Environmental

  • June 15, 2026

    Tribe Moves To Drop Dakota Access Pipeline Suit In DC Circ.

    The Standing Rock Sioux Tribe is asking the D.C. Circuit to dismiss its appeal to a decision that found its efforts to shut down the Dakota Access Pipeline were premature after the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers issued a new environmental impact statement for the project last month.

  • June 15, 2026

    PE Giants Face Dem Scrutiny Over Data Center Investments

    U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren is seeking information from several major private equity firms about their involvement in artificial intelligence data center development and operations, saying the increasing number of data centers across the country is putting pressure on American families and driving up utility costs.

  • June 15, 2026

    Corteva Says No To FTC Trial Date In Pesticides Case

    Corteva Inc. has asked a North Carolina federal court to deny the Federal Trade Commission's request to set a trial date in its case against it and Syngenta Corp. or hold its decision until after ruling on its request for summary judgment.

  • June 15, 2026

    Aerospace Engine Maker Targets $700M IPO

    Aerospace engine maker Doncasters Group on Monday outlined plans to raise around $700 million in its initial public offering led by White & Case LLP and Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP.

  • June 15, 2026

    Alaska Must Pay Tribes $1.8M In Fishing Rights Fee Fight

    A district court judge has awarded Indigenous corporations $1.8 million in attorney fees in a dispute over rules regulating subsistence fishing in the Kuskokwim River, saying Alaska waited too long to argue a sovereign immunity defense in the case that ended in the U.S. Supreme Court.

  • June 15, 2026

    Chevy Bolt Owners Ask 6th Circ. To Let Them Opt Out Of Deal

    Individual class members in litigation alleging General Motors sold Chevrolet Bolt electric vehicles with defective batteries are urging the Sixth Circuit to reverse the decision of a Michigan federal court that rejected their opt-outs in a $150 million settlement for not being signed on paper.

  • June 15, 2026

    California Soda Ash Miner Hits Ch. 11 With $85M Secured Debt

    A California soda ash and borate mining operation filed for Chapter 11 protection Monday in Delaware bankruptcy court with $85.5 million of secured debt and plans to sell its assets.

  • June 12, 2026

    Okla. Tribes' Hunting Rights Suits Can Fire Away, Judge Says

    An Oklahoma district judge said Oklahoma officials must face challenges that look to block the state's wildlife conservation director from requiring tribal citizens to obtain state-issued fishing and hunting licenses for use on reservation lands, saying the Indigenous nations presented "colorable claims" on their treaty rights and inherent authority.

  • June 12, 2026

    Trump Admin Must Restore National Park Signs For 250th

    The Trump administration must restore information about climate change, slavery and Indigenous history to National Park Service sites by the nation's 250th anniversary, a Massachusetts federal judge ruled Friday, warning that the removal of such signage "sets a dangerous precedent of censorship and sanitization."

  • June 12, 2026

    3M, DuPont Seek To Ax Out-Of-State PFAS Claims In Montana

    3M, DuPont de Nemours Inc. and other manufacturers asked a Montana federal judge to toss amended firefighter turnout gear PFAS claims brought by cities and municipalities in Connecticut, California and several other states, saying newly added out-of-state plaintiffs have no connection to Montana.

  • June 12, 2026

    Feds Drop Appeal To Preserve Trump Wind Permit Freeze

    The federal government has dropped its appeal of a Massachusetts federal judge's order last year blocking the Trump administration from freezing wind energy project permits, according to a filing with the First Circuit.

  • June 12, 2026

    Feds Award $75.5M Navajo-Gallup Pipeline Contract

    The Bureau of Reclamation has awarded Flatland Energy Services LLC a $75.5 million contract to construct a water pipeline as part of an infrastructure project that will provide reliable water supply to parts of the Navajo Nation in New Mexico.

  • June 12, 2026

    Wis. Tribe Seeks Quick Win In Pipeline Relocation Dispute

    The Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa has asked a D.C. federal judge to vacate a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers permit letting an energy company reroute 41 miles of a crude oil pipeline around the tribe's reservation.

  • June 12, 2026

    Tribes, Enviro Groups Hail Setback To Utah Monument Fight

    Indigenous rights and environmental groups say the U.S. Senate's failure to act on a resolution to nullify a conservation resource plan for Utah's Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument prevented a significant escalation in federal lawmakers' use of the Congressional Review Act, which would have led to "chaos on the ground."

  • June 12, 2026

    Families Appeal Loss Against Lockheed Martin To 11th Circ.

    Three families who accused Lockheed Martin of causing their children's birth defects told a Florida federal court Thursday that they are appealing a May jury verdict in favor of the defense giant to the Eleventh Circuit.

  • June 11, 2026

    North Dakota, DOJ Settle DAPL Case For Verdict Amount

    The state of North Dakota announced Thursday it has settled its claims that the federal government failed to control Dakota Access pipeline protesters for $27.8 million, the full amount of an earlier bench verdict.

  • June 11, 2026

    NJ Policyholders Face Unique PFAS Risks, Coverage Relief

    New Jersey companies facing claims over their use of what are commonly known as forever chemicals face an increasingly challenging litigation environment as well as unique opportunities for covering claims and remediation costs.

  • June 11, 2026

    4th Circ. Unswayed By Groups Seeking Pipeline Work Pause

    In a pair of published opinions filed Thursday, a Fourth Circuit panel explained its late-April decision to refuse to curb construction on an interstate gas pipeline project pending review of state water quality certifications, after the judges found environmental groups were unlikely to prevail on the merits.

  • June 11, 2026

    Shell Says Enviro Group Can't Delay Handing Over AI Prompts

    Shell Oil told a Connecticut federal judge Wednesday an environmental advocacy group can't delay turning over artificial intelligence prompts its expert witness might've used to craft her opinions in their Clean Water Act dispute and the generated outputs, arguing that "AI is not entitled to any special, unwritten discovery rules."

  • June 11, 2026

    Conn. Asks FERC To Scrap 'Unjust' Electric Co. Grid Bonuses

    Eversource Energy and Avangrid units were named Thursday in a Federal Energy Regulatory Commission complaint by three Connecticut agencies plus the state attorney general, alleging in-state ratepayers are incorrectly being charged millions for the utilities' once-voluntary participation in a regional transmission grid.

  • June 11, 2026

    KKR, Partners Back Helix AI Infrastructure Venture With $10B

    Private equity firm KKR, the Kuwait Investment Authority and Texas-based power generation company Vistra said Thursday they've launched a $10 billion company to deliver infrastructure needed for hyperscalers to meet demand for artificial intelligence technology.

  • June 11, 2026

    Feds Illegally Axed Enviro Justice Grant Funds, Judge Says

    A South Carolina federal judge said Thursday that the Trump administration unlawfully terminated a $2.8 billion environmental and climate justice grant funding program that was authorized by Congress in 2022's Inflation Reduction Act.

  • June 11, 2026

    Kan. AG Can't Try To Stop Shale Oil Claims From Local Gov'ts

    A New Mexico federal judge refused Thursday to let Kansas' attorney general intervene in multidistrict litigation accusing U.S. shale oil producers of conspiring with OPEC to inflate oil and fuel prices, concluding that the enforcer has no grounds or authority to try to block the claims from local governments.

  • June 11, 2026

    NY Power Plant Hits Chapter 11 After Nixing Revamp Plans

    Danskammer Energy, a Hudson Valley power plant operator, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in Delaware, nearly two years after it pulled the plug on redevelopment plans that faced legal challenges and community pushback.

  • June 11, 2026

    NC Gov. Stein Seeks $10B From Feds For Helene Recovery

    North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein is asking Congress for another $10 billion to help with the Tar Heel State's ongoing recovery from Hurricane Helene, marking a $3 billion reduction from the federal funding request he made nine months ago.

Expert Analysis

  • Series

    Coaching Soccer Makes Me A Better Lawyer

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    Coaching youth soccer for my 7-year-old son's team has sharpened how I communicate with clients, prepare witnesses, work within teams and think about leadership, making me a more thoughtful and effective lawyer in many ways, says Joshua Holt at Smith Currie.

  • What Texas Anti-Boycott Ruling Means For ESG Landscape

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    A Texas federal court's recent ruling in American Sustainable Business Council v. Hegar that Texas' anti-ESG law is unconstitutional on First Amendment grounds will likely embolden legal challenges to similar laws in other states that have adopted fossil fuel boycott statutes, say attorneys at ArentFox Schiff.

  • Series

    Law School's Missed Lessons: The Human Element

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    Law school teaches you to quickly apply intellect and logic when handling a legal issue, but every fact pattern also involves a person, making the ability to balance expertise with empathy critical to the growth of relationships with clients, colleagues and adversaries, says Rachel Adcox at Adcox Strategies.

  • As Justices Mull Suncor, Cos. Face New Climate Suit Realities

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    Following the U.S. Supreme Court's recent decision to hear Suncor Energy v. Boulder County — its first case analyzing the litigation impact of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's rescission of its 2009 greenhouse gas endangerment finding — companies must consider new preemption questions surrounding climate lawsuits after the rescission, say attorneys at Hollingsworth.

  • The Benefits Of Choosing A Niche Practice In The AI Age

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    As artificial intelligence becomes increasingly accessible, lawyers with a niche practice may stand out as clients seek specialized judgment that automation cannot replicate, but it is important to choose a niche that is durable, engaging and a good personal fit, says Daniel Borneman at Lowenstein Sandler.

  • What New Animal Welfare Enforcement Push Means For Cos.

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    The Trump administration's recently announced multiagency focus on violations of the Animal Welfare Act and related laws will likely lead to broader enforcement actions across industries, heightened scrutiny of compliance standards and a need for businesses to adopt effective risk management practices, says Shennie Patel at Crowell & Moring.

  • Trial Advocacy Lessons From 3 Oscar-Nominated Films

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    Several films up for best picture at this weekend’s Academy Awards provide useful tips for trial lawyers, from the power of a dramatic opening to the importance of pivoting when the unexpected happens, say attorneys at Robins Kaplan.

  • Series

    Podcasting Makes Me A Better Lawyer

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    Podcasting has changed how I ask questions and connect with people, sharpening my ability to listen without interrupting or prejudging, and bringing me closer to what law is meant to be: a human profession grounded in understanding, judgment and trust, says Donna DiMaggio Berger at Becker.

  • Structuring Water Agreements For Data Center Development

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    For developers of artificial intelligence data centers, water use is now a threshold feasibility and financing variable amid a regulatory landscape with a state-driven push for transparency and federal push to streamline pathways for AI-related infrastructure, say attorneys at Pillsbury.

  • What Cos. Must Know About Pa.'s Proposed Data Center Regs

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    Under Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro's new proposal to balance hyperscale data center infrastructure with grid stability, water resources and community transparency, businesses in the state face a strategic choice: wait for binding requirements to emerge, or proactively align projects with the standards now, say Wade Stephens and Sasha Burton at Langsam Stevens.

  • Lessons From Justices' Split On Major Questions Doctrine

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    The justices' varied opinions in Learning Resources v. Trump, which held the International Emergency Economy Powers Act did not confer the power to impose tariffs, offer a meaningful window into the U.S. Supreme Court's perspective on the major questions doctrine that will likely shape lower courts' approach to executive action challenges, say attorneys at Venable.

  • Calif. Case Could Lead To A Redefined Pollution Exclusion

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    In recently agreeing to hear Montrose Chemical v. Superior Court, the California Supreme Court will decide whether a court should consider extrinsic evidence offered by a party to prove its interpretation of the insurance policy language, opening the door to a different definition of "sudden" in insurance policies' pollution exclusions, say attorneys at Pillsbury.

  • PFAS Risks In M&A Amid Litigation, Legislative Developments

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    Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances have become a significant M&A concern amid new trends in settlements and state laws, and potential buyers must find ways to evaluate potential related risks, say attorneys at Debevoise.

  • Series

    Volunteering With Scouts Makes Me A Better Lawyer

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    Serving as an assistant scoutmaster for my son’s troop reaffirmed several skills and principles crucial to lawyering — from the importance of disconnecting to the value of morality, says Michael Warren at McManis Faulkner.

  • Series

    Law School's Missed Lessons: In Court, It's About Storytelling

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    Law school provides doctrine, cases and hypotheticals, but when lawyers step into the courtroom, they must learn the importance of clarity, credibility, memorability and preparation — in other words, how to tell simple, effective stories, say Nicholas Steverson and Danielle Trujillo at Wheeler Trigg, and Lisa DeCaro at Courtroom Performance.

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