Stoel Rives LLP Creates Climate Change Initiative; Aids Clients in Managing Risk and Seizing Opportunities

PORTLAND, Ore. — Stoel Rives LLP, an AmLaw 200 firm, has formed a multi-disciplinary Climate Change Initiative team to help clients prepare for the risks and avail themselves of the opportunities resulting from the business and economic impact of climate change. 

“New markets are emerging and traditional markets are adapting to the many ramifications of climate change,” said Timothy L. McMahan, chair of the Climate Change Initiative and an energy and natural resource partner in the firm’s Portland, OR, office. “Regardless of the debates about its cause, there is no debate that the climate is changing, and attorneys at Stoel Rives, from our energy and infrastructure, corporate, agribusiness and other practices, have been working with clients for more than two decades to develop strategies to grow and thrive despite the uncertainties created by changes in our climate. 

“Because of the fast pace of market, government and regulatory activity, we have created a collaborative effort among our various disciplines to enable our clients to address the project development, compliance, litigation, procurement and logistics issues climate change presents,” he added. 

The Stoel Rives environmental, energy and natural resources practices currently spearhead this multi-disciplinary Climate Change Initiative. The environmental practice is one of the largest in the United States, providing compliance counseling, permitting, regulatory development and litigation services. The energy practice is nationally recognized for its work for both renewable and conventional energy producers and developers and has deep experience representing large industrial consumers of energy. The Climate Change Initiative is also integrated into Stoel Rives’ Arctic law group in Anchorage, Alaska. This group supports national and international clients with the unique economic development opportunities in the arctic, within a context of a changing climate. 

This year, Stoel Rives attorneys have been active working with clients on the most critical climate change-related market drivers including air quality/emissions regulation (including state green house gas legislation, cap & trade, renewable portfolio standards and emissions); energy resource planning dockets, water infrastructure and water rights (including state water conservation measures), environmental issues (including permitting and endangered species listings) and energy facility development (both renewable and conventional fuel and energy sources). 

“Our goal is to help clients find pathways to anticipate regulatory and legislative activity, prepare and sharpen business objectives and respond to business opportunities,” said Andrew P. Moratzka, chair of the firm’s Energy Development practice group and a partner in the firm’s Minneapolis, MN, office.  “Resiliency is the key to success.” 

About Stoel Rives LLP: Stoel Rives is a leading U.S. corporate and litigation law firm. One of the largest national firms focused on energy, natural resources, environmental and climate change, Stoel Rives also serves the agribusiness, food and beverage, health care, life sciences and technology industries. With more than 350 attorneys operating out of 10 offices in seven states and the District of Columbia, Stoel Rives is a leader in regulatory and compliance matters, business, labor and employment law, intellectual property, land use, real estate development and construction law. For more information, follow us @stoelrives or visit www.stoel.com.