Our Environmental Group combines comprehensive knowledge of environmental laws and regulatory developments with a keen understanding of our clients’ business interests. With an environmental practice that spans transactional work, compliance advice and litigation, we have handled critical environmental matters faced by our clients. We help clients effectively manage the business and legal risks of environmental matters, with solutions that address both short- and long-term impacts.
Our Practice
As the scope and complexity of environmental law has expanded in recent decades, businesses must contend with a diverse set of regulations that now impact areas as varied as air emissions and wastewater discharges, hazardous waste management and disposal, contaminated land and chemical use and safety. In addition, emerging concerns regarding environmental, social and corporate governance principles applicable to a wide range of businesses present new compliance and reputational challenges. Paul, Weiss attorneys offer insightful counsel, guiding our clients in navigating this regulatory landscape, whether in connection with transactions, compliance, regulatory disputes or major environmental litigation.
Corporate Transactions
Paul, Weiss’s environmental lawyers work closely with members of the firm’s other departments to address environmental issues that arise in transactions. With its deep understanding of client concerns in the transactional context, our environmental lawyers are able to provide tailored guidance in areas such as mergers and acquisitions, financings, insurance coverage, real estate, sales, financings and securitizations, divestitures, joint ventures and other strategic partnerships, securities offerings, purchase of raw materials, and equipment and services. In addition, our lawyers provide guidance once the transaction is completed, by assisting in integration of the acquired business, operations and sites with respect to environmental matters.
Our diverse client roster represents a well-rounded practice that is able to effectively represent clients, whether they act as buyers, sellers, lenders, borrowers, investors, issuers of securities or investment bankers. Our clients benefit from our varied experience, which enables our lawyers to advise on the nature and extent of environmental risks, and means for managing those risks, whatever a client’s role in contemplated business transactions. We represent clients in both domestic and international transactions with a special focus on clients in the financial, industrial and natural resources sectors.
Sustainability
Environmental, social and governance issues (also referred to as sustainability issues) have been the subject of close public scrutiny in recent years. Such issues range from environmentally sustainable practices, including renewable energy use and recycling, to supply chain concerns, including human rights and conflict minerals. Our environmental lawyers have advised corporate clients on the development of standards for monitoring and methods for the reporting sustainability issues. In addition, we have helped clients to review such issues in strategic, public and private equity acquisitions and investments. As attention to these issues grows, our lawyers are well-positioned to advise clients on addressing sustainability concerns and integrating sustainability considerations into their business and their acquisition processes.
Litigation
Paul, Weiss’ s Environmental Practice Group collaborates with our world-class Litigation Department to represent clients in major lawsuits involving complicated environmental issues. Our long experience managing headline-grabbing environmental litigation uniquely positions us to assist clients in ethically responding to the sensitive issues that often accompany environmental disputes. We have represented clients in environmental administrative proceedings and in litigation under a number of federal and related state laws and regulations, including:
- Clean Air Act
- Clean Water Act
- Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA)
- Resource Conservation and Recovery Act
Multiparty suits, class actions and complex litigations as well as civil and criminal matters related to insurance, bankruptcy, property laws and personal injury are all within our Environmental Practice Group’s purview. While part of our counseling skill lies in helping our clients avoid litigation, all the resources of our full-service firm are brought to bear to protect our clients’ long-term interests.