Most Highly Regarded Firms: Environment 2009

• June 2009

• Environment

We select almost 100 new names for the fourth edition of this book, due partly to the growing emphasis law firms are placing on the sector. Many of these practitioners were recognised by clients and peers for their expertise in the burgeoning area of climate change.

Two international firms performed particularly well in our research. Baker & McKenzie's environment and climate change practice offers clients an international platform with seven practitioners included across the Asia-Pacific region, Europe, Latin America and the US. Martijn Wilder heads the firm's global climate change and emissions trading practice from the Sydney office. He was described to researchers as "the leader in the climate change field" and a "real stand-out" practitioner. Wilder advised the Multi-State Emissions Trading Working Group on the design parameters and legal issues arising from the development of a national emissions trading scheme in Australia, and also advised the European Commission on the establishment of a national registry system to monitor trading under the European Union's Emissions Trading Scheme. Andrew Beatty, also in the Sydney office, is equally well regarded.

Andrew Aglionby in Hong Kong has a "long established and well regarded practice" in international dispute resolution. The firm's two entries in the US are both from the Chicago office --John Watson and David Hackett were both highlighted as leading lights. Federico Ruanova Guinea from Tijuana is listed as is Mario Deketelaere from Antwerp, who was praised for his academic prowess.

Allen & Overy LLP provides six practitioners for our book - a source noted "their very strong practice in the area". Owen Lomas, head of A&O's global environmental law group, received the most votes. Recent matters on which he has worked include Dana's acquisition of Bow Valley Energy. Lomas was described on numerous occasions as "excellent" and he is among the practice area's elite. Matthew Townsend also appears from the London office. Gauthier Van Thuyne heads the Belgian environmental law team and specialises in producer responsibility, waste and environmental liability issues. Henry Van Geen and Bettina Enderle are both experts in European environmental law and are based in Amsterdam and Frankfurt, respectively.

Kenneth Rivlin is head of the firm's US environmental and regulatory law group and is a prolific writer and speaker, especially in the fields of climate change and EU regulation.Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP has three entries in the London list: more than any other firm. Paul Bowden specialises in environmental litigation and is regarded as "number one" in this field by many. These sources also have "a lot of respect for" Jonathan Isted, head of the firm's environment, planning and regulatory group and a member of the cross-practice climate change group. Isted worked on the defence of the Sellafield childhood leukaemia claims for BNFL and one nominee noted that he "will be well placed to take advantage of the growing nuclear market". Daniel Lawrence is an "instantly recognisable name" and has extensive experience advising in relation to numerous sectors. The firm also earns a listing in Germany thanks to Wolf Friedrich Spieth.

Fritz von Hammerstein from CMS Hasche Sigle's Hamburg office is well regarded. At CMS Cameron McKenna, Tomas Minkiewicz's reputation for advising companies from the renewable energy sector has ensured his entry into this edition. CMS also has a strong London practice with the extremely well regarded Paul Sheridan - head of the practice and "one of the top environment lawyers in the UK" - and the "fantastic" Kathy Mylrea.

Burges Salmon LLP's Bristol office is home to Ross Fairley, co-head of the environmental law unit and head of the renewable energy team. He advised Nuon on its successful Forestry Commission Wales wind farm procurement and the resulting build out of two major windfarms. Ian Salter "should be top of the list for energy-related work," and his reputation in the nuclear field is "unsurpassed". Georgie Messent is head of the firm's emissions trading and carbon law team and is also well known for her contaminated water expertise.

Arthur Cox features prominently in the Irish research thanks to Deborah Spence and Yvonne Scannell - "the best of the best" and "the only person I would go to," according to our sources. Spence heads the environment and planning law group and specialises in all aspects of waste disposal and management liability.

Hunton & Williams LLP has the largest contingent in the research, with 11 practitioners on the following pages. Ten of these are based in the US (Lucas Bergkamp appears in Belgium). Its "strong DC team" is led by Turner Smith, head of the firm's international environmental practice. Andrea Bear Field came extremely highly recommended for her Clean Air Act work. Kathy Robb is "highly recommended" in the Superfund area. David Ledbetter and Timothy Hayes are based in the Richmond, Virginia, office. Ledbetter is co-chair of the Superfund group. William Dannelly and Charles Case are also well regarded.

Seven Sidley Austin LLP lawyers appear in this edition. Angus Macbeth is among the most highly nominated practitioners and is the "statesman of environmental law". David Buente, head of the firm's environmental group is "top of the tree". Buente has defended American Electric Power and Southwestern Electric Power Company in Clean Air Act enforcement litigation. Timothy Webster is listed alongside Roger Martella, a former general counsel of the United States Environmental Protection Agency who was also assistant chief of the US Department of Justice's natural resources law section. Martella counsels the Chinese government and works with academics and NGOs in China on advancing environmental laws. He has also been retained by the National Alliance of Forest Owners as climate change and biofuel counsel. Maureen Crough is based in New York and her environmental due diligence work is favourably viewed. Judith Praitis is based in Los Angeles and has handled a number of Proposition 65 cases. Robert Olian is the head of the Chicago office's environmental practice group and the co-head of the firm's national environmental practice.

Arnold & Porter LLP is one of a number of US firms with five listings. The firm's chairman, Thomas Milch, is "very well respected" by his peers and is a former head of the environmental practice. Blake Biles, Joel Gross and Jonathan Martel join him in Washington, DC. Michael Gerrard, director of the Center for Climate Change Law at Columbia Law School and senior counsel to the firm completes the picture. Both Milch and Gerrard appear in our breakdown of the practice area's elite.

Latham & Watkins LLP also provides five practitioners for our list, including Gene Lucero, one of the practice area's most highly regarded individuals. Lucero is deputy chair of the firm's global environment, land and resource department and was praised as "Mr Superfund" by one source. Robert Wyman is listed in Los Angeles. Christopher Garrett is "outstanding" and appears alongside Karl Lytz. Garrett has written on climate change issues and is a "respected name". Gary Gengel from Newark is the firm's final entry.

Vinson & Elkins LLP is home to "one of the pioneers in this area" - Carol Dinkins. She co-chairs the firm's environmental law practice and has represented a wide variety of industry clients and a variety of government bodies in proceedings under state and federal environmental and natural resources laws. Sharon Mattox and Christopher Amandes practise in Houston with Dinkins. Molly Cagle is "superb". Kevin Gaynor's practice focuses on environmental dispute resolution and he advises clients in matters surrounding climate change policy and regulation.

Beveridge & Diamond PC concentrates its practice in all aspects of environmental law and litigation and also has five of its partners in this edition. Henry Diamond is "a legend in the field". Karl Bourdeau has "enviable experience in CERCLA matters". Paul Hagen has a national and international practice that earned him many plaudits and chairs the board of the Environmental Law Institute. The "excellent" Holly Cannon and Christopher McKenzie complete the impressive showing from the environmental boutique.

At Morrison & Foerster LLP Michèle Corash is "definitely one of the leaders on this list". Corash is joined by Peter Hsiao, a "highly valued adviser". Robert Falk has an especially good reputation in the Proposition 65 area and also has a focus on climate change. Lynn Bergeson from Bergeson & Campbell PC performed extremely well in the research. She is a sought-after speaker and an "expert in chemicals regulation". Theodore Garrett received more nominations during the research than any other individual. His peers regard him as "at the top of the profession" and he is the 2009 winner of our Who's Who Legal Environment Lawyer of the Year award- an accolade he has retained for five consecutive years. He is co-chair of Covington & Burling LLP's environmental practice group.

Gowling Lafleur Henderson LLP leads the Canadian research: four of its practitioners are selected. David Estrin is a "leader" according to one fellow nominee. Paul Granda also came very "highly recommended". Leonard Griffiths from Bennett Jones LLP is Canada's most highly nominated practitioner and is joined on the list by Gray Taylor.

Clayton Utz performed similarly well in Australia, with four inclusions. Brendan Bateman leads the team appointed by the new Commonwealth Department of Climate Change to its panel to advise on the design and implementation of Australia's Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme. Brad Wylynko is well regarded for his work in the climate change arena.

Luis Vera Morales from Vera Carvajal & Sosa SC is one of the "three lawyers that initiated environmental law in Mexico" and leads in the research for this jurisdiction. In Nigeria, Soji Awogbade of Aelex has a "fantastic reputation". He has been a consultant to the Nigerian Ministry of Solid Minerals Development and the National Forum for Sustainable Development.

Back to top