"Clients praise the firm as 'among the most sophisticated environmental practice groups; their understanding of the business issues related to the legal side is very useful.'"

Chambers USA 2020

Baker Botts has a diverse team of lawyers with decades of experience developing and implementing environmental justice programs. Drawing upon years of government experience and equipped with a keen understanding of commercial complexities that our clients may confront, our team helps companies develop robust programs that address the environmental justice goals of stakeholder communities, including the government.

Environmental and racial justice issues increasingly drive or influence major federal, state and local government action. Baker Botts has a team of attorneys who have dedicated their careers to thoughtfully and pragmatically addressing environmental justice considerations and concerns across a myriad of matters, from permitting and compliance counseling to litigation and enforcement. Our bench of former government attorneys, including high level former EPA and DOJ political appointees and career line attorneys, understand environmental justice and have a nuanced approach to handling these issues on behalf of companies. A number of them were involved in drafting the original Executive Order on Environmental Justice, Federal Actions to Address Environmental Justice in Minority Populations and Low-Income Populations (E.O. 12898), helped with its implementation and litigated several of the earliest environmental justice cases. With that base of knowledge, we bring sound business judgment to our clients’ environmental justice concerns.

Cross-Disciplinary Approach

Our multi-disciplinary team brings together attorneys with sophisticated practices in the areas of climate change, sustainability and ESG. We understand that environmental justice cannot be assessed or addressed in isolation, but is interconnected to racial and social equity, including climate-based impacts. We advise organizations on creative “whole of company” approaches to equity and environmental justice that match the government’s “whole of government” philosophy for environmental justice. The corporate governance work of our monitorship team and the occupational safety and health compliance knowledge of our safety attorneys further informs our environmental justice counsel.

What We Do

Regulatory, Compliance Permitting and Litigation Strategies. We are environmental lawyers with deep regulatory, compliance, permitting and litigation experience. We combine that experience with our knowledge of environmental justice and provide strategic and pragmatic advice that helps our clients develop noteworthy programs. To learn more about our regulatory, compliance, permitting and litigation experience, click on the relevant links below.

• Air Quality
• Chemical Regulation
• Contaminated Sites
• Environmental Enforcement and Defense
• Environmental Torts and Class Actions
• Waste and Wastewater
• Water and Wetlands

Climate Change and Sustainability. Our cross-disciplinary climate change practice covers every aspect of climate change, including assisting clients with compliance and carbon reduction strategies. Learn more.

Monitorships. Our experience on high-profile monitorships informs our approach to helping clients enhance environmental compliance performance so that it is integrated into their business operations and core corporate values. Learn more.

Safety. Our cross-disciplinary team has a reputation for working hand in hand with clients, regulators and other stakeholders on process safety, infectious disease/industrial hygiene, and occupational safety and health compliance and litigation matters. Learn more.

If you would like to learn more about Baker Botts’ own diversity and social responsibility initiatives, please click on the following links: Diversity and Social Responsibility.