Clients rely on Bracewell & Giuliani's environmental practitioners to help them achieve their business objectives in circumstances deeply impacted by pervasive and complex environmental issues, laws and regulations. Our practice focuses on our clients' defining issues such as climate change, air quality, national energy policy and industrial project development. We help our clients to identify, assess and effectively manage material environmental issues, liabilities and obligations. In addition, we provide sophisticated environmental counseling, litigation, and enforcement defense across all major environmental issues and statutes.
Our Environmental Strategies group includes senior members of our firm with top-level environmental experience gained in private practice and in senior government positions. The group is organized and staffed to provide Board-level advice to global business enterprises whose objectives require a multi-disciplinary combination of regulatory counseling, policy advocacy, dispute resolution and stakeholder communication services. The result: our clients are better positioned to manage regulatory developments, shape public policy, obtain support and approvals for proposed projects, resolve transactional challenges, and develop and implement effective communications, lobbying and litigation strategies.
We represent leading companies in key sectors of the economy, notably including businesses engaged in refining, power generation and transmission, LNG, renewable resources, chemicals, mining and cement, as well as the financial enterprises that interact with these industries. We also build and represent coalitions of clients that share business objectives with respect to environmental matters of concern.
Our representations include a broad range of environmental matters, including:
- Legislative, rulemaking and policy matters
- Strategic communications, interest group development and media outreach
- Permitting and compliance for air emissions, water discharges and waste handling
- Superfund, remediation and contaminated property issues
- Environmental aspects of corporate transactions, securities offerings and debt transactions
- Civil and criminal enforcement defense
- Environmental management systems, audit programs and audit disclosures
- Environmental litigation and dispute resolution
Our Environmental Strategy practice is set apart by the unique experience and qualifications of our practitioners. For example:
- Jeff Holmstead served as Assistant Administrator of EPA for Air and Radiation longer than anyone else in EPA history, and was the architect of several major environmental initiatives, including the Clean Air Interstate Rule, the Clean Air Diesel Rule, the mercury rule for power plants, reforms to the New Source Review Program and the President's Clear Skies Legislation.
- As Acting EPA General Counsel, Lisa Jaeger advised the EPA administrator on air, water, toxic substances and waste disposal issues.
- The strategic communications team, led by Scott Segal and Frank Maisano, has represented clients and coalitions on Fox News, CNN, CNBC, C-SPAN, MSNBC, NPR, PBS and the major broadcast networks and arranged high-profile media placements such as the Wall Street Journal, New York Times, The Houston Chronicle and USA Today.
- Ed Krenik has over 17 years of environmental legislative experience working in both houses of Congress and as EPA's Associate Administrator for Congressional and Intergovernmental Relations.
- Tim Wilkins, nationally recognized for his work on environmental governance structures and auditing and on the environmental aspects of transactions.
- Tracy Hester, nationally recognized for his work on enforcement defense, major cleanups, crisis response and nanotechnology.
- Kevin Ewing, nationally recognized for his work on environmental issues affecting strategic business acquisitions, divestitures, projects and disclosures.
- Jason Hutt, nationally recognized for his work on the environmental aspects of transactions and project development matters.
- A number of our senior partners are recognized by clients and Chambers as leading legal practitioners in the environmental field.
Our lawyers have a practical understanding of state, regional, national, and cross-border issues and have a deep familiarity with the technical aspects of environmental law, helping companies to blend scientific, legal and business considerations into a comprehensive compliance strategy.