Environmental, Safety & Toxic Torts
Businesses today are confronted with a complex web of environmental and safety concerns, ranging from contaminated property, chemical releases and workplace hazards, to greenhouse gas emissions and global warming. Environmental and safety laws designed to protect the air, water, land and human health have all grown exponentially as scientists and lawmakers continue to uncover new risks in our evolving technological society. Along with the expanded reach of environmental and safety regulation has come heightened public awareness over how business activities impact the environment, and a broader consideration for what should be done about it.
The Environmental, Safety & Toxic Torts Group regularly assists clients in navigating the maze of environmental and safety laws to find practical business solutions to environmental problems. Our practice has evolved with the ever-changing environmental and safety laws enacted at the local, national and international levels. We are counselors, advisors, negotiators, and when necessary, trial lawyers and appellate advocates, with respect to every element of environmental and safety laws. We are able to take an environmental problem from the formulation of an initial compliance strategy to any form of dispute resolution, including mediation, arbitration, jury trial and appeal.
We represent a broad range of corporate clients, industry coalitions and trade associations before state and federal regulatory agencies such as the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), and their local and state counterparts. Our national presence allows us to keep clients updated as compliance and enforcement trends develop. We have extensive experience with solid waste disposal operations (including landfill gas), the Clean Water Act, the Clean Air Act, permitting and compliance, emissions trading, alternative energy, brownfield development, hazardous waste regulation and liability issues associated with contaminated property. We regularly deal with the full spectrum of worker safety and chemical exposure matters.
Our group is increasingly involved with product stewardship and supply chain management issues related to toxics use reduction and product take-back requirements in the global marketplace. We assist companies in addressing regulatory issues by designing and implementing compliance and management system programs to help achieve business objectives.
We regularly assist clients in navigating the maze of environmental and safety laws to find practical business solutions to environmental problems.