Practice Areas & Industries: Duane Morris LLP

Practice Group Overview

When industry or government leaders need advice on environmental matters, Duane Morris attorneys are often the advisors and advocates called upon first. Members of our practice group regularly represent clients with major regulatory compliance needs. We also assist federal and state regulators and agencies in the formation and implementation of regulations and policymaking.

Our group has been involved in multibillion dollar transactions and successfully litigated significant cases before agencies and courts on complex regulatory issues. Duane Morris attorneys have been members of, and frequently deal with, numerous agencies, committees, commissions and associations that impact our environmental clients.

Our environmental attorneys were ranked among the best in the country for service, quality and value in a survey conducted by the American Lawyer magazine of 400 corporate counsel nationwide. Partners in our group have served in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, as chair of the ABA Standing Committee on Environmental Law and as chair of the ABA's Section on Environment, Energy and Resources.

As seasoned practitioners, our attorneys are often asked to solve the largest and most intricate compliance and regulatory problems. We frequently defend clients in litigation matters through trial or on appeal. We assist our clients by calling upon our Energy and Natural Resources, Corporate, Reorganization and Trial practice groups, when appropriate, to meet our clients' needs.

Duane Morris lawyers are knowledgeable and experienced in the international arena, including environmental regulations that affect the operations of cross-border businesses and lending institutions.

Services Available

Our Environmental Practice offers a full range of services and, as a result of our broad experience and capabilities, often advise on long term planning and competitive strategies to help guide clients toward growth and profitability. Our attorneys have backgrounds in disciplines key to environmental regulation, including the use of science in the regulatory process, groundwater issues and toxicology.

Types of matters:

• Governmental enforcement actions
• Regulatory counseling and agency advocacy
• Environmental audits and compliance
• Risk assessments
• Cost recovery and contribution actions
• Internal investigations
• Real estate and corporate transactions
• Development of environmental management systems
• Environmental crimes
• Litigation and compliance matters
• Permitting - both defense and appeals

Substantive areas that we handle include air, water, drinking water, RCRA, Superfund, FIFRA, compliance with above and underground storage tanks requirements, children's health, toxic torts, brownfields and TSCA.

We often work closely with other Duane Morris practice groups such as Energy & Water and Natural Resources, Corporate, Finance, Real Estate, Business Reorganization and Financial Restructuring and Tax to assist our clients in solving problems. In addition, our lawyers frequently coordinate their work with that of our clients' government and public relations advisors, including Duane Morris' affiliate Duane Morris Government Affairs LLC.

For more information, please contact Seth v.d.H. Cooley or any of the practice members referenced in the Attorney Listing.