Environment Law

Curtis environmental attorneys provide clients with practical, cost-effective solutions to the environmental challenges and opportunities that have become an increasingly fundamental part of business operations. Armed with a solid grasp of clients’ strategic goals, structures and resources, the group advises public and private companies, foreign governmental entities, private equity firms and other investors, and real estate developers on a variety of environmental concerns.

Environmental Issues Arising from Global Transactions

The firm’s environmental attorneys have extensive experience in managing the environmental issues that arise as part of conducting business in the U.S. and Latin America, as well as Europe, Asia and the Middle East. Curtis’ lawyers represent buyers, sellers and lenders in all aspects of their transactions, including maximizing indemnification rights and minimizing associated risks, as well as identifying environmental liabilities and opportunities for cost savings and value creation. The group regularly performs due diligence and drafts the environmental provisions of agreements for every business structure in multijurisdictional transactions ranging from US$10 million to US$3 billion.

Environmental Compliance and Audits

The Curtis Environmental group works with clients to develop environmental compliance and audit programs, ensuring ongoing compliance and continuous environmental improvement. We work closely with foreign public-sector clients to revise existing, and develop new, regulatory programs, and advise private clients in domestic and international environmental investigations. For example, we recently represented a state-owned refinery on matters related to compliance, and with a consent decree that sets emission limits for certain pollutants.

In addition, members of the team frequently defend clients in indemnifications, citizen and private cost recovery suits, and government litigation and investigations.

U.S. Environmental Regulatory Advice

With former regulators on the team, Curtis has particular insight into the U.S. regulatory regime. Recently we represented one of the world’s biggest commodity traders and owner of mineral processing facilities in several matters arising under CERCLA and related federal and state clean-up laws, providing strategic advice for ensuring that cost-effective clean-ups are achieved that maximize future productive uses of the sites.