NEW YORK – Feb. 2, 2017 – In 2017, Greenberg Traurig, LLP’s environmental attorneys continued to play a significant role in nearly every aspect of national and international environmental law; guiding clients through a broad range of matters, taking on leadership positions in environment-related organizations, and providing thought leadership in industry publications and events. Their efforts were recognized collectively and individually by publications such as Chambers USA, The Legal 500, The National Law Journal, Law360, and U.S. News – Best Lawyers, among others.
Notable Decisions
The firm’s environmental attorneys have been instrumental in numerous matters representing various and diverse clients. Select 2017 highlights include:
- on behalf of GT client the State of North Dakota , obtaining a unanimous U.S. Supreme Court decision recognizing that federal district courts have jurisdiction to hear legal challenges to the “Waters of the U.S.” Rule (WOTUS). That Rule would greatly expand the federal government’s authority over North Dakota and other states land and water resources and correspondingly limit state authority to combat water pollution. North Dakota leads a coalition of twelve states that obtained the first preliminary injunction against the WOTUS Rule in 2015, in a decision issued by the U.S. District Court of the District of North Dakota that also accepted North Dakota’s argument that district courts have jurisdiction to hear challenges to the WOTUS Rule;
- representing Long Island Rail Road in the nearly $2 billion contract for the design and construction of a third rail track on the railroad’s main line, the largest commuter rail in the United States;
- obtaining complete summary judgment in favor of Mosaic Fertilizer in $50+ million toxic-tort case, through dispositive motions to exclude expert toxicology testimony and lay property-valuation testimony by its owner; and
- receiving an unprecedented second review from the U.S. Supreme Court in the representation of Fane Lozman in Lozman v. City of Riviera Beach in a First Amendment retaliatory arrest case. The ruling in this case will have broad implications regarding a citizen’s ability to engage in protected speech without fear of retaliation by arrest and the potentially chilling effect on all citizens' constitutional rights.
Rankings
Greenberg Traurig’s Environmental Practice and the group’s attorneys have been recognized significantly in 2017. Select rankings follow.
- For the seventh consecutive year, the firm’s Environmental Practice received a Tier-1 ranking in U.S. News – Best Lawyers 2016 “Best Law Firms.”
- Fifteen environmental attorneys were recognized in U.S. News – Best Lawyers 2017 “Best Lawyers in America,” representing 12 metropolitan areas and more than 150 years of recognition.
- Kerri L. Barsh was listed in Euromoney’s 2017 Expert Guide for experts in Environment Law.
- Seven attorneys were recognized in The Legal 500.
- Christopher L. Bell was named an Energy and Environmental Trailblazer by The National Law Journal, marking the practice’s third consecutive year of recognition.
- Chambers USA recognized the Environmental Practice as one of the top practices in the country.
- Eight attorneys were ranked by Chambers USA.
- Gene Livingston and James Mattesich were listed in Sacramento Magazine’s “Top Lawyers” list.
Thought Leadership and Industry Influence
In the last year, numerous environmental attorneys have been published in various industry publications including Law360, ABA Environmental Enforcement and Crimes Committee Newsletter, The Westlaw Journal, The National Law Journal, Natural Resources & Environment magazine, and The Legal Intelligencer, among others. In addition to being published, many more of the practice’s attorneys presented at environment-related events. Select 2017 events include:
- The Coalition for Renewable Natural Gas
- Air and Water Management Association’s Conference
- National Sand, Stone, and Gravel Association’s Legislative Policy Forum
- The Annual Florida Environmental Permitting Summer School
- Pennsylvania’s Environmental Law Forum
- National Conference of Regulatory Attorneys
- Great Lakes Economic Forum
- Webinars on Exiting the Paris Climate Agreement; Ethics & Environmental Justice; CERCLA Financial Assurance; Presidential Executive Orders Impacting Energy and Environmental Regulations
About Greenberg Traurig’s Environmental Practice
Greenberg Traurig’s Environmental Practice assists clients with issues under the environmental and natural resource laws that affect their businesses. The practice was named “Law Firm of the Year” for Environmental Law in the U.S. News – Best Lawyers 2016 edition of “Best Law Firms.” The firm’s environmental attorneys assist with securing permits and approvals; negotiate and close transactions; defend clients in enforcement actions; handle a broad range of environmental and toxic tort litigation; ensure the understanding and satisfaction of regulatory requirements; prepare for and respond to emergencies; craft approaches for legacy cleanup issues; and develop solutions for product regulation, market access, and environmental policy challenges.
About Greenberg Traurig, LLP
Greenberg Traurig, LLP (GT) has more than 2,000 attorneys in 38 offices in the United States, Latin America, Europe, Asia and the Middle East. GT has been recognized for its philanthropic giving, was named the largest firm in the U.S. by Law360 in 2017, and is among the Top 20 on the 2017 Am Law Global 100. Web: www.gtlaw.com Twitter: @GT_Law.