Whether it concerns waste disposal, air emissions, underground storage tanks or other potential environmental law issues, companies are increasingly at risk for criminal penalties and civil damages awards arising from environmental issues.
They often involve difficult technical and regulatory issues that can have significant effects on both day-to-day operations and strategic business decisions. As public awareness and investor expectations continue to increase with respect to the management and reporting of such matters, companies must address risks that can impact their financial and reputational core.
Complicated Environmental Issues
We work with global clients on environmental, health and safety matters, tracking legal developments and evolving business practices to advise not only on legal obligations and liabilities, but also on strategies for managing compliance and minimizing liability.
Our environmental lawyers have extensive experience advising and supporting clients on complicated environmental issues across a broad range of contexts, including mergers and acquisitions, debt and equity offerings, bank loans and other business transactions.
Environmental Risks
We are frequently asked to serve as advisors or advocates on projects presenting novel and complex issues of national and international importance. The firm s environmental lawyers play an integral role in corporate transactions evaluating environmental risks, advising on risk management and allocation, and exploring and devising practical solutions to environmental problems.
Our global environmental practice benefits from the geographically and educationally diverse backgrounds of American-, Asian- and European-based lawyers. Our practice is expansive and offers clients solutions in:
- traditional issues of water, air, toxics, and waste management;
- environmental siting and natural resources;
- hazardous substance regulation and litigation;
- national and international stewardship issues;
- compliance and fair treatment under the EU s climate change legislation.
Transactional Expertise
We counsel on compliance with international regimes under the Basel Convention and the OECD for transboundary shipment of waste, the UNFCC, and the Biodiversity Convention.
Team members work closely with environmental consultants, engineers and advisors throughout the world. The result is a practice that is at home with the technical details, highly commercial and, where needed, genuinely creative.
We regularly counsel private equity firms, industrial companies and other businesses in a broad spectrum of industries, including chemicals, mining, packaging and energy.
