Environmental

  • July 01, 2026

    Chinese Investors Say Wash. EB-5 Developer Misused Funds

    Chinese investors have filed a RICO Act lawsuit in Washington federal court, alleging that developers of a partially completed mixed-use project on a former copper smelter Superfund site along Puget Sound misused funds from their $39 million investment in the venture and let it fall into default.

  • July 01, 2026

    DC Judge Blocks More USDA Grant Terminations

    A D.C. federal court has preliminarily reinstated U.S. Department of Agriculture grants totaling roughly $127 million under a program aimed at helping underserved farmers, finding the department's grant terminations likely flouted Congress' priorities under two Biden-era laws.

  • July 01, 2026

    Calif. Tribe Seeks To Block July 8 Wild Horse Roundup

    A California tribe is looking to block the U.S. Department of the Interior from removing more than 600 wild horses via helicopter from a protected habitat starting July 8, arguing that the federal government has been on notice for nearly four decades that aboriginal interests are implicated by the territory's management activities.

  • July 01, 2026

    EV Battery Workers Say Ford Is Joint Employer

    Battery plant workers have told a Michigan federal court that Ford Motor Co. is their joint employer and bears responsibility for unpaid wage claims at an electric vehicle battery plant, pushing back against the automaker's bid to escape the lawsuit.

  • June 30, 2026

    ConocoPhillips Again Seeks To Exit Wash. Tribal Climate Torts

    ConocoPhillips is urging a Washington state judge to free it from a pair of Native American tribes' lawsuits accusing major oil companies of a decades-long campaign to downplay the climate risks of fossil fuels, contending Monday that the tribes have still failed to satisfy jurisdictional requirements in their revised complaints.

  • June 30, 2026

    2nd Circ. Backs NY Gas Appliance Ban In Split With 9th Circ.

    New York City and the Empire State can enforce their laws effectively banning fossil-fuel appliances in new buildings, the Second Circuit ruled Tuesday, splitting from the Ninth Circuit in rejecting trade groups and unions' arguments that the statutes run afoul of federal law.

  • June 30, 2026

    Gibson Dunn, White & Case Lead KKR's $4.2B EDF Biz Deal

    Private equity firm KKR & Co., represented by Gibson Dunn & Crutcher LLP, announced Tuesday a $4.2 billion agreement to acquire the North America renewable power business operated by EDF Group, advised by White & Case LLP.

  • June 30, 2026

    Texas Court Sends 4 Asbestos Suits Out Of MDL Court

    A Texas appeals court on Tuesday found that multiple families of people who died following diagnoses of asbestos-related malignancies can remand their cases back to the courts they initially filed in, saying the multidistrict litigation rules do not apply to their cases.

  • June 30, 2026

    DOJ's $450M PFAS Deal Win For Chemours

    The $450 million settlement between the federal government and Chemours Co. over its "forever chemicals" is a major win for the manufacturer, but the relatively small payout means that two of the three impacted states are now being watched for any objections, especially the one that was caught by surprise by last week's announcement.

  • June 30, 2026

    Rail Group Says DC Train Car 'Border Fee' Rule Preempted

    The nation's largest railroad trade group told a federal judge on Monday that Washington, D.C.'s 60-cent fee for every railcar entering the district violates the dormant commerce clause, federal law and the city's own Administrative Procedure Act.

  • June 30, 2026

    Eversource, Avangrid Say Conn. Grid Law Is Unconstitutional

    Eversource Energy and Avangrid have accused Connecticut officials of violating the U.S. Constitution's supremacy, takings and contracts clauses by enacting a 2025 state law that forces utilities to participate in a regional power grid, arguing the state cannot meddle with their two-decade-old, federally approved voluntary memberships.

  • June 30, 2026

    FERC Future Fuzzy After High Court's Agency Firings Ruling

    The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission faces an uncertain future following the U.S. Supreme Court's blockbuster ruling that presidents have unlimited authority to fire members of independent agencies, which creates new risks for an energy industry that's used to regulatory continuity at FERC.

  • June 30, 2026

    Fed. Circ. Rejects Canal Contractor's $4M Adjustment Claim

    The Federal Circuit on Tuesday declined to grant a construction company's bid for a nearly $4 million adjustment under a U.S. Army flood control contract at a Louisiana canal after encountering construction issues, finding the solicitation did not mislead the company.

  • June 30, 2026

    Catholic Group's Land Use Case Headed Back To 6th Circ.

    A Michigan federal judge on Monday refused to reconsider her denial of partial summary judgment for Catholic Healthcare International in its land use suit over Genoa Township's denial of a permit for a religious campus but certified the denial for immediate interlocutory appeal to the Sixth Circuit in an effort to accelerate resolution of the long-running litigation.

  • June 30, 2026

    DOJ Says Mich. Climate Antitrust Claims Are Barred

    The U.S. Department of Justice has weighed in on Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel's antitrust lawsuit against some of the world's largest oil companies, arguing much of the state's case is legally barred because Michigan is improperly attempting to regulate climate change through state antitrust law. 

  • June 30, 2026

    Ga. Justices Take Up $1.5M Blue Ridge Runoff Dispute

    Georgia's Supreme Court has agreed to consider whether an appeals court was right to dismiss a case involving a property owner claiming a water runoff issue from the city of Blue Ridge resulted in $1.5 million in property damage.

  • June 30, 2026

    SpaceX, Feds Say Texas Is Proper Venue For Land Swap Suit

    A D.C. federal court on Tuesday ordered expedited briefing over motions by SpaceX and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service seeking to transfer to the Southern District of Texas a lawsuit from environmental groups challenging their land-exchange deal there.

  • June 30, 2026

    Tax Court Withheld Evidence In Easement Row, 10th Circ. Told

    The U.S. Tax Court's improper withholding of an appraiser report as evidence resulted in a flawed opinion last year that substantially slashed the value of a North Carolina conservation easement donation by 94%, the partnership donor told the Tenth Circuit.

  • June 30, 2026

    Gordon Rees Adds 8 Partners In Northern California

    Gordon Rees Scully Mansukhani LLP has expanded its offices in Northern California with eight new partners who have expertise in multiple practice areas, a firm spokesperson told Law360 Pulse on Tuesday.

  • June 30, 2026

    ICE Scraps Plan For NJ Immigrant Detention Center

    The U.S. Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement have decided to cancel plans to convert a New Jersey warehouse into a 1,500-bed immigrant detention center, according to a joint status report filed in federal court, saying the property will instead be sold.

  • June 30, 2026

    High Court Sends 3 Roundup Cases Back After Monsanto Win

    The U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday sent back several cases over claims that Bayer unit Monsanto Co.'s Roundup weed killer causes cancer, after the court last week delivered its ruling that state-based claims about a failure to warn on the weedkiller's labeling are barred by federal law.

  • June 29, 2026

    Volatility May Follow As Justices Make Agency Firings Easier​​​​​​​

    The policies and enforcement priorities of federal agencies may fluctuate more rapidly based on who is president, as a result of the U.S. Supreme Court's Monday decision finding that presidents have unlimited authority to fire members of independent agencies, experts told Law360.

  • June 29, 2026

    Ore. Top Court Takes PacifiCorp Case As Judge Won't Recuse

    The Oregon Supreme Court has agreed to hear an appeal of a decision overturning PacifiCorp's classwide liability for wildfire damages affecting about 2,000 property owners, days after an appeals judge who did work for the utility in private practice declined to recuse herself.

  • June 29, 2026

    3rd Circ. Preview: DuPont Pensions, Detainees' Court Access

    An appeal testing the limits of ERISA fiduciary liability goes before the Third Circuit in July when DuPont and Corteva seek to overturn a district court ruling that a corporate spinoff damaged employees' retirement benefits. The court will also hear argument on whether heavy equipment giant Caterpillar forced a competitor out of business by pressuring a vendor. Here are some highlights from the court's July calendar.

  • June 29, 2026

    Judge Voids DOT Freeze On NY-NJ Gateway Tunnel Funds

    A Manhattan federal judge on Monday barred the Trump administration from freezing funds for New York and New Jersey's $16 billion rehabilitation of aging commuter train tunnels under the Hudson River, saying the administration's unilateral cancellation of federally obligated grant funds was unlawful.

Expert Analysis

  • 5 Tips For Navigating Your Firm's All-Attorney Summit

    Excerpt from Practical Guidance
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    Law firm retreats should be approached strategically, as they present valuable opportunities to advance both the firm's objectives and attorneys' professional development through meaningful participation, building and strengthening internal relationships, and proactive follow-up, says James Argionis at Cozen O’Connor.

  • Legal And Industry Impacts Of America's Maritime Action Plan

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    America's Maritime Action Plan, unveiled by the White House last month, introduces changes to trade investigations, a new maritime trust fund and more — adding regulatory and compliance obligations for companies and counsel, but also new avenues for client engagement in project finance, contract negotiation and dispute resolution, say attorneys at Holland & Knight.

  • 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.

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