Dispute resolution and strategic planning: preventing disputes from arising and achieving a resolution at the earliest stage possible are key priorities for our clients and our Dentons’ team. We support our clients with managing environmental and safety risks and strategic planning, whether at the board or parent company level, or targeted at specific projects, transactions or operations.

Contractual disputes: we have extensive experience litigating environmental indemnities in sales, project and joint venture documents, most often relating to land contamination disputes. We regularly advise on disputes relating to site remediation in the context of lease surrender and termination.

Civil claims: we act for clients claiming loss for damage caused to their property and defending private law claims arising from negligence and nuisance. We have particular expertise advising the insured on behalf of the insurer on specialty environmental lines in relation to the defense of civil claims, as well as regulatory investigations and insured contracts.

Administrative and judicial challenges: we challenge decisions of governments or regulators through administrative law on behalf of our clients. Where necessary, we support our clients where such cases are referred to the Court of Justice for the EU; we negotiate settlements with governmental agencies; and we advise on engagement with stakeholders and regulators.

Defense of environmental authorizations: once Dentons has assisted clients in obtaining permits or other authorizations to proceed, opponents may attack those authorizations in court or elsewhere. Dentons’ lawyers are prepared to intervene or take such other actions as appropriate to defend those authorizations in administrative or judicial proceedings.

Enforcement challenges and criminal litigation: our team responds right from the initial stages of an environmental or safety incident, advising on regulatory investigations (including interviews by enforcement officers and the police) through to advocating specific enforcement options; defending companies, directors and employees at trial; and advising clients on post-incident liability management.

Insights

GAR Guide to Climate Change and Related Disputes Procedural Issues

December 18, 2024

United Kingdom: The Guide draws on the experience and insight of leading practitioners in climate-related arbitration and is intended to provide guidance to interested parties as to the practical issues and considerations that may arise.

Climate justice is required when locating new energy sources

July 24, 2024

South Africa: When looking at the merits, or concerns around, fracking we need to consider more viewpoints than just that of lobby groups, as important as these are, because there are other socio-economic issues at play, writes Noor Kapdi, Chairman of Dentons South Africa.

Post-Chevron and Beyond – Administrative Law Resource Center

July 10, 2024

At the end of the Supreme Court’s 2023-24 term, the Court’s conservative majority effected a sea-change in federal administrative law, asserting a stronger role for the courts in the regulatory state and bringing into question the legality and viability of many regulatory programs.

View all insights for Environmental Litigation

News and Events

Recent Press Releases

Precedent ruling of the Appeal Court in Gdańsk dismisses action in the case of “green certificates”

December 30, 2019

In a final and non- appealable ruling, the Appeal Court in Gdańsk dismissed the claim brought by Energia-Obrót S.A. against the wind energy manufacturer “EW Czyżewo” Sp. z o.o. to determine certain agreements and liquidated damages awarded in the past, among other things, as invalid.