Law360 has named the Squire Patton Boggs Environmental, Safety & Health Practice as one of the top practice groups in the country. Recognized in the “Environmental” category, this marks the practice group’s inaugural spot on the list. Law360 noted the firm was selected for its "ability to pursue precedent-setting environmental litigation."
"We feel gratitude for our clients who trust us to take on their most complex, high-stakes environmental matters, and to our global team of professionals who handle these cases – often of national importance – with integrity and innovative legal services," said Karen A. Winters, chair of the Squire Patton Boggs Environmental, Safety & Health Practice. "We are extremely proud that Law360 has selected us for this honor, and look forward to carrying the momentum through 2017."
In its profile, Law360 noted Squire Patton Boggs' involvement in "one of the most watched cases in the country" by representing coal giant Murray Energy in several of US EPA's largest and most significant rulemaking appeals. The firm's team obtained an unprecedented interim ruling on behalf of Murray Energy from the US Supreme Court, staying the effectiveness of the Obama Administration’s Clean Power Plan pending ultimate resolution of the ongoing litigation over the US EPA rule. Geoffrey Barnes, lead lawyer for Murray and a partner in the Cleveland office, stated that this was "an extremely important case" for the firm and credited his team's success with "aggressive lawyering." Mr. Barnes continued, "It's simply the persistent aggressiveness on the positions we've taken that's gotten us to where we are, and that is really across the board on all the cases."
Law360 also spotlighted the firm's representation of ArcelorMittal Monessen LLC in defense of a class action toxic tort suit on behalf of more than 8,300 households. Vincent Atriano, a partner in the firm's Columbus office and lead lawyer for ArcelorMittal, led the firm's team in handling all aspects of litigation, as well as negotiating a favorable settlement of all claims of the entire putative class. In a case that presented a risk of enormous liability and could have had major ramifications to the "economically depressed area," Mr. Atriano told Law360 that "even a small recovery for each residence is a lot."
Other highlights from 2016 include representing Union Pacific in the last of five CERCLA response cost contribution lawsuits; advising Procter & Gamble on a range of product regulatory issues concerning US EPA and US FDA; and representing the State of Colorado against alleged CERCLA response cost and natural resource damages claims, among many others.
Composed of more than 50 dedicated, highly experienced team members, the Environmental, Safety & Health Practice draws its core strengths from complex environmental, safety and health litigation, rulemaking and policy development, compliance counseling, project siting and infrastructure development, property acquisition, site remediation and brownfields redevelopment.
In addition to the Law360 accolade, the practice group is repeatedly recognized by U.S. News & World Report "Best Law Firms" as a Tier 1 national firm for the categories of "Environmental Law" and "Environmental Litigation," ranked by Chambers USA and recommended by Who's Who Legal: Environment.