Environmental
Sidley’s Environmental Practice group consists of more than 40 lawyers working in offices worldwide. The Environmental group is one of the largest in the United States, with 40 years of experience and the depth to handle the most complicated matters arising under environmental and natural resources laws. Our clients are engaged in a broad spectrum of economic and industrial activities, including transportation, conventional and alternative energy generation and distribution, petroleum exploration, development and refining, chemical manufacturing, electronics manufacturing, telecommunication services, consumer products, pharmaceuticals, agribusiness, banking and finance, as well as many national trade associations in manufacturing sectors. We also represent federal, state and local governmental bodies.
Our lawyers have handled virtually every kind of environmental challenge, from complex air, water and waste pollution litigation and compliance issues to the environmental aspects of the most advanced business transactions. We advise boards of directors, CEOs and general counsels and participate in major domestic and international environmental policy initiatives. The firm also works with clients to develop systems to identify and manage environmental, product supply chain and natural resource issues before they develop into liabilities. From these first-hand experiences comes an understanding of decision-making in private, public and international organizations that is vital to resolving complex and controversial matters.
Members of our group have held a number of senior governmental positions in the United States and Europe, including:
- A former General Counsel of U.S. Environmental Protection Agency;
- A former Deputy Assistant Attorney General for the Environment and Natural Resources Division (ENRD) of the U.S. Department of Justice;
- Former Chiefs of the Environmental Enforcement Section and Appellate Section of ENRD of the U.S. Department of Justice;
- Former Assistant Attorneys General of Illinois and Pennsylvania; and
- A former member of the European Commission.
Recent Awards and Recognitions
- In the 2011 edition of Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business, Sidley’s Environmental group received a Band One designation nationally, as well as in the District of Columbia and Illinois rankings. Nine of our lawyers were ranked individually and our New York office received a Band 3 designation. Our climate change practice received a Band 2 designation.
- In the 2011 edition of U.S. Legal 500, Sidley’s Environmental group received a Band One designation nationally for both Environmental Transactional and Environmental Litigation.
- Sidley’s Environmental group was recognized by Law360 as one of the top Environmental practices of 2010.
- Twelve of Sidley’s Environmental lawyers are listed in Who’s Who Legal’s 2010 edition.
- PLC’s WhichLawyer? ranked Sidley’s Environmental practice as a “Leading” firm (its top distinction) in Chicago and Washington, D.C., as “Highly Recommended” in New York, and “Recognized” in Los Angeles, CA. We are also “Recognized” for our China practice and “Highly Recommended” in the EU. Twelve of our lawyers were also ranked individually.
Our practice can be classified into five broad areas: Climate Change and Sustainable Development; Enforcement and Toxic Torts Litigation; Regulatory and Compliance Advocacy and Litigation; Business Transaction Advice; and International Environmental Issues.
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