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Environmental

  • August 11, 2025

    Over 2,000 Shrimpers Sue Hilcorp Over August 2022 Oil Spill

    More than 2,000 shrimpers and seafood business owners hit Hilcorp Energy Co. with a federal lawsuit over an August 2022 oil spill they say spoiled the opening day of shrimping season.

  • August 11, 2025

    Hawaiian Judge Vacates Letter Allowing Monument Fishing

    Commercial fishing cannot legally continue in the waters of the Pacific Islands Heritage Marine National Monument under a National Marine Fisheries Services letter that tribal and environmental groups claim authorized the endeavor, a Hawaii federal court judge said, arguing evidence shows that the directive harmed the plaintiffs in the dispute.

  • August 11, 2025

    Proxy Proposals Shift Away From Politics Under Trump

    Shareholder proposals on environmental, social and political topics faced headwinds in early 2025, with both the number of submissions and investor support falling amid Trump administration policy shifts and "dizzying" legal and regulatory changes, Sullivan & Cromwell LLP said in a Monday report. 

  • August 11, 2025

    EPA Cancels Union Contracts Under Trump Order

    The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has canceled its collective bargaining agreements in line with President Donald Trump's directive to dozens of agencies to stop recognizing their workers' unions, which he said was to protect national security.

  • August 11, 2025

    Rising Star: Keller Rohrback's Adele Daniel

    Adele Daniel of Keller Rohrback LLP has been helping her firm win big-money cases for clients alleging toxic pollution, facing determined opponents in court, working on every stage of the litigation and earning a spot among the environmental law practitioners under age 40 honored by Law360 as Rising Stars.

  • August 11, 2025

    Feds, Wind Farm Backers Cross Swords Over Permitting Halt

    The U.S. government and opponents of the Trump administration's halt of wind farm project reviews have made their cases to a Massachusetts federal judge as to why they should prevail in litigation challenging the legality of the moratorium.

  • August 11, 2025

    Ørsted To Raise $9.4B After Delays To US Wind Farm Sale

    Denmark's wind power giant Ørsted AS said Monday that it plans to raise $9.4 billion with support from the Danish state as it blamed resistance by the U.S. government to wind power after Donald Trump took office for disrupting its investment plans.

  • August 08, 2025

    FERC's Policy Work Was A Mixed Bag For Departing Chair

    Outgoing Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Chairman Mark Christie touted the agency's work to encourage gas infrastructure development during his tenure, but lamented its failure to advance electricity policies aimed at lowering transmission costs and ensuring there's enough power supplying the nation's grid.

  • August 08, 2025

    Ark. Farmers Say Okla. Pollution Plan Violates State Sovereignty

    The Arkansas Farm Bureau Federation and two cattle ranchers are urging a federal court in Oklahoma to reject the state's $103 million solution to end a long-running legal fight against poultry producers, including Tysons Foods Inc., for polluting the Illinois River Watershed, saying Oklahoma's proposed limits on fertilizer derived from chicken waste would violate Arkansas' sovereignty.

  • August 08, 2025

    6th Circ. Revives Dodge Ram Drivers' Emissions Fraud Claims

    The Sixth Circuit signaled Friday that federal law doesn't preempt a group of drivers' claims alleging Fiat Chrysler and engine manufacturer Cummins deceptively marketed Dodge Ram trucks as being more environmentally friendly than they actually were, punting the dispute back to Michigan federal court.

  • August 08, 2025

    Exxon, Suncor Urge Justices To Halt Colo. Climate Suit

    Exxon Mobil Corp. and Suncor Energy Inc. on Friday urged the U.S. Supreme Court to review the Colorado Supreme Court's decision allowing the city and county of Boulder's climate change tort against the companies to proceed in state court, arguing that the localities' claims are preempted by federal law.

  • August 08, 2025

    Calif. Justices Rip Deference To Regulator's Solar Ruling

    The Golden State's highest court unanimously struck down a lower court ruling that the justices said gave too much deference to the California Public Utilities Commission in a dispute over rooftop solar rates, saying when reviewing decisions of the state's utilities regulator, courts "remain the final arbiters of statutory meaning."

  • August 08, 2025

    Judge Says Insurer Must Face $100M Biz Interruption Claim

    A chemicals manufacturer accusing a reinsurer of failing to fully cover its roughly $100 million business interruption claim over a chemical plant explosion can still pursue its coverage claims, a Texas federal court ruled, finding the Texas Supreme Court would likely adopt the same holding.

  • August 08, 2025

    NJ Legislation Highlights From The 1st Half Of 2025

    During the first half of 2025, New Jersey lawmakers addressed a long-standing judicial vacancy crisis, strengthened protections for utility customers and streamlined the asbestos remediation process for Jersey City's historic courthouse.  

  • August 08, 2025

    Trade Group Sues Colorado Over Gas Stove Labeling Law

    A home appliances trade association has told a Colorado federal judge that recently passed state legislation mandating that a health warning be placed on all gas stoves is unconstitutional.

  • August 08, 2025

    Trump EO Requires Appointee Oversight Of US Grantmaking

    President Donald Trump has issued an executive order requiring that all funding opportunity announcements and grant awards be reviewed by his political appointees and allowing for grants to be terminated that fall outside the administration's priorities. 

  • August 08, 2025

    EV Makers Challenge New Fuel Economy Rule In DC Circ.

    An electric vehicle industry group is challenging the Trump administration's rollback of Biden-era fuel economy standards, claiming that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's freeze on compliance notifications is threatening the business models of American electric automakers.

  • August 08, 2025

    NY Says 1676 Order Can't Help Tribe In Eel Fishing Regs Row

    The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation is fighting a Supreme Court bid by the Unkechaug Nation to undo a Second Circuit decision rejecting its challenge to the state's regulations on eel fishing harvests, arguing that a 1676 British colonial governor's order is not federal law.

  • August 08, 2025

    Trump Admin Invites Legal Fights With Clean Energy Moves

    Recent Trump administration moves to saddle renewable energy projects with additional regulatory and permit burdens are likely to face court challenges from the industry even as developers are forced to think long and hard about the viability of their projects.

  • August 08, 2025

    NC AG Has Power To Pursue PFAS Pollution Suit, Judge Rules

    Two DuPont spinoffs can't shirk a forever chemical contamination suit brought by the North Carolina Attorney General's Office, a state court judge has ruled, finding Attorney General Jeff Jackson does have the authority to pursue the case even after lawmakers curbed his powers.

  • August 07, 2025

    ConocoPhillips Agrees To $1.3B Sale Of Anadarko Assets

    ConocoPhillips, with guidance from Haynes Boone, is selling its Anadarko Basin assets for $1.3 billion, with the sale expected to close at the beginning of the fourth quarter, the independent oil producer announced on Thursday.

  • August 07, 2025

    Judge Orders Chemours To Cut Discharges At W.Va. Plant

    A West Virginia federal judge on Thursday ordered Chemours to take any steps needed to stop its Washington Works manufacturing plant from continuing to discharge excessive amounts of a harmful "forever chemical" into the Ohio River.

  • August 07, 2025

    Insurers Say Property Co.'s $7M Ida Claim Must Be Arbitrated

    A lower court order forcing a New Orleans property owner to arbitrate its $7 million Hurricane Ida damage claim against its domestic insurers should be reinstated, a group of carriers told the Fifth Circuit on Thursday, saying the New York Convention mandates the enforcement of the policy's arbitration provision.

  • August 07, 2025

    6th Circ. Halts FirstEnergy Production Of Bribery Probe Docs

    The Sixth Circuit on Thursday prevented shareholders of FirstEnergy Corp. from immediately accessing investigative documents prepared by BigLaw firms in the wake of a $1 billion bribery scandal, ruling that the utility company was likely to succeed in its claims that the disclosures were protected by attorney-client privilege.

  • August 07, 2025

    Teamsters Say Airgas Released Hazardous Gas On Strikers

    Members of a New Jersey-based Teamsters union have sued Airgas, alleging that the company released an unknown hazardous gas on them as they were peacefully picketing outside company facilities in New Jersey and Illinois, with both releases creating a "dense white cloud plume" that enveloped the striking workers.

Expert Analysis

  • 4 Ways To Leverage A Jury's Underdog Perceptions

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    Counsel should consider how common factors that speak to their client's size, power, past challenges and alignment with jurors can be presented to try and paint their client as a sympathetic underdog, says Ken Broda-Bahm at Persuasion Strategies.

  • Why Hiring Former Jurors As Consultants Can Be Risky

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    The defense team's decision to hire former juror Victoria George in the high-profile retrial of Karen Read shines a spotlight on this controversial strategy, which raises important legal, ethical and tactical questions despite not being explicitly prohibited, says Nikoleta Despodova at ND Litigation.

  • What To Watch For As High Court Mulls NRC's Powers

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    If successful, Texas’ challenges to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s authority — recently heard by the U.S. Supreme Court and currently pending before a Texas federal court — may have serious adverse consequences for aspiring NRC licensees, including potential nuclear power plant operators, say attorneys at Haynes Boone.

  • Series

    Adapting To Private Practice: From NY Fed To BigLaw

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    While the move to private practice brings a learning curve, it also brings chances to learn new skills and grow your network, requiring a clear understanding of how your skills can complement and contribute to a firm's existing practice, and where you can add new value, says Meghann Donahue at Covington.

  • Cos. Face Enviro Justice Tug-Of-War Between States, Feds

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    The second Trump administration's sweeping elimination of environmental justice policies, programs and funding, and targeting of state-level EJ initiatives, creates difficult questions for companies on how best to avoid friction with federal policy, navigate state compliance obligations and maintain important stakeholder relationships with communities, say attorneys at Arnold & Porter.

  • Top 3 Litigation Finance Deal-Killers, And How To Avoid Them

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    Like all transactions, litigation finance deals can sometimes collapse, but understanding the most common reasons for failure, including a lack of trust or a misunderstanding of deal terms, can help both parties avoid problems, say Rebecca Berrebi at Avenue 33 and Boris Ziser at Schulte Roth.

  • NEPA Repeal Could Slow Down Environmental Review

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    As the Trump administration has rescinded the Council on Environmental Quality's long-standing National Environmental Policy Act regulations, projects that require NEPA review may be bogged down by significant regulatory uncertainty and litigation risks, potentially undermining the administration's intent to streamline the permitting process, say attorneys at Mayer Brown.

  • How Attys Can Use A Therapy Model To Help Triggered Clients

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    Attorneys can lean on key principles from a psychotherapeutic paradigm known as the "Internal Family Systems" model to help manage triggered clients and get settlement negotiations back on track, says Jennifer Gibbs at Zelle.

  • How Attorneys Can Make The Most Of A Deposition Transcript

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    With recent amendments to federal evidence rules now in effect, it’s more important than ever to make sure that deposition transcripts are clear and precise, and a few key strategies can help attorneys get the most out of a transcript before, during and after a deposition, says Allison Rocker at Baker McKenzie.

  • 3 Steps For In-House Counsel To Assess Litigation Claims

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    Before a potential economic downturn, in-house attorneys should investigate whether their company is sitting on hidden litigation claims that could unlock large recoveries to help the business withstand tough times, says Will Burgess at Hilgers Graben.

  • Despite SEC Climate Pause, Cos. Must Still Heed State Regs

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    While businesses may have been given a reprieve from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission's rules aimed at standardizing climate-related disclosures, they must still track evolving requirements in states including California, Illinois, New Jersey and New York that will soon require reporting of direct and indirect carbon emissions, say attorneys at Husch Blackwell.

  • Series

    Teaching College Students Makes Me A Better Lawyer

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    Serving as an adjunct college professor has taught me the importance of building rapport, communicating effectively, and persuading individuals to critically analyze the difference between what they think and what they know — principles that have helped to improve my practice of law, says Sheria Clarke at Nelson Mullins.

  • 5 Areas Contractors Should Watch After 1st 100 Days

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    Federal agencies and contractors face challenges from staff reductions, contract terminations, pending regulatory reform and other actions from the second Trump administration's first 100 days, but other areas stand to become more efficient and cost-effective, say attorneys at Thompson Hine.

  • Series

    Adapting To Private Practice: From DOJ Enviro To Mid-Law

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    Practitioners leaving a longtime government role for private practice — as when I departed the U.S. Department of Justice’s environmental enforcement division — should prioritize finding a firm that shares their principles, values their experience and will invest in their transition, says John Cruden at Beveridge & Diamond.

  • Why Trade Cases May Put Maple Leaf Deference On Review

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    When litigation challenging the president’s trade actions reaches the Federal Circuit, the court will have to reevaluate the Maple Leaf standard in light of the U.S. Supreme Court's 2024 Loper Bright decision limiting Chevron-like deference to cases involving statutory provisions in which Congress delegated discretionary authority to the executive branch, say attorneys at Wiley.

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