Climate Change Heating Up Demand for Environmental Attorneys
Global warming is heating up the field of environmental law. Law firms that specialize in the legal implications related to climate change, including carbon-trading and litigation over greenhouse gas emissions, are expecting new business, according to Law.com. A growing number of law firms are advertising experience in climate change issues and some have already begun expanding this practice area. Executive search firm, A.E. Feldman, says that environmental law jobs are opening up and attorneys with expertise in this practice area are poised to benefit from the trend.
Corporate executives and consumers express equal concern about climate change and other environmental issues and a staggering 80% of global executives expect climate change regulations within five years, according to recent research compiled by McKinsey. Amid these developments, the Environmental Law Institute (ELI) concludes that understanding the markets and regulations surrounding climate change and carbon trading is a critical skill for attorneys specializing in environmental, regulatory, administrative, corporate, and securities law.
Climate change has graduated from an uncertain scientific theory to a global threat being addressed through a variety of regulatory, market, and voluntary initiatives, according to the ELI. The group says internationally, the Kyoto Protocol (a protocol currently ratified by 175 parties with the objective to reduce greenhouse gas emissions) creates many issues for American companies operating abroad. The ELI also says here in the U.S., federal, state, and regional climate initiatives, such as wind farms, will trigger a number of regulatory and market mechanisms to limit carbon emissions.
Firms Staffing Up
Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker recently expanded its environmental practice with an attorney who specializes in transactions in the alternative and renewable energy industries, according to the Chicago Tribune.
Van Ness Feldman - a DC-based law firm with more than 80 professionals concentrating on government policy and regulatory issues in the areas of energy, environmental, natural resources, and transportation law - recently elected two new members to the firm’s natural gas and hydropower practice areas. Van Ness Feldman also added an attorney with experience in complex energy and environmental litigation as well as nuclear waste transportation and disposal issues.
The firm’s natural gas practice relates to Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) jurisdiction over the natural gas industry, including matters under the Natural Gas Act, Natural Gas Policy Act, National Environmental Policy Act, and other relevant statutes. Van Ness Feldman’s hydropower practice covers issues related to the hydropower industry, including matters under the Federal Power Act, National Environmental Policy Act, Clean Water Act, Endangered Species Act and the National Historic Preservation Act.
Stoel Rives recently appointed a new head of the firm’s Resources, Development and Environment practice group. The firm currently has 90 attorneys specializing in natural resource development and restoration projects, project permitting, real estate development and finance, water resources planning, environmental compliance, and environmental, land use and natural resources litigation.
Law Firms “Going Green”
With practice groups dedicated to green businesses in areas such as renewable energy and climate change, a number of law firms are “going green” themselves to demonstrate they share the values of their clients…and potential clients, according to law.com.
The report states that many firms are actively working to reduce their carbon footprints through recycling programs, double-sided printing, replacing disposable cups with reusable ones and securing LEED certification.
