Environmental Litigation Attorney

Dentons Cohen & Grigsby; Pittsburgh (Allegheny County); On-site; USD 120,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equal Opportunity Employer

Job summary

Dentons Cohen & Grigsby, a Pittsburgh-based firm with a growing nationwide environmental practice, seeks an attorney experienced in environmental matters. Pennsylvania and California licenses preferred; in-person meetings will be required several times per year; remote work not essential.

The role covers remediation projects, regulatory compliance, and opportunities in litigation and business development. The firm invites applications from associates, counsel, or partners with varying levels of

Qualifications

• Licensed to practice law in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and in good standing; California license preferred but not required.
• Candidates with a range of experience levels are invited to apply.
• Experience with development of remediated sites and related construction law issues is desirable but not essential.
• Excellent written communication and drafting skills, with experience drafting memos, pleadings, motions and discovery and an ability to produce concise and effective written work product are required.
• Outstanding legal research skills are required.

Responsibilities

• Counsel and represent clients conducting complex environmental remediation projects at contaminated sites.
• Research and analyze environmental compliance issues, including administrative orders for site cleanup, and advise on regulatory compliance for ongoing facility operations.
• Work in coordination with local counsel on state- and location-specific environmental issues.
• Advise clients on brownfields development of sites undergoing environmental cleanups.
• Analyze and advise on PFAS concerns at existing sites.
• Manage dispute resolution proceedings in various settings, including arbitrations and court actions.
• Handle all aspects of litigation from strategy to discovery, drafting, hearings, and settlements.
• Assist in business development and marketing opportunities.

Skills

Legal research

Drafting

Communication

Project management

Attention to detail

Job description

Dentons Cohen & Grigsby, a Pittsburgh-based firm with a growing, nationwide environmental practice, is seeking an attorney with experience handling environmental matters. Candidates with Pennsylvania and California licenses preferred. Experience with development of remediated sites and related construction law issues is desirable but not essential. It is not essential for the candidate to live in Pittsburgh, although in-person meetings will be required several times per year. Candidates with a range of experience levels are invited to apply. The firm is open to considering candidates at the associate, counsel, or partner level.

Our environmental practice includes experienced environmental lawyers who work on a variety of matters, including oversight of contaminated sites, environmental compliance counseling, and advising on emergency/incident response. Our litigators join with these lawyers to develop strategies for incipient disputes and to work on administrative proceedings, alternative dispute resolution, and civil actions.

Responsibilities

• Counsel and represent clients conducting complex environmental remediation projects at contaminated sites.
• Research and analyze issues regarding environmental responsibilities, including compliance with terms of an administrative order for a site cleanup, and advise on regulatory compliance for ongoing operations at various types of manufacturing facilities.
• Work in coordination with local counsel on state- and location-specific environmental issues.
• Advise clients on issues related to development by third parties of sites undergoing environmental cleanups, including Brownfields developments.
• Analyze and advise on emerging issues such as potential PFAS concerns at existing sites.
• Manage dispute resolution proceedings involving environmental matters in a variety of settings, such as JAMS arbitrations and state and federal court actions.
• Work on all aspects of litigation including planning strategy; researching relevant case law, statutes, and regulations; conducting factual investigations; working on all aspects of discovery, particularly document collection, organization, review, and production; drafting memos, motions, briefs, and pleadings; appearing at various stages of the proceeding; and drafting and negotiating settlements.
• Assist in business development and marketing opportunities.

Experience & Qualifications

• Should be licensed to practice law in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and be in good standing. California license is preferred but not required.
• Candidates with a range of experience levels are invited to apply.
• Experience with development of remediated sites and related construction law issues is desirable but not essential.
• Excellent written communication and drafting skills, with experience drafting memos, pleadings, motions and discovery and an ability to produce concise and effective written work product are required.
• Outstanding legal research skills are required.

Personal skills/attributes

• Communication skills. You must be able to communicate effectively and produce excellent written work product.
• Organizational skills. You must have a demonstrated ability to manage complex projects, such as document review and management for active litigation.
• Legal acumen. You must understand pertinent legal principles and strategies in this area, e.g., privileges and protections when working with technical consultants.
• Work ethic. You must be willing to devote yourself fully to your practice, work long hours when necessary, and maintain the intellectual stamina to learn and understand complex information and cases.
• Attention to detail. You must be highly detail-oriented. Your work will require you to understand, synthesize, and explain complex factual information and legal concepts.
• Technical skills. You do not need to have a scientific background, but you do need a demonstrated ability to work with complex technical materials.

Dentons Cohen & Grigsby is an Equal Opportunity Employer.