Environment
USA Guide 2024 : Texas
Band 2
Contact number
+1 214 740 8000About
Provided by Locke Lord LLP
Locke Lord’s environmental attorneys blend legal knowledge, technical experience, and business savvy to provide effective solutions to environmental issues. We are known for creating clear, business-friendly, and timely paths for resolution of environmental issues. Locke Lord’s environmental lawyers are go-to lawyers, across the spectrum of environmental legal issues, ranging from risk mitigation, Brownfields/remediation, ESG, enforcement defense, compliance and permitting, climate change, siting, and infrastructure development, endangered species, emergency response, PRP representation, litigation, and TSCA compliance.
Our environmental attorneys lead remediation and Brownfield work across the country, enabling historically and recently impacted sites to be put back into beneficial use. Our national practice enables us to be immersed in the regulatory frameworks in different states and to develop close working relationships with regulators, consultants, and local project teams in these jurisdictions.
We work with energy and industrial companies across the United States on enforcement, operational compliance, permit structuring for operational flexibility, and mitigating liability, including through state and federal audit and immunity programs. We also work with clients to measure and baseline ESG metrics and develop policies and programs to increase corporate value through sustainability analyses.
Chambers Review
Locke Lord LLP fields an experienced group of practitioners who frequently handle environmental issues arising from transactions across a range of industries. The firm boasts a strong criminal investigation and brownfield remediation practice. Locke Lord's attorneys have a notable focus on traditional and renewable energy matters. The team is also particularly well versed serving real estate and construction clients as well as financial services entities.
Work Highlights
- Locke Lord LLP represent Brookfield on environmental aspects of transactions. Most recently, the firm advised on Brookfield's acquisition of 60 properties within the Wells G&H Superfund site.
Strengths
Provided by Chambers
"The Locke Lord teams are real experts. We go back to them time after time."
"Locke Lord's team has been exceptional to work with in addressing a variety of environmental permitting and compliance issues."
"I've never had an issue they can't deal with."
"The Locke Lord teams are real experts. We go back to them time after time."
"Locke Lord's team has been exceptional to work with in addressing a variety of environmental permitting and compliance issues."
"I've never had an issue they can't deal with."
Notable Practitioners
Elizabeth Mack is cochair of the firm's environmental group. Her extensive experience and expansive environmental practice includes air, water and toxic substances issues.
"We regard Elizabeth as one of the best in the business."
"Elizabeth is the best environmental attorney I've ever worked with."
"Not only does Elizabeth provide remarkable client service, but she is an expert in her field that is able to analyze issues and provide reliable, effective and sophisticated legal advice."
"Overall, one of the most intelligent and solution-oriented attorneys with whom I have had the pleasure of working. She is reliable and creative, with a focus on getting the job done in a constructive way."
Gerald Higdon has a diverse practice covering redevelopment and permitting as well as enforcement proceedings. He is regularly retained by energy industry clients.
"Gerry protects us on the stuff that matters and doesn't waste time on things that don't."
Gerald Pels is co-chair of the firm's environmental group. He is well regarded in the field, commonly advising clients in the manufacturing and energy sectors across the full spectrum of environmental permitting, compliance and enforcement matters.
"Gerry is an approachable risk-balancer who comes up with commercial proposals to get deals done."
"He's exceptional to work with at all levels."
Benjamin Cowan is well known for his expertise in environmental issues and particularly strong on endangered species matters.
"A really impressive specialist environmental lawyer."
"An excellent, sophisticated and reasonable attorney. I enjoy working with him."
"His expertise is far-ranging in the space, from wetland and wildlife regulations to hazardous waste. He is the go-to expert for environmental matters for my team. He is indispensable."
Susan Rainey is noted for her skilled management of the environmental aspects of real estate and corporate transactions as well as enforcement matters.
"She is highly regarded by our firm and provides a great level of support on our projects."
"Susan Rainey is a top-notch environmental lawyer that we value as part of our client team. She is responsive, provides sophisticated legal advice and is someone we can count on."
"Susan is incredibly responsive and helpful. She is always quick to help and I have never thought about looking elsewhere for help."
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Provided by Locke Lord LLP
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