DEP Environmental Justice Rules

    A New Jersey appellate panel on Monday affirmed the state's sweeping environmental justice rules, rejecting consolidated challenges from industry and labor groups that argued the Department of Environmental Protection overstepped its statutory authority, relied on vague and overbroad definitions, and imposed arbitrary permitting burdens on facilities in heavily polluted communities.

  • January 05, 2026

    4 Firms Advise On Vistra's $4B Deal To Acquire Cogentrix

    Vistra Corp. said Monday it has agreed to acquire Cogentrix Energy from Quantum Capital Group in a deal valued at about $4 billion, with at least four law firms advising. 

  • January 05, 2026

    Conn. AG Challenges Reynolds' Win In 'Recycling' Label Suit

    The state of Connecticut has asked a trial court judge to rethink whether Reynolds Consumer Products willfully violated state unfair trade practices laws when labeling clear plastic Hefty bags as "recycling" bags, arguing the judge held the state to a higher burden than necessary when issuing a quick win.

  • January 05, 2026

    EU Sets Default Emission Levels For Carbon Border Tax

    The European Union released default levels of greenhouse gas emissions that importers must use to calculate liabilities for the newly enforced carbon border adjustment mechanism when they lack reliable information on the emissions associated with producing covered products.

  • January 05, 2026

    Partnership Fights Axed $60M Tax Break For Conservation Gift

    A partnership challenged the IRS' denial of its nearly $60 million tax deduction for protecting forestland and other open space in Georgia, telling the U.S. Tax Court the land could have been used for valuable granite mining before the partnership stopped it from being developed.

  • January 05, 2026

    Contractor Sues Pittsburgh Utility Over Work Stoppages

    A contractor doing work for Pittsburgh Water & Sewer Authority on several maintenance projects has alleged that the utility stopped work on repairs and replacements based on an incorrect accusation that the contractor violated state environmental rules, according to a recently filed lawsuit.

  • January 02, 2026

    Empire, Ørsted Sue To Overturn Offshore Wind Suspension

    Two energy companies moved to block the Trump administration's latest order halting offshore wind projects, arguing that the announcement came with "no plausible justification" and claiming that they were given no chance to address the administration's concerns beforehand.

  • January 02, 2026

    Top Property Insurance Trends To Watch In 2026

    Homeowners insurance investigations, a novel climate suit accusing oil majors of contributing to high premiums, and a California action accusing carriers of collusion are some of the top property insurance matters attorneys will be watching this year.

  • January 02, 2026

    Consumer Protection Cases And Trends To Watch In 2026

    State attorneys general will litigate more consumer protection cases in the new year, whether the suits are filed by their own offices or with the help of outside counsel, while the federal government under the Trump administration will drop pending enforcement actions and continue its shift away from broad rulemaking.

  • January 02, 2026

    5 Policy Areas Benefits Attys Should Keep Tabs On In 2026

    The new year promises policy shifts that could change the legal landscape for health and retirement benefits, including action to follow through on an executive order encouraging alternative assets in 401(k) plans, and a potential replacement for a Biden-era rule covering how retirement plan managers can factor environmental and social issues into their investment strategy. Here are five policy areas benefits attorneys will be watching in 2026.

  • January 02, 2026

    DC Circ. Cases To Watch In January

    The D.C. Circuit will start the New Year hearing several noteworthy cases, including a challenge to the Trump administration's transgender troop ban and a fight over whether two common "forever" chemicals qualify as hazardous materials under the Superfund law.

  • January 02, 2026

    Illinois Cases To Watch In 2026

    The Seventh Circuit will have its first opportunities in 2026 to analyze recent U.S. Supreme Court precedent narrowing federal bribery convictions as it resolves two high-profile public corruption appeals, while the Illinois Supreme Court could significantly impact state jury management when it decides whether a juror's "surrender" note signaled enough deliberation discord to warrant a retrial. 

  • January 02, 2026

    Cases To Watch In Native American Law In 2026

    The new year in Native American law is expected to usher in rulings on the rights of Indigenous nations and their citizens, including disputes over voting, hunting and fishing, and a possible expansion of the Supreme Court's 2020 landmark decision in McGirt v. Oklahoma.

  • January 02, 2026

    California Cases To Watch In 2026

    Legal experts following California courts in 2026 are tracking high-stakes personal injury, antitrust and copyright battles against giants in the social media, artificial intelligence and entertainment industries, as well as wide-ranging legal disputes arising from Los Angeles wildfires and high-profile appeals pending before the California Supreme Court.

  • January 02, 2026

    Food & Beverage Cases To Watch In 2026

    There are several issues food and beverage attorneys will want to keep an eye on in 2026, from litigation challenging the marketing of ultra-processed foods, to false advertising claims over the presence of "forever chemicals" and microplastics, to the federal government's efforts to regulate additives. Here, Law360 has rounded up a number of matters that attorneys should be watching.

  • January 02, 2026

    North Carolina Cases To Watch In 2026

    In the new year, North Carolina state and federal courts are set to consider the intricacies of class action certification at the behest of thousands of fast-food workers and whether Chinese company TikTok Inc. is deliberately designing the app to addict children.

  • January 02, 2026

    4 Colorado Cases To Watch In 2026

    In 2026, Colorado will be center stage for legal fights surrounding the guardrails of generative AI platforms, a second trial will take place to determine if the ethylene oxide output of a medical sterilization company caused some Lakewood residents to develop cancer, and the state will continue its fight to stop the move of Space Command's headquarters. Here, Law360 looks at four cases to watch in the state.

  • January 02, 2026

    Michigan Cases To Watch In 2026

    Environmental issues are taking center stage in Michigan courts in 2026, with an upcoming federal bench trial to determine whether the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is liable for how it handled the Flint water crisis, and the Michigan and U.S. Supreme Courts tackling disputes between the state and Enbridge Energy over a pipeline project proposed for underneath the Straits of Mackinac.

  • January 02, 2026

    California Legislation And Regulations To Watch In 2026

    Legal experts expect California lawmakers and regulators to continue to grapple with the artificial intelligence boom, various battles with the Trump administration and new climate disclosure requirements in 2026. Here's a short list of the major developments that Golden State attorneys will be watching.

  • January 02, 2026

    Transactional Trends To Watch In The Energy Industry In 2026

    The growth of data centers and artificial intelligence will continue to drive the energy dealmaking bus in 2026, while a tax credit for renewable energy projects is set to expire midyear. Here are the energy transactional trends that attorneys will be watching.

  • January 02, 2026

    Energy And Environmental Policies To Watch In 2026

    The Trump administration has aggressively pursued deregulatory actions across the federal government, such as proposing to rescind the scientific finding that laid the groundwork for greenhouse gas emissions standards and narrowing the government's jurisdiction under the Clean Water Act. Here, Law360 takes a look at these and other policies that could be finalized in 2026.

  • January 02, 2026

    SnapChat, Pork And Big Prosecutions: Trials To Watch In 2026

    The coming year is set to bring high-profile trials, including in the criminal case against SCOTUSblog co-founder Tom Goldstein, as well as bellwether trials in multidistrict litigation concerning social media's effects on mental health and allegations of price-fixing in the generic-drug industry.

Expert Analysis

  • New DOJ Penalty Policy Could Spell Trouble For Cos.

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    In light of the U.S. Department of Justice’s recently published guidance making victim relief a core condition of coordinated resolution crediting, companies facing parallel investigations must carefully calibrate their negotiation strategies to minimize the risk of duplicative penalties, say attorneys at Debevoise.

  • Clean Energy Tax Changes Cut Timelines, Add Red Tape

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    With its dramatic changes to energy tax credits, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act will reshape project financing and investment planning — and wind and solar developers, especially those in the early stages of projects, face stricter timelines and heightened compliance challenges, says Dan Ruth at Balch & Bingham.

  • High Court Cert Spotlights Varying Tests For Federal Removal

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    A recent decision by the U.S. Supreme Court to review Chevron v. Plaquemines Parish, a case involving the federal officer removal statute, highlights three other recent circuit court decisions raising federal removal questions, and serves as a reminder that defendants are the masters of removal actions, says Varun Aery at Hollingsworth.

  • Trump Air Emissions Carveouts Cloud The Regulatory Picture

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    President Donald Trump's new proclamations temporarily exempting key U.S. industries from air toxics standards, issued under a narrow, rarely-used provision of the Clean Air Act, will likely lead to legal challenges and tighter standards in some states, contributing to further regulatory uncertainty, say attorneys at GableGotwals.

  • How Property Insurers Serve As Climate Change Harbingers

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    Thomas Dawson at McDermott discusses the role that U.S. property insurers may play in identifying and assessing climate risk, as well as in financing climate change adaptation projects, in light of global warming and shifting geopolitical realities.

  • Series

    Playing Baseball Makes Me A Better Lawyer

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    Playing baseball in college, and now Wiffle ball in a local league, has taught me that teamwork, mental endurance and emotional intelligence are not only important to success in the sport, but also to success as a trial attorney, says Kevan Dorsey at Swift Currie.

  • Managing Risks As State AGs Seek To Fill Enforcement Gap

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    Given an unprecedented surge in state attorney general activity resulting from significant shifts in federal enforcement priorities, companies must consider tailored strategies for navigating the ever-evolving risk landscape, say attorneys at Cozen O'Connor.

  • A Deep Dive Into 14 Nixed Gensler-Era SEC Rule Proposals

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    The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission last month formally withdrew 14 notices of proposed rulemaking, including several significant and widely criticized proposals that had been issued under former Chair Gary Gensler's leadership, signaling a clear and definitive shift away from the previous administration, say attorneys at Dechert.

  • Series

    Law School's Missed Lessons: Skillful Persuasion

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    In many ways, law school teaches us how to argue, but when the ultimate goal is to get your client what they want, being persuasive through preparation and humility is the more likely key to success, says Michael Friedland at Friedland Cianfrani.

  • A Look At Trump 2.0 Antitrust Enforcement So Far

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    The first six months of President Donald Trump's second administration were marked by aggressive antitrust enforcement tempered by traditional structural remedies for mergers, but other unprecedented actions, like the firing of Federal Trade Commission Democrats, will likely stoke heated discussion ahead, says Richard Dagen at Axinn.

  • Litigation Inspiration: How To Respond After A Loss

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    Every litigator loses a case now and then, and the sting of that loss can become a medicine that strengthens or a poison that corrodes, depending on how the attorney responds, says Bennett Rawicki at Hilgers Graben.

  • Tips For Cos. From California Climate Reporting FAQ

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    New guidance from the California Air Resources Board on how businesses must implement the state's sweeping climate reporting requirements should help companies assess their exposure, understand their disclosure obligations and begin documenting good-faith compliance efforts, says Thierry Montoya at Frost Brown.

  • What Calif. Insurance Ruling Means For Smoke Damage Limits

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    As California continues to grapple with an increasing number of wildfire claims, a state court's recent Aliff v. California FAIR Plan decision serves as a clear directive to insurers that policy language that narrows the scope of fire coverage below the California Insurance Code's minimum standards is impermissible, say attorneys at Wood Smith.

  • The Metamorphosis Of The Major Questions Doctrine

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    The so-called major questions doctrine arose as a counterweight to Chevron deference over the past few decades, but invocations of the doctrine have persisted in the year since Chevron was overturned, suggesting it still has a role to play in reining in agency overreach, say attorneys at Crowell & Moring.

  • Series

    Playing Mah-Jongg Makes Me A Better Mediator

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    Mah-jongg rewards patience, pattern recognition, adaptability and keen observation, all skills that are invaluable to my role as a mediator, and to all mediating parties, says Marina Corodemus.

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