A few weeks ago, the U.S. Supreme Court heard argument in a tax case about attorney-client privilege. See In re Grand Jury, No. 21-1397 (U.S. arg. Jan. 9, 2023). The outcome would have potentially had a real impact on how environmental practitioners think about environmental audits, environmental management systems, and other circumstances in which an environmental professional and a lawyer cooperate to analyze a client’s situation. But, perhaps because the oral argument so confused everyone, on Jan. 23, the court dismissed the case on the ground that certiorari had been improvidently granted. So now instead of guidance, we have uncertainty.

Click here to continue reading the full column, published by The Legal Intelligencer Feb. 2. Reprinted with permission.

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Photo of David Mandelbaum David Mandelbaum

David G. Mandelbaum represents clients facing problems under environmental laws. He regularly represents clients in lawsuits and also has helped clients achieve satisfactory outcomes through regulatory negotiation or private transactions. A Fellow of the American College of Environmental Lawyers, David teaches Superfund, and…

David G. Mandelbaum represents clients facing problems under environmental laws. He regularly represents clients in lawsuits and also has helped clients achieve satisfactory outcomes through regulatory negotiation or private transactions. A Fellow of the American College of Environmental Lawyers, David teaches Superfund, and Oil and Gas Law in rotation at the Temple University Beasley School of Law as well as an environmental litigation course at Suffolk (Boston) Law School.

Since United States v. Atlas Minerals, the first multi-generator Superfund contribution case to go to trial in 1993, Mr. Mandelbaum has been engaged in matters involving allocation of costs among responsible parties, especially under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA).  He has tried large cases and resolved others as lead counsel.  He has written, spoken, and taught extensively on the subject.  More recently he also has been engaged to assist lead counsel from this firm and others:

  • to develop cost allocation methodologies;
  • to craft expert testimony in support of a favored methodology (given a definition of “fairness,” why one methodology better tracks it than another);
  • to develop efficient case management approaches; and to assist private allocation as part of the neutral team.

Concentrations

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