Environmental Law

          Our environmental practice counsels clients from various industries including automotive and automotive components manufacturing, chemicals, consumer goods manufacturing, energy and pharmaceuticals in connection with air, water, noise and solid, hazardous and toxic waste standards. The firm has experience in real-estate and asset acquisition and dispositions such as performing environmental due diligence for asset acquisitions all over India, identify and quantify environmental liabilities and risks, interpreting and evaluating data to assist clients in the decision-making, manage environmental risks and liabilities during acquisition and disposition of assets as well as managing routine business environmental liabilities.

          We have assisted clients in speedily securing essential regulatory approvals for greenfield projects and also negotiated administrative consent orders with the central or state environmental protection agencies for the investigation of current and former manufacturing facilities, and for the subsequent removal or remedial actions to address unacceptable risks from releases at the facility.

          In addition, the firm engages in audits to ensure environmental compliance, reporting and certification. Audits are invaluable for a variety of reasons ranging from discovering data for reporting to the regulators or for ISO certification programs. From time to time, because of allegations of wrong-doing or to comply with existing laws or enforcement requirements, companies must rigorously and independently test the performance of their facility. Audits also aid in discovering serious problems in facility operations and manage the risk. Sometimes audits are done pursuant to an order by a regulatory agency. In an audit, the firm's lawyers look at issues at a single facility, within a particular program, or for a particular type of liability and gauge the level of the company's performance. A periodic compliance audit can be performed with dedicated in-house staff. Our lawyers can assist in establishing goals of audit programs, corrective action priorities as well as develop plans to address systemic non-compliance or oversee appropriate implementation.

          In real-estate transactions, we advise clients on issues such as advice on development, indemnity and other contractual provisions, post-closing remediation obligations and we prepare documentation and risk minimization strategies.

          Along with the litigation team, the firm is also experienced in representing companies in enforcement actions brought by central, state or municipal authorities. We have defended clients in enforcement litigation involving air, water and hazardous waste laws. We represent clients in both civil and criminal matters, in administrative proceedings and at both the original (trial) and appellate levels in various courts.