Most Highly Regarded Firms: Environment 2010

• October 2010

• Environment

This edition features 687 environmental law experts in 41 jurisdictions and our independent research has identified these lawyers as the leaders in the field. We profile a number of internationally renowned individuals from our research.

United States

Hunton & Williams LLP has the largest contingent of lawyers listed in the book, with 14 individuals featured. The firm’s Washington, DC office is particularly well represented. The “outstanding” Andrea Bear Field is one of the most highly nominated individuals in the research. She focuses on permitting matters, enforcement actions and Clean Air Act litigation. She recently advised a range of clients on the permitting of new sources and existing sources subject to the US Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) federal operating permit programme. Henry Nickel is a “dean of the air regulation bar” specialised in administrative and judicial proceedings under the National Environmental Policy Act, Clean Air Act and Clean Water Act. William Brownell is “highly regarded” and focuses on litigation, regulation and counselling in climate change, clean air regulation, licensing and auditing, waste management and clean water issues. Virginia Albrecht and Kathy Robb are nominated consistently for their Clean Water Act prtactices while William Wehrum is listed for his air quality work.

Sidley Austin LLP also has a strong environmental practice, with 12 lawyers listed. The “first-class” David Buente heads the environmental group and is one of the most highly regarded lawyers worldwide. He represents clients in complex federal environmental litigation with an emphasis on the Clean Air Act, Superfund, criminal and toxic tort matters. Roger Martella joined the firm after serving as the general counsel of the EPA. He helps clients to develop strategies to deal with increasing demands from climate change issues, litigates and mediates, and advises on compliance with US, EU and Chinese environmental regulations. The “highly esteemed” Angus Macbeth has 35 years’ experience in the field and advises clients in highly complex matters that include contaminated sediments and the impact on aquatic life of power plant operation. Samuel Gutter advises clients on enforcement and regulatory litigation, and previously served for eight years with the Offices of General Counsel, Enforcement and Federal Activities of the EPA.

Beveridge & Diamond PC has significantly expanded its presence since the last edition with 11 individuals featured. In Washington, DC, the “very smart” David Friedland chairs the firm’s environment practice. He advises on all aspects of the regulation of air pollution under the Clean Air Act and state and local air pollution statutes and regulations. Karl Bourdeau is one of the most highly regarded lawyers in the book. He is described by interviewees as providing “skilful and highly practical legal advice” and is nominated for his expertise in litigation, regulatory and transactional matters concerning hazardous substance and waste issues. The “brilliant” Paul Hagen advises leading multinationals on product design, pollution control, resource protection and regional and global environmental agreements. Holly Cannon focuses on environmental transactions, managing assessments, due diligence and counselling. In New York, Christopher McKenzie is “top notch”. He advises on a broad range of federal, state and local environmental regulatory programmes and corporate social responsibility.

At Covington & Burling LLP’s Washington office, Theodore Garrett is the most highly nominated lawyer in the research and is “an absolute authority, he is the best out there”. He is co-chair of the firm’s environmental practice group and provides clients with litigation, compliance and transactional expertise. Michèle Corash at Morrison & Foerster LLP in San Francisco is “truly outstanding” and one of the most highly regarded individuals worldwide. She is past president of the American College of Environmental Law and advises clients in a broad range of industries and works regularly with government agencies to develop and implement environmental rules. The “world class” Gene Lucero at Latham & Watkins LLP in Los Angeles is deputy chair of the global environment, land and resource department and receives a significant number of nominations in the edition. Formerly a director of the office of waste programme enforcement at the EPA, he defends clients in enforcement actions brought by regulators and advises on compliance and environmental liabilities in business transactions.

In Houston, Carol Dinkins leads Vinson & Elkins LLP’s environment group. She handles all environmental aspects of transactions and licensing and represents chemical and energy companies and government bodies. A former deputy attorney general in the US Department of Justice she is one of the most highly rated lawyers in the book. Judson Starr chairs the environment practice at Venable LLP in Washington and is “a fine lawyer” . He represents corporations and individuals under investigation for environmental offences and co-chairs the ALI-ABA Conference on Environmental Crimes.

Europe

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP has five lawyers featured. In London, Paul Bowden is “one of the best litigators” and has defended clients in high-profile disputes such as the UK power-line cancer test cases. He also advises telecommunications companies on electromagnetic field health issues. The “extremely well known” Malcolm Forster advises several international organisations such as the United Nations Development Programme, the European Commission and the Asian Development Bank. Jonathan Isted is head of the European environment, planning and regulatory group and has extensive experience defending environmental “toxic tort” claims.

Burges Salmon LLP also has a strong environmental group, with four inclusions from the Bristol office. Ross Fairley heads the environmental planning unit and advises clients on their environmental compliance particularly in the renewable energy and waste sectors. Ian Salter is an “expert” in radioactive contaminated land and nuclear new build issues and advises on climate change in the chemical, transport and waste sectors. Georgie Messent heads the emissions trading and carbon law team and advises on environmental health and safety.

Gide Loyrette Nouel AARPI performs very well in the research with three inclusions from the Paris office. Laurent Deruy is head of the environmental law practice and advises on the environmental aspects of major international restructurings and handles disputes in the areas of due diligence and the nuclear industry. David Desforges is a “definite inclusion” and assists clients in disputes brought before the administrative and civil courts in addition to regulatory compliance issues.

Global Leaders

Allen & Overy LLP has significant international expertise, with nine individuals featured in seven countries. In New York, Kenneth Rivlin leads the global environmental law group and the US environmental and regulatory law group. He is considered “top drawer” and advises on environmental and regulatory risk in M&A, projects, capital markets, lending and real estate transactions; compliance with US and EU regulations; and disputes. In London, Owen Lomas is considered a climate change “guru” and advises clients on waste management, contaminated land, air and water pollution and environmental insurance. The “superb” Matthew Townsend is head of the environmental law practice in London and advises on health and safety matters across a wide range of corporate and real estate transactions, projects and finance matters and risk strategies. The “excellent” Gauthier Van Thuyne heads the Belgian environmental team. He specialises in producer responsibility, waste and environmental liability issues and has wide ranging litigation experience. Henry Van Geen in Amsterdam has broad experience advising on large-scale infrastructure projects while his colleague Jochem Spaans is consistently recommended. Jean-Yves Ollier in Paris is considered “very sharp” and advises clients on environmental compliance and litigation while the “highly knowledgeable” Bettina Enderle in Frankfurt counsels on European and German environmental law. Peter Thorp is based in Beijing and is managing partner of the firm’s mainland China practice. He advises clients on contaminated land, environmental liability and disputes.

Baker & McKenzie also performs excellently with five individuals listed, in the United States, Mexico and Australia. In Chicago, John Watson leads the global environmental practice and has 20 years’ experience advising industrial enterprises on managing wide-ranging environmental risks and liabilities. The “superb” David Hackett is the North American practice group coordinator for the banking, finance and major projects practice. He represents multinationals in US and international environmental matters and has litigated a number of major US civil and criminal cases. In Sydney, Martijn Wilder is “terrific” and heads the global environmental markets and climate change practice. One interviewee states that “from a climate change perspective he is the global standard”. Andrew Beatty advises and represents clients on climate change, environmental and planning law and CSR. The “very skilled” Federico Ruanova Guinea in Tijuana coordinates the environmental and natural resources practice in Mexico. He advises a range of clients on environmental and climate change matters.

Rest of the World

Gowling Lafleur Henderson LLP leads the research in Canada with six listings. In Montreal, the “excellent” Paul Granda leads the environmental law group. He advises clients in relation to compliance and potential liabilities associated with present and historical land contamination. At the Toronto office the “very practical” Mark Madras is head of the firm’s national climate change group and he counsels clients in respect to regulation and liability concerns in addition to litigating in complex contaminated land disputes. The “highly skilled” David Estrin has 30 years’ experience advising government agencies, corporations and financial institutions in Canada and the US in all aspects of environmental law and was a founding director of the Canadian Environmental Law Association.

Jonathan Kahn of Blake Cassels & Graydon LLP in Toronto advises clients on regulatory compliance matters such as the purchase and sale of contaminated land properties, renewable energy projects and the transportation of hazardous substances. He is the vice-chair of the national environment, energy and resources law section of the Canadian Bar Association and is one of the most highly nominated lawyers in the research.

Clayton Utz in Australia has four lawyers featured. Brad Wylynko is “first rate”. He leads the Western Australia environment and planning team and co-chairs the climate change group. Karen Trainor advises on environmental compliance, the strategic management of planning and development approvals in addition to the environmental impact statement process for major infrastructure projects in the energy, mining and manufacturing industries.

Demarest e Almeida Advogados receives the most inclusions in the Brazil research. Luiz Fernando Henry Sant’Anna is consistently nominated and is an “exceptional” lawyer; Julia Behera Rabinovici is highly recommended.

Carlos de Miguel of Uría Menéndez in Madrid is one of the most well regarded individuals featured in the edition. He advises clients in a broad range of industries on all types of environmental matters in the context of commercial transactions and litigation.

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