Caleb J. Bowers

CALEB BOWERS focuses his practice on environmental regulatory and litigation matters and enforcement defense, with particular emphasis on e-commerce, industrial businesses, ground transportation and logistics, and infrastructure development. He advises clients on environmental compliance obligations and defending against government enforcement and citizen suits, and on environmental requirements for development projects, especially air, water, and wetlands permitting. Caleb is recognized by Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America® 2026 for Environmental Law, Litigation–Environmental, and Natural Resources Law.

Caleb’s experience includes advising on California and federal environmental requirements, including related consumer product requirements, and he has experience with all California environmental agencies. He is dedicated to providing thoughtful client service in helping companies assess compliance obligations and develop effective business solutions.

Caleb previously served on active duty in the U.S. Army as assistant counsel to the Office of Chief Counsel, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, in Washington, DC. There he assisted with the drafting and interpretation of agency regulations and advised on matters related to the Clean Water Act (CWA), natural resources management, and hydropower operations, including work with congressional committees. In addition to environmental matters, he advised on matters related to data management, critical infrastructure, and infrastructure cybersecurity.

Caleb has assisted with the representation of:

Air Experience

• Resolving notices of violation issued by the California Air Resources Board (CARB) related to heavy-duty vehicle emissions requirements.
• Air permitting for data center development and operations.
• Advising transportation and logistics companies on emissions-related and zero emission vehicle (ZEV) requirements.
• Counseling warehouse and logistics operators on environmental obligations, including indirect source rules (ISRs) and the use of temporary/backup power generation.
• Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions disclosure requirements.
• Advising companies on California consumer products requirements (CARB and other agencies), requirements for aftermarket automotive parts, and applicability to online sales.

Water Experience

• Water and wetlands permitting under the Clean Water Act (CWA) and state law for data center hyperscaling.
• Responded to a CWA citizen suit related to alleged violations from hydropower facility operations, ultimately resulting in a favorable settlement for the client.
• Resolving CWA citizen suits for industrial and manufacturing facilities.
• Advising investors on infrastructure projects with development and permitting risks.
• Wetlands credit banking/credit purchases.

Additional Regulatory, Litigation, and Enforcement Experience

• Assisting companies with navigating Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) requirements and responding to enforcement.
• Resolving an investigation by the California Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR).
• Conducting environmental due diligence for transactions involving companies and products subject to California environmental regulation.
• Counseling companies on advocacy and compliance strategies for California proposed legislation and regulations.
• Assisted in securing dismissal at the summary judgment stage related to a defense company’s historical operations at a contaminated site.
• Represented an industrial company and landowner in connection with sediment contamination at a large Superfund site.

Some of the above matters were handled prior to joining Sidley.

• Environmental Law Institute, Emerging Leaders Initiative

• Represents military veterans in obtaining disability benefits and discharge upgrades.
• Successfully negotiated a resolution to litigation concerning a multimillion-dollar workforce housing development in Los Angeles, allowing plans for development to proceed.