North America - United States • Environment
DLA Piper LLP (US)
The environmental practice at DLA Piper LLP (US) assists a spread of high-profile clients in matters relating to climate change, sustainability, supply chain and remediation. George Gigounas co-leads from the office in San Francisco, handling environmental contamination, product regulation and climate change law, alongside Gwen Keyes Fleming, best known for her ‘government experience’, who deals with compliance rulemaking and environmental justice. The team is also home to Robert Alessi , New York based environmental and energy lawyer, Adam Baas , of the San Francisco office, who is a key name to note in emerging contaminants and clean up and New York based Jeff Salinger, who is praised by his clients as ’the best in the business’. His wide practice spans health and safety, ESG and real estate issues as well as corporate social responsibility. Andrew Cooper joined the Washington DC office in early 2023 from Van Ness Feldman LLP specializing in compliance.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
‘Jeff Salinger is the best in the business. He knows his legal aspects to a tee and has a great commercial viewpoint. He is fast and gets his document reviews done rapidly.'
‘This practice is unique because of the government experience of its partners, namely Gwen Keyes Fleming. I have known Mrs. Keyes Fleming since she was the US EPA Regional Administrator for Region 4 and she was subsequently the Chief of Staff of a former National Administrator. This experience has provided Mrs. Keyes Fleming with a wealth of knowledge about environmental regulations and the inner workings of the EPA, as well as many contacts within the government.’
‘Gwen Keyes Flemming. Not only is she perhaps the most qualified environmental regulatory attorney in the country, but she also hires similarly qualified individuals to her team. When an in-house client goes to Gwen for advice, we know that she is thinking with the mind of a regulator, not just giving us abstract textbook opinions. At the end of the day, that is what I need to advise my C-Suite on the best interests of the company.’
‘Gwen Keyes Flemming and Paul Wierenga are pragmatic attorneys who use their "real-world" experience to their clients' advantage. Gwen's impressive background attracts the best and the brightest to her practice. I never doubt the quality or feasibility of the advice that I get from Gwen and her team.’
Key clients
- Michelin North America, Inc.
- BASF Corporation
- BAE Systems
- Danone
- Government of Georgia's Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources Protection
- Northrop Grumman Corporation
- The Chlorine Institute
- Baker Commodities
- BAE Systems Ship Repair
- Ted Segal
- CAE, Inc.
Work highlights
- Representing Michelin North America, Kumho USA, and Hankook Tire America in a novel case impacting the entire tire industry regarding 6PPD, an anti-degredation chemical in all vehicle tires, with Endangered Species Act and potential other claims.
- Representing BASF Corporation in one of the largest environmental and toxic tort multidistrict litigation matters regarding PFAS in foam (AFFF).
- Representing the Chlorine Institute and its members on cutting edge TSCA, FIFRA, CWA and transportation issues that are implicated by the production and distribution of chlorine and its other mission chemicals.
Practice head
The lawyer(s) leading their teams.
George John Gigounas, Gwendolyn Keyes