Energy and Natural Resources

Study Examines Winning, Losing Strategies in Climate-Change Lawsuits in the United States

MP McQueen | August 21, 2018

A review of domestic climate change-related lawsuits in the United States over a 26-year period by researchers at George Washington University and New York University found that pro-regulation litigants found that some types of climate change lawsuits were more likely to be successful than others. Here's how they broke down.

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Construction of Virginia Natural Gas Pipeline Halted by 4th Circuit

Michael Booth | August 07, 2018

In an action brought by environmental groups, a federal appeals court has blocked construction of a proposed stretch of natural gas pipeline that would cross the scenic Blue Ridge Parkway in Virginia, saying federal regulators failed to abide by appropriate permitting procedures.

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In Cities' Climate Case, Alsup Points Plaintiffs to the Political Branches

Ross Todd | June 26, 2018

In dismissing a lawsuit brought by the cities of San Francisco and Oakland against five large oil companies, Judge William Alsup wrote that climate change "deserves a solution on a more vast scale than can be supplied by a district judge or jury in a public nuisance case."

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High Court Rejects Challenge to PTO Patent Validity Review With Caveats Added

Scott Graham | April 24, 2018

But the justices suggest procedure might not cover patents issued before 2011 passage of America Invents Act.

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Exxon Mobil Appeals Dismissal of Bid to Derail State AGs' Climate Change Actions

Colby Hamilton | April 20, 2018

The energy company, facing probes into whether it deceived shareholders and the public over climate change, saw its suit against the attorneys general tossed in late March.

Asbestos Filings Fell in 2017, Report Says

Amanda Bronstad | March 26, 2018

Asbestos filings fell in 2017, and it didn't matter whether they were brought over mesothelioma, lung cancer or other forms of cancer, according to consulting firm KCIC.

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Army Corps Actions Caused Missouri River Flooding, Judge Rules

Amanda Bronstad | March 14, 2018

A federal judge in Washington, D.C., has found the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' management of the Missouri River caused regular flooding, a liability finding that sets the stage for a trial over what plaintiffs' counsel estimated as $300 million in damages.

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Vinson & Elkins Posts Second Consecutive Record Year in 2017

Brenda Sapino Jeffreys | February 23, 2018

Gross revenue was up by 11.3 percent and net income increased by 13.5 percent compared with 2016.

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State AGs Take EPA to Court Over Clean Water Rule

Cogan Schneier | February 06, 2018

The Trump administration suspended the Obama-era rule Tuesday, drawing the lawsuit from such states as California, New York, New Jersey and Connecticut.

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In SCOTUS Water Dispute, Florida Edges Ahead of Georgia

Tony Mauro | January 08, 2018

Georgia's lawyer, Kirkland & Ellis partner Craig Primis, spent Monday's Supreme Court argument on the defensive, insisting that Florida had not proved its case that less water for Georgia means more for Florida.

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With New Lawsuit, Hausfeld Declares War on Trump Climate Change Policy

Cogan Schneier | November 06, 2017

The lawsuit from the D.C. firm alleges the government is endangering citizens with its regulatory rollback of climate change protections.

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Climate Change Defense Permitted in Pipeline Closure Case

Michael Booth | October 17, 2017

  A judge in Minnesota will allow two defendants facing criminal charges of shutting down a pair of tar sands pipelines to use a "necessity…

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EPA Moves to Kill Clean Power Plan as Lawsuit Languishes in DC Circuit

Cogan Schneier | October 10, 2017

The EPA issued a proposal Tuesday to roll back President Barack Obama’s signature climate policy, immediately prompting threats of lawsuits from environmental groups and Democratic attorneys general. Meanwhile, the landmark legal battle over the rule may die a quiet death in the D.C. Circuit.

Exxon, Paul Weiss Weather Ups and Downs on Climate Change

Miriam Rozen | September 14, 2017

The oil company and its lawyers got some good news and some bad news this week in what may be a rising sea of litigation tied to climate change.

Willkie Beefs Up Regulatory Practices with Former FERC Chair

Katelyn Polantz | September 05, 2017

Norman Bay, the former U.S. attorney for New Mexico and most recently chairman of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, and Priya Aiyar, previously the Treasury Department's acting general counsel, joined Willkie as partners Tuesday.

After Another Clean Power Plan Delay, Environmental Groups Ponder Next Step

Marcia Coyle | August 09, 2017

Environmental advocacy groups are considering their next step after the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit allowed another 60-day delay in a decision in the lawsuit.

Energy Trio Helps McCarter & English Expand in DC

Meghan Tribe | August 04, 2017

The firm has brought on Allen O'Neil, Christine Ryan and Emily Streett as partners in Washington, D.C., from Holland & Knight, where the trio joined the latter three years ago in a mass lateral move from now-defunct boutique Brickfield, Burchette, Ritts & Stone.

DC Circuit Twice Says Democratic State AGs Can Fight Trump

Cogan Schneier | August 02, 2017

Democratic state attorneys general scored two wins in D.C. Circuit Court in 24 hours allowing them to defend Obama-era health care and environment policies under threat from Republicans and the Trump administration.

Carbon Tax Plan: Promise or Pain to Energy Companies?

Miriam Rozen | August 01, 2017

When Exxon Mobil Corp. endorsed a carbon tax proposal initiated by former Secretaries of State James Baker and George Shultz, some observers foresaw a future with dramatically fewer regulations. Not W. Thaddeus "Thad" Miller, the executive vice president and chief legal officer of Houston-based electricity provider Calpine Corp., who also endorses the Baker proposal.

Becerra, Arguing EPA Inadequacy, Dives Into Energy Case

Cheryl Miller | July 06, 2017

California and seven other states on Thursday moved to defend Obama-era ozone pollution standards that Attorney General Xavier Becerra said may be left to die under Scott Pruitt's leadership of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

SEC Bars Former PetroTiger GC Convicted in Bribery Case

Sue Reisinger | May 30, 2017

Former PetroTiger Ltd. general counsel Gregory Weisman has been suspended from practicing before the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission more than three years after his guilty plea in a bribery case.