Like many, I have been reflecting on how the changes going on now in the federal government affect environmental practice. Two things that affect what environmental lawyers (as opposed to environmental engineers or managers) do seem to have received less attention than one might have expected: the loss of resources at federal and state environmental regulatory agencies limit those agencies’ ability to consider creative solutions to regulatory or enforcement problems and the limitations on data collection and scientific analysis undermine the confidence necessary to approve those creative solutions. These developments affect the tools and strategies that environmental lawyers can use to achieve their clients’ objectives and may call for some adjustments in how we do what we do.

Continue reading the full article, published by The Legal Intelligencer, August 14, 2025. Reprinted with permission.

*The opinions expressed in this column are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Greenberg Traurig or its clients.

Photo of David Mandelbaum David Mandelbaum

David G. Mandelbaum represents clients facing problems under the environmental laws and serves as Co-Chair of the firm’s Environmental Practice. He regularly represents clients in lawsuits and has also helped clients achieve satisfactory outcomes through regulatory negotiation or private transactions. David teaches Superfund…

David G. Mandelbaum represents clients facing problems under the environmental laws and serves as Co-Chair of the firm’s Environmental Practice. He regularly represents clients in lawsuits and has also helped clients achieve satisfactory outcomes through regulatory negotiation or private transactions. David teaches Superfund, and Oil and Gas Law in rotation at the Temple Law School. He teaches the Superfund course at Suffolk (Boston) Law School as well. David is a Fellow of the American College of Environmental Lawyers.

Concentrations

  • Air, water and waste regulation
  • Superfund and contamination
  • Climate change
  • Oil and gas development
  • Water rights