Cravath’s London Office Moves to 100 Cheapside
Environmental
Our environmental lawyers have extensive experience advising and supporting clients on complicated environmental issues across a broad range of contexts, including mergers and acquisitions, debt and equity offerings, bank loans and other business transactions. We also advise corporate clients and their boards of directors on evolving, and often novel, challenges and opportunities associated with environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues, sustainability concerns and climate change. In addition, we represent clients in complex environmental litigation and investigations, including those relating to remediation matters, climate change and indemnification disputes.
Environmental matters facing businesses are increasingly complex and sophisticated, both legally and scientifically. They often involve difficult technical and regulatory issues that can have significant effects on both day‑to‑day operations and strategic business decisions. As public awareness and investor expectations continue to increase with respect to the management and reporting of such matters, companies must address risks that can impact their financial and reputational core.
We are frequently engaged to assist clients in identifying, assessing and allocating environmental liabilities in corporate transactions, including addressing legal challenges relating to environmental regulatory issues, remediation and other liability matters and SEC environmental disclosure requirements. This also includes the management of significant post‑closing environmental indemnification obligations and legacy liabilities, such as mass toxic tort matters, and resolving environmental‑related contractual disputes. We also regularly advise clients on sustainability reporting and ESG‑related shareholder engagement and proxy matters. Our experience in virtually every industry enables us to understand the long‑term operational and strategic needs of our clients as well as industry‑wide trends and practices, and we use that knowledge to help develop practical solutions to environmental problems and to use environmental opportunities to their best advantage.
Cravath has been ranked as a top‑tier firm for our environmental transactional expertise by Chambers USA since its inception in 2003, and the publication quotes clients as saying:
- Cravath’s environmental practice is “superb” for its “breadth and depth of resources, expertise and flexibility.”
- “There is a total focus on the client and the service is extraordinary.”
- “They are timely and proactive, acting essentially as an in‑house resource at times, but with a very good understanding of market standards and the ever‑changing regulatory landscape.”
- Cravath’s environmental lawyers are “very responsive and pragmatic.”
- “They solve problems, are always available and provide a prompt service.”
- “Outstanding service provided in complex deals.”
- “The firm is very service-oriented, does a good job with staffing, is responsive and communicates well.”
With respect to environmental‑related litigation, which often can involve high‑stakes disputes across multiple forums and involve novel and varied legal theories, Cravath’s litigators are ideally positioned to secure results that can reshape legal and business landscapes for our clients. In defending against these actions, we draw on our technical knowledge to comprehensively address the substantive claims, while our generalist litigation training equips us with the skills to simultaneously manage, coordinate and direct a successful defense, often of numerous concurrent actions.
Environmental matters facing businesses are increasingly complex and sophisticated, both legally and scientifically. They often involve difficult technical and regulatory issues that can have significant effects on both day‑to‑day operations and strategic business decisions. As public awareness and investor expectations continue to increase with respect to the management and reporting of such matters, companies must address risks that can impact their financial and reputational core.
We are frequently engaged to assist clients in identifying, assessing and allocating environmental liabilities in corporate transactions, including addressing legal challenges relating to environmental regulatory issues, remediation and other liability matters and SEC environmental disclosure requirements. This also includes the management of significant post‑closing environmental indemnification obligations and legacy liabilities, such as mass toxic tort matters, and resolving environmental‑related contractual disputes. We also regularly advise clients on sustainability reporting and ESG‑related shareholder engagement and proxy matters. Our experience in virtually every industry enables us to understand the long‑term operational and strategic needs of our clients as well as industry‑wide trends and practices, and we use that knowledge to help develop practical solutions to environmental problems and to use environmental opportunities to their best advantage.
Cravath has been ranked as a top‑tier firm for our environmental transactional expertise by Chambers USA since its inception in 2003, and the publication quotes clients as saying:
- Cravath’s environmental practice is “superb” for its “breadth and depth of resources, expertise and flexibility.”
- “There is a total focus on the client and the service is extraordinary.”
- “They are timely and proactive, acting essentially as an in‑house resource at times, but with a very good understanding of market standards and the ever‑changing regulatory landscape.”
- Cravath’s environmental lawyers are “very responsive and pragmatic.”
- “They solve problems, are always available and provide a prompt service.”
- “Outstanding service provided in complex deals.”
- “The firm is very service-oriented, does a good job with staffing, is responsive and communicates well.”
With respect to environmental‑related litigation, which often can involve high‑stakes disputes across multiple forums and involve novel and varied legal theories, Cravath’s litigators are ideally positioned to secure results that can reshape legal and business landscapes for our clients. In defending against these actions, we draw on our technical knowledge to comprehensively address the substantive claims, while our generalist litigation training equips us with the skills to simultaneously manage, coordinate and direct a successful defense, often of numerous concurrent actions.
Deals & Cases
December 01, 2025
Polaris Inc.’s Registered Senior Notes Offering
Cravath represented the underwriters in connection with the $500 million registered senior notes offering of Polaris Inc. Polaris Inc. designs, engineers, manufactures and markets powersport vehicles and also designs and manufactures or sources parts, garments and accessories. The transaction closed on November 13, 2025.
Deals & Cases
December 01, 2025
The Mosaic Company’s Registered Senior Notes Offering
Cravath represented the underwriters in connection with the $900 million registered senior notes offering of The Mosaic Company, the world’s leading producer and marketer of concentrated phosphate and potash crop nutrients. The transaction closed on November 13, 2025.
Deals & Cases
November 26, 2025
Howmet Aerospace Inc.’s Registered Senior Notes Offering
Cravath represented the underwriters in connection with the $500 million registered notes offering of Howmet Aerospace Inc., a leading global provider of advanced engineered solutions for the aerospace and transportation industries. The transaction closed on November 12, 2025.
Deals & Cases
November 18, 2025
Axalta’s $25 Billion Merger of Equals with AkzoNobel
On November 18, 2025, Axalta Coating Systems Ltd. (“Axalta”) and Akzo Nobel N.V. announced that they have entered into a definitive agreement to combine in an all‑stock merger of equals, creating a premier global coatings company with an enterprise value of approximately $25 billion. Cravath is representing Axalta in connection with the transaction.
Deals & Cases
November 17, 2025
Johnson & Johnson’s $3.05 Billion Acquisition of Halda Therapeutics OpCo, Inc.
On November 17, 2025, Johnson & Johnson announced it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Halda Therapeutics OpCo, Inc., a clinical‑stage biotechnology company with a proprietary Regulated Induced Proximity TArgeting Chimera (RIPTACTM) platform to develop oral, targeted therapies for multiple types of solid tumors, including prostate cancer, for $3.05 billion in cash. Cravath is representing Johnson & Johnson in connection with the transaction.
Activities
June 12, 2025
Legal 500 United States Ranks Cravath in Top Tier Across 15 Practice Areas and Recognizes 79 Cravath Attorneys
The 2025 edition of the Legal 500 United States ranked Cravath in the top tier nationally in 15 areas: Antitrust - Civil Litigation/Class Actions: Defense; Capital Markets: Debt Offerings (Advice to Issuers); Capital Markets: Debt Offerings (Advice to Underwriters); Capital Markets: Global Offerings (Advice to Issuers); Capital Markets: Global Offerings (Advice to Underwriters); Commercial Lending (Advice to Lenders); Employee Benefits, Executive Compensation and Retirement Plans: Transactional; Environment: Transactional; Financial Services Litigation; General Commercial Disputes; International Tax; M&A: Large Deals ($1bn+); M&A Litigation: Defense; Securities Litigation: Defense; and U.S. Taxes: Non‑contentious. In addition, 79 Cravath attorneys were individually recognized by The Legal 500 United States this year.
Activities
June 12, 2025
Michael Arnold Speaks at PLI’s ESG 2025: What It Means for Boards, Management, and Counsel Program
On June 10, 2025, Cravath partner Michael L. Arnold participated in “ESG 2025: What It Means for Boards, Management, and Counsel,” a program presented by the Practising Law Institute in New York. The program hosted a number of experts, including company management and in‑house and outside counsel, to review recent trends in the sustainability landscape and best practices for governance. Michael spoke on a panel entitled “Board Oversight of ESG,” which reviewed ESG developments and changes over the past year in board‑level oversight of ESG and gave advice to boards of directors in fulfilling their duties while navigating the ESG landscape.
Activities
June 06, 2025
Chambers USA Ranks Cravath in Top Tier for 2025 Across Corporate, Litigation and Tax Practice Areas
The 2025 edition of Chambers USA ranked Cravath in the top tier nationally in seven areas: Antitrust; Capital Markets (Investment Grade Debt – Issuer Counsel); Capital Markets (Investment Grade Debt – Manager Counsel); Corporate/M&A (The Elite); Securities (Litigation); Securities (Regulation – Advisory); and Tax (Corporate & Finance). In New York, the Firm was ranked in the top tier in eight areas: Antitrust; Bankruptcy/Restructuring (Highly Regarded); Corporate/M&A (The Elite); Environment (Mainly Transactional); Litigation (General Commercial: The Elite); Litigation (Securities); Media & Entertainment (Corporate); and Tax. Fifty‑four Cravath lawyers were ranked across 23 practice categories.
Activities
April 14, 2025
Michael Arnold and Bill Podurgiel Speak at TGCF’s “Proxy Season Hot Topics - Evolving ESG and Shareholder Proposals” Program
On April 11, 2025, Cravath partner Michael L. Arnold and of counsel William D. Podurgiel participated in “Proxy Season Hot Topics - Evolving ESG and Shareholder Proposals,” a virtual program co‑hosted by Cravath and the Texas General Counsel Forum. The program reviewed key proxy season updates, including the impact of updated SEC guidance on ESG and shareholder engagement, responses to shareholder proposals under Staff Legal Bulletin 14M, updates to Schedule 13D and 13G reporting and new considerations in ESG disclosures.
Activities
March 20, 2025
Michael Arnold Joins Slaughter and May’s March 2025 Podcast to Discuss Evolving ESG Landscape
Cravath partner Michael L. Arnold was featured as a guest on the March 20, 2025 episode of Slaughter and May’s podcast, covering policy developments in the U.S. and E.U. In the interview, Michael discussed the evolving ESG landscape in the U.S., including international agreements, SEC climate rules and state‑level reporting developments.
Deals & Cases
December 01, 2025
Polaris Inc.’s Registered Senior Notes Offering
Cravath represented the underwriters in connection with the $500 million registered senior notes offering of Polaris Inc. Polaris Inc. designs, engineers, manufactures and markets powersport vehicles and also designs and manufactures or sources parts, garments and accessories. The transaction closed on November 13, 2025.
Deals & Cases
December 01, 2025
The Mosaic Company’s Registered Senior Notes Offering
Cravath represented the underwriters in connection with the $900 million registered senior notes offering of The Mosaic Company, the world’s leading producer and marketer of concentrated phosphate and potash crop nutrients. The transaction closed on November 13, 2025.
Deals & Cases
November 26, 2025
Howmet Aerospace Inc.’s Registered Senior Notes Offering
Cravath represented the underwriters in connection with the $500 million registered notes offering of Howmet Aerospace Inc., a leading global provider of advanced engineered solutions for the aerospace and transportation industries. The transaction closed on November 12, 2025.
Deals & Cases
November 18, 2025
Axalta’s $25 Billion Merger of Equals with AkzoNobel
On November 18, 2025, Axalta Coating Systems Ltd. (“Axalta”) and Akzo Nobel N.V. announced that they have entered into a definitive agreement to combine in an all‑stock merger of equals, creating a premier global coatings company with an enterprise value of approximately $25 billion. Cravath is representing Axalta in connection with the transaction.
Deals & Cases
November 17, 2025
Johnson & Johnson’s $3.05 Billion Acquisition of Halda Therapeutics OpCo, Inc.
On November 17, 2025, Johnson & Johnson announced it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Halda Therapeutics OpCo, Inc., a clinical‑stage biotechnology company with a proprietary Regulated Induced Proximity TArgeting Chimera (RIPTACTM) platform to develop oral, targeted therapies for multiple types of solid tumors, including prostate cancer, for $3.05 billion in cash. Cravath is representing Johnson & Johnson in connection with the transaction.
Activities
June 12, 2025
Legal 500 United States Ranks Cravath in Top Tier Across 15 Practice Areas and Recognizes 79 Cravath Attorneys
The 2025 edition of the Legal 500 United States ranked Cravath in the top tier nationally in 15 areas: Antitrust - Civil Litigation/Class Actions: Defense; Capital Markets: Debt Offerings (Advice to Issuers); Capital Markets: Debt Offerings (Advice to Underwriters); Capital Markets: Global Offerings (Advice to Issuers); Capital Markets: Global Offerings (Advice to Underwriters); Commercial Lending (Advice to Lenders); Employee Benefits, Executive Compensation and Retirement Plans: Transactional; Environment: Transactional; Financial Services Litigation; General Commercial Disputes; International Tax; M&A: Large Deals ($1bn+); M&A Litigation: Defense; Securities Litigation: Defense; and U.S. Taxes: Non‑contentious. In addition, 79 Cravath attorneys were individually recognized by The Legal 500 United States this year.
Activities
June 12, 2025
Michael Arnold Speaks at PLI’s ESG 2025: What It Means for Boards, Management, and Counsel Program
On June 10, 2025, Cravath partner Michael L. Arnold participated in “ESG 2025: What It Means for Boards, Management, and Counsel,” a program presented by the Practising Law Institute in New York. The program hosted a number of experts, including company management and in‑house and outside counsel, to review recent trends in the sustainability landscape and best practices for governance. Michael spoke on a panel entitled “Board Oversight of ESG,” which reviewed ESG developments and changes over the past year in board‑level oversight of ESG and gave advice to boards of directors in fulfilling their duties while navigating the ESG landscape.
Activities
June 06, 2025
Chambers USA Ranks Cravath in Top Tier for 2025 Across Corporate, Litigation and Tax Practice Areas
The 2025 edition of Chambers USA ranked Cravath in the top tier nationally in seven areas: Antitrust; Capital Markets (Investment Grade Debt – Issuer Counsel); Capital Markets (Investment Grade Debt – Manager Counsel); Corporate/M&A (The Elite); Securities (Litigation); Securities (Regulation – Advisory); and Tax (Corporate & Finance). In New York, the Firm was ranked in the top tier in eight areas: Antitrust; Bankruptcy/Restructuring (Highly Regarded); Corporate/M&A (The Elite); Environment (Mainly Transactional); Litigation (General Commercial: The Elite); Litigation (Securities); Media & Entertainment (Corporate); and Tax. Fifty‑four Cravath lawyers were ranked across 23 practice categories.
Activities
April 14, 2025
Michael Arnold and Bill Podurgiel Speak at TGCF’s “Proxy Season Hot Topics - Evolving ESG and Shareholder Proposals” Program
On April 11, 2025, Cravath partner Michael L. Arnold and of counsel William D. Podurgiel participated in “Proxy Season Hot Topics - Evolving ESG and Shareholder Proposals,” a virtual program co‑hosted by Cravath and the Texas General Counsel Forum. The program reviewed key proxy season updates, including the impact of updated SEC guidance on ESG and shareholder engagement, responses to shareholder proposals under Staff Legal Bulletin 14M, updates to Schedule 13D and 13G reporting and new considerations in ESG disclosures.
Activities
March 20, 2025
Michael Arnold Joins Slaughter and May’s March 2025 Podcast to Discuss Evolving ESG Landscape
Cravath partner Michael L. Arnold was featured as a guest on the March 20, 2025 episode of Slaughter and May’s podcast, covering policy developments in the U.S. and E.U. In the interview, Michael discussed the evolving ESG landscape in the U.S., including international agreements, SEC climate rules and state‑level reporting developments.
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