Our Environmental Investigations & Defense practice represents a wide range of companies facing high-stakes environmental investigations and enforcement actions in every aspect of environmental law: engines and other mobile sources, stationary sources, batteries, chemicals, and other regulated technologies.

We represent clients before federal and state regulators in complex, multi‑jurisdiction matters, delivering strategic, technically informed defenses grounded in deep agency experience and a clear understanding of how regulatory, criminal, and civil proceedings intersect.

We advise companies responding to complex information requests and administrative subpoenas from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the California Air Resources Board (CARB), and state agencies. Our work includes conducting large‑scale internal investigations; managing legal holds, document preservation, and extensive document productions; developing expert opinions; substantiating and defending product certifications; and coordinating responses across multiple enforcement authorities.

Managing the Complex Web of Investigations

A defining strength of our practice is our ability to navigate the complex interplay among criminal, regulatory, civil, and legislative inquiries. We advise clients on how actions taken in one arena can affect exposure and outcomes in others – whether involving Department of Justice criminal investigations, DOJ civil enforcement, EPA regulatory actions, parallel state proceedings, public and shareholder scrutiny, or citizen and consumer litigation. This integrated perspective allows us to help clients make informed, strategic decisions that manage overall risk, and develop a coordinated strategy to handle some of the largest and most consequential issues.

Former Government Experience that Shapes Environmental Enforcement Strategy

Our team includes an extensive bench of former state and federal enforcement attorneys with experience in both civil and criminal environmental matters, including former senior officials from the EPA’s Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance, former senior EPA enforcement attorneys, and former Assistant United States Attorneys. This background enables us to provide practical insight into how investigations are initiated, pursued, and resolved – and how enforcement agencies evaluate facts, credibility, and cooperation.

What Sets us Apart 

We have unparalleled experience under the Clean Air Act, having advised on several of the largest enforcement matters brought under the statute. Our lawyers routinely handle highly sensitive internal investigations and voluntary disclosures, negotiate favorable settlements, and litigate matters to successful resolutions when necessary. Our experience also includes matters involving emissions control technologies, product certification and reporting obligations, and allegations related to emissions compliance strategies.

Beyond the Clean Air Act, we advise clients on enforcement actions under other environmental statutes, including cases involving consumer and industrial products and chemicals. We have successfully resolved matters in ways that significantly reduced potential exposure while allowing clients to continue operating their businesses effectively and managing reputational risk.