Analysis

Pushing The Envelope In Climate Law: Murder Charges

By Juan-Carlos Rodriguez

Climate change legal advocates are pointing to wildfires in Los Angeles, hurricanes in the Southeast and a regulation-averse presidential administration as evidence that local prosecutors should begin going after fossil fuel companies with criminal charges — up to and including homicide.

1 document attached | Read full article » | Save to favorites »

AI Clean Energy Co. SPAC Suit Should Be Zapped, Judge Says

By Katryna Perera

A federal magistrate judge has recommended the dismissal of a derivative shareholder suit accusing the top brass of Stem Inc., an artificial intelligence-driven clean energy company, of making misleading statements leading up to a conflicted merger with a special purpose acquisition company, saying no one should have to "connect the dots" to figure out what is specifically being alleged against them. 

Report attached | Read full article » | Save to favorites »

China Hits US Energy Goods With Retaliatory Tariffs

By Keith Goldberg

China on Tuesday slapped tariffs on U.S. coal, crude oil and liquefied natural gas as part of its retaliation against additional tariffs on Chinese goods imposed by President Donald Trump.

Read full article » | Save to favorites »

White House Lacks Authority To Issue NEPA Regs, Judge Says

By Tom Lotshaw

The White House Council on Environmental Quality has no authority to issue binding National Environmental Policy Act regulations, a North Dakota judge has ruled, scrapping challenged regulations the Biden administration had enacted.

Order attached | Read full article » | Save to favorites »

EPA, Interior Leaders Unveil Focus On US Energy Production

By Madeline Lyskawa

The heads of the U.S. Department of the Interior and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency unveiled plans for their agencies that largely focus on bolstering President Donald Trump's U.S. energy dominance policy. 

Read full article » | Save to favorites »

Pearl Energy Closes $999.9M Fund, Tioga Raises $125M

By Jade Martinez-Pogue

Kirkland & Ellis LLP-advised Pearl Energy Investments on Tuesday revealed that it clinched its fourth flagship fund after securing $999.9 million in investor commitments, while Atlanta-based multi-strategy real estate investment firm Tioga Capital closed its fourth fund after raising $125 million in capital commitments.

Read full article » | Save to favorites »

Law360 Seeks Members For Its 2025 Editorial Boards

Law360 is looking for avid readers of our publications to serve as members of our 2025 editorial advisory boards.

Read full article » | Save to favorites »

Calif. Partly Beats Challenge To Climate Disclosure Laws

By Sarah Jarvis

A California federal judge has trimmed a lawsuit brought by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and other business groups over the state's corporate climate disclosure rules, finding the groups failed to state a claim with respect to two causes of action.

Order attached | Read full article » | Save to favorites »

Shell Workers' 401(k) Suit Gets Class Nod, But No Early Wins

By Grace Elletson

A Texas federal judge awarded class certification to more than 10,000 current and former Shell Oil Co. workers in their suit claiming the energy behemoth mismanaged their $10 billion 401(k) plan, but he declined to grant either side early wins.

Order attached | Read full article » | Save to favorites »

Mich. Supreme Court Says City's Electricity Fee Is Illegal Tax

By Carolyn Muyskens

A franchise fee added to East Lansing, Michigan, residents' energy bills is a disguised tax, the Michigan Supreme Court ruled Monday, saying the fee was used to raise revenue for the city without first being approved by voters.

Opinion attached | Read full article » | Save to favorites »

Del. Judge Tells Fuel Cell Co. Investors To Filter Imprecise Suit

By Sydney Price

A Delaware federal judge on Tuesday ruled that investors of hydrogen fuel cell company Plug Power Inc. must submit more particular details to support their allegation that shareholders were damaged by the company's failure to disclose production challenges, saying it is not the court's responsibility to filter out evidence.

Order attached | Read full article » | Save to favorites »

US, Osage Nation Fight Bid To Stay $4.2M Wind Farm Order

By Crystal Owens

The U.S. government is fighting a bid by Enel Green Power North America to stay a $4.2 million judgment and permanent injunction that requires it to remove 84 wind turbines from the Osage Nation's reservation, arguing that the company is unlikely to prevail in a Tenth Circuit appeal.

3 documents attached | Read full article » | Save to favorites »

Veteran Energy Attorney Joins Baker Botts In Austin

By Adrian Cruz

Baker Botts LLP announced Tuesday that an experienced energy attorney who's spent over 30 years working in various government and private practice roles has joined the firm's office in Austin, Texas, as a partner.

Read full article » | Save to favorites »

A Halftime Analysis Of DOJ's Compensation Pilot Program

The U.S. Department of Justice appears to consider the first half of its three-year pilot program on compensation incentives and clawbacks to be proceeding successfully, so companies should expect prosecutors to emphasize the program and other compliance-related considerations early in investigations, say attorneys at Debevoise.

2 documents attached | Read full article » | Save to favorites »

The Tides Are Changing For Fair Access Banking Laws

The landscape of fair access banking laws, which seek to prevent banks from denying services based on individuals' ideological beliefs, has shifted in the last few years, but a new presidential administration provides renewed momentum for advancing such legislation against the backdrop of state efforts, say attorneys at Latham.

Read full article » | Save to favorites »

Imagine The Possibilities Of Openly Autistic Lawyering

Andi Mazingo at Lumen Law, who was diagnosed with autism about midway through her career, discusses how the legal profession can create inclusive workplaces that empower openly autistic lawyers and enhance innovation, and how neurodivergent attorneys can navigate the challenges and opportunities that come with disclosing one’s diagnosis.

Read full article » | Save to favorites »

Senate Confirms Pam Bondi To Be AG

By Courtney Bublé

The U.S. Senate voted 54-46 on Tuesday to confirm Pam Bondi to be attorney general.

Read full article » | Save to favorites »

'Is This A Joke?' Judge Denies Atty Fees For Grocery Patrons

By Bryan Koenig

A California federal judge had so little tolerance for shoppers claiming victory and seeking attorney fees from the abandoned Kroger-Albertsons merger that in tossing their motion and underlying lawsuit he noted with incredulity, "Plaintiffs are actually making these arguments."

Order attached | Read full article » | Save to favorites »

Trump Selects McKinsey CLO For Commerce Department GC

By Hailey Konnath

President Donald Trump on Monday nominated McKinsey & Co.'s Chief Legal Officer Pierre Gentin to serve as the next general counsel at the U.S. Department of Commerce, according to congressional records.

Read full article » | Save to favorites »

Haynes Boone Adds 7-Atty Seward & Kissel Team In NY

By Christine DeRosa

Haynes Boone has grown its fund finance and securitization practices with the addition of seven attorneys from Seward & Kissel LLP, including the head of the firm's asset securitization and CLO practice group.

Read full article » | Save to favorites »

Former Conn. US Attorney Returns To McCarter & English

By Christine DeRosa

Vanessa Roberts Avery, who recently stepped down as U.S. attorney for the District of Connecticut, has returned to her roots as a business litigator at McCarter & English LLP in Hartford, Connecticut.

Read full article » | Save to favorites »

Analysis

Wheeling & Appealing: The Latest Must-Know Appellate Action

By Jeff Overley

February is off to a rip-roaring start in several circuits, and there's plenty more action ahead, including a moment of truth for judiciary policymaking that has managed to anger both the defense and plaintiffs bars. We'll explore all that in this edition of Wheeling & Appealing, which also includes an appellate quiz pegged to recent presidential news.

Read full article » | Save to favorites »

DOJ Criminal Division Leader Joins White & Case's DC Shop

By Jack Rodgers

White & Case LLP announced on Tuesday it was growing its white collar team with the addition of partner Brent Wible, who told Law360 Pulse that it was time for him to step back into private practice following a five-year stint with the U.S. Department of Justice.

Read full article » | Save to favorites »

Trump Picks AG Paxton Atty For Homeland Security Dept.

By Catherine Marfin

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton's special counsel, who is also a former member of President Donald Trump's reelection campaign, has been tapped for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Paxton announced Tuesday.

Read full article » | Save to favorites »