Environmental Litigation

The environmental law group at Glaser, Weil, Fink, Jacobs, Howard & Shapiro, LLP, is involved in numerous high profile cases, most recently in a precedent setting CERCLA case in federal court regarding the responsibility of the United States for cleanup of perchlorate used in solid rocket fuel at a defense contractor facility located in the Santa Clarita Valley. The Firm's lawyers routinely appear in state and federal courts and before administrative agencies such as the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, California Water Resources Control Board, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, and state Public Utility Commissions. The Group is also handling the largest LEED development in the world, as well as many other cutting edge projects that address the new and pressing environmental realities faced by businesses in a challenging fiscal and regulatory environment.

 

Among the specific areas in which the Firm provides advice and representation are:

  • Superfund/CERCLA, including cost recovery and contribution claims
  • "Green Building" - Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED)
  • Alternative/renewable energy development, including wind, solar, biofuels and hydropower
  • Carbon credits, strategies and compliance
  • Endangered Species Act litigation and regulatory advice
  • Clean Air Act compliance, permitting and litigation
  • NEPA/CEQA and construction or real estate development environmental issues
  • Clean Water Act including wetlands and discharge permit compliance and litigation
  • Representation before the EPA, FERC, California Water Quality Control Boards, Cal.
  • Department of Toxic Substances, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and other federal and state administrative bodies
  • Soil and groundwater contamination claims
  • Insurance coverage litigation
  • Defense of white-collar environmental claims
  • Toxic Tort litigation
  • Evaluation of contaminated properties for acquisition
  • Management of site remediation activities, including regulatory interface

 

Climate Change Team

The impact of global climate change on people and business is undoubtedly one of the most pressing issues of our time. Recognizing that the legal impacts of climate change will be felt across all sectors of the business community, Glaser Weil's Climate Change Team is a multidisciplinary group of experienced practitioners in the law related to environmental, energy, real estate, construction and taxation. Our Climate Change Team translates the complex regulatory maze into common sense advice to help clients make responsible and cost-effective decisions. Our expertise is particularly critical in the following areas:

  • Strategies and regulatory compliance for greenhouse gas emissions
  • "Green Building" - Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED)
  • Renewable energy - wind, solar, biofuels, and hydropower
  • Endangered Species
  • CEQA / NEPA

Climate change presents both a daunting challenge and a unique opportunity to businesses who wish to reduce their carbon footprint and be responsive to the many new regulatory initiatives. That is particularly true in California, which is on the cutting edge of regulating greenhouse gasses and facilitating development of renewable energy sources such as wind, solar, and biofuels. The passage of AB-32 and California's joint efforts with other western states are examples of the state's leading role in mitigating the human contribution to global warming. Federal and state regulations, including air quality regulations, CEQA, NEPA, and the Endangered Species Act will become even more impactful as climate change becomes an additional factor to be considered in construction permitting, real estate development, trade regulation and transportation planning. The attorneys at Glaser Weil understand the implications that climate change reform will have on individuals and businesses alike. Our attorneys are leaders in developing the law for these crucial areas. We stand ready to assist clients in all phases of these important issues, whether the need is for strategic advice, or transactional, regulatory, or litigation counsel. From the Firm’s offices in Los Angeles and Las Vegas, the lawyers in the Environmental & Renewable Energy group represent clients throughout California, the United States and the world.