Gibson Dunn & Crutcher has successfully defended corporations, senior corporate executives, and public agencies in a wide range of federal and state environmental investigations and enforcement actions.  For these matters, the Environmental Litigation and Mass Tort Practice draws on the strengths of its White Collar Defense and Investigations Group and the numerous attorneys with valuable government experience at Gibson Dunn, including several who served at high levels within the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Justice.  When its clients face threatened or actual environmental enforcement actions, Gibson Dunn can offer a depth of knowledge and reputation that ensures its clients’ interests are represented by attorneys who are recognized leaders in their fields.

Gibson Dunn helps clients investigate allegations of environmental violations and, if informal attempts to resolve these issues prove unsuccessful, defend against these charges in any subsequent litigation.  The firm also has experience dealing with the impact of environmental enforcement actions, including communication with the public and with agencies. 

Representative matters include:

• Representation of industry leading retail and aerospace corporations against criminal and civil allegations stemming from the management of hazardous waste under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (“RCRA”).
• Investigation of a state transportation agency’s handling of hazardous substances  responding to a threatened federal RCRA enforcement.
• Defense against a Clean Air Act New Source Review enforcement action filed against a client in the pulp and paper industry.
• Negotiation of a settlement on behalf of a large metropolitan sewer district against federal and state Clean Water Act violations associated with wet weather discharges, and defense against a related citizen suit.
• Representation of developers facing criminal and civil allegations of unpermitted filling of wetlands under the Clean Water Act.
• Defense of a large government contractor against qui tam relators and the United States who are alleging False Claims Act violations arising from alleged environmental violations.
• Defense of a former aluminum industry client in a RCRA cleanup action in the state of Oregon.
• Defense of an ordinance manufacturing client in a California DTSC RCRA action.
• Defense of a manufacturing client in California involving allegations of civil and criminal violations of hazardous waste law.
• Defense of a food industry client in a citizen suit in California alleging Clean Water Act violations of pre-treatment standards.
• Numerous representations defending against federal and state clean-up orders and government cost recovery actions.
• Defense of numerous clients across a wide range of industries in California Proposition 65 actions.