The 32nd Fall Conference, October 23-25 is an opportunity to hear from leading practitioners and to learn about the challenges and opportunities shaping environment, energy, and resources law. During the conference, you will be able to leverage professional development opportunities, connect with industry experts such as SCS Engineers, and stay informed about the latest trends.
The conference features engaging discussions with leaders in environmental, energy, and resources law, including state and federal regulators, leading scholars, and in-house counsel. Each day will kick off with a plenary session, such as exploring the emergence of AI and its implications for environment, energy, and resources law, and the impact of recent Supreme Court decisions.
The conference agenda is diverse, providing updates on the Clean Water Act and Clean Air Act. A hypothetical industrial accident will focus on managing key roles in responding to the accident. Attendees will gain an understanding from energy practitioners as they delve into environmental justice considerations and the permitting process for energy and environmental projects and the strategic siting of renewable energy projects. Climate change remains a pressing concern, and panel discussions will explore recent climate litigation and the ramifications of climate change on water availability. Hear from panelists as they address Tribal considerations in the areas of treaty rights and co-management of state and federal lands and natural resources. Additional topics to be examined include dam removal developments, contaminated waterways cleanups, the impacts of regulatory requirements on supply chain logistics, the emergence of contaminants such as microplastics and 6PPD, and the evolving landscape of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) and climate disclosure practices.
Experience firsthand this enriching event, where you’ll gain insights from top practitioners, build valuable connections, and be inspired by peers in the environmental, energy, and resources law community. We’ll see you in Seattle!
SCS Engineers’ professional staff, located according to their knowledge of regional and local geography, regulatory policies, and industrial or scientific specialty, are available nationwide. SCS professionals are technical experts and have been admitted as expert witnesses and supported legal counsel in a variety of environmental and regulatory litigation matters. We are always available to discuss:
The ABA Annual Spring Conference on Environmental Law, April 3-5 in Chicago, IL., is where you join leading environmental, energy, and resources law professionals for knowledge-sharing, networking, and inspiration in the Windy City. The conference provides timely, topical updates on the latest opportunities and challenges facing the field of environmental law, with a deep dive into the fields of environmental compliance, energy, and resources law. Join – SEER – the Section of Environment, Energy, and Resources, to learn about the latest developments shaping the practice today and the long-term trends that will drive the future.
What to Expect
Lively discussions with leading practitioners, including state and federal regulators, leading scholars, and in-house counsel. Each day will kick off with a plenary session diving into key topics: one on forthcoming Supreme Court decisions that could reshape environmental law, and one on the evolution of EPA’s enforcement tools. A special track of panels will focus on the challenges of regulating across multiple jurisdictions. Panels in this series will help attendees understand how state priorities shape Clean Air Act and Clean Water Act implementation, parse through competing frameworks steering the energy transition, and make sense of global ESG trends influencing U.S. policy. The conference will also feature a litigation workshop focused on cutting-edge strategies for using unique types of evidence, like Indigenous Knowledge, in the courtroom.
Panels will examine liability mechanisms for historical PFAS, explore how regulatory pathways for emerging contaminants will impact clients, and consider practical approaches to environmental justice through the lens of a real case study in Chicago. Top speakers will weigh in on balancing the energy transition against national security and the ethical implications of artificial intelligence for lawyers. In addition to insights and practice tips from top practitioners, two panels will begin with case summary presentations by law students and young attorneys that attendees can use in their own practices.
Whether you are an experienced practitioner or in the beginning stages of your practice, join us in Chicago to create new connections, exchange perspectives, and get inspired by your fellow environmental, energy, and resources law professionals.
Meet SCS Engineers Environmental Professionals at the largest and most prestigious gathering in California of Leaders in Environmental, Land Use, and Natural Resources Law. The 32nd Annual Environmental Law Conference at Yosemite will be held October 19-22, at Tenaya Lodge in Fish Camp/Yosemite, California.
As a Saturday Night Dinner Sponsor, SCS will have a display table and conduct a raffle!
We hope you will join us and many of our nation’s top environmental officials, lawyers, and other professionals for four days of legal education and collegiality in Yosemite for the 32nd Annual Environmental Law Conference at Yosemite®.
Michael W. (Mike) McLaughlin has been elected to the Virginia State Bar Environmental Law Section Board of Governors. His four-year term began on July 1. Mike began his career with SCS as a summer intern as a rising sophomore at Virginia Tech. After receiving his civil (environmental) engineering degree, he received his J.D. from Washington & Lee University School of law. He has been with SCS ever since, applying his combination of law, science, and engineering expertise to environmental matters. His knowledge helps businesses and communities protect air, water, and land resources while serving the needs of their clients or constituents.
McLaughlin recalls his early career choices: “It was exciting to work on some of the earliest research projects sponsored by the then-new Environmental Protection Agency. I chose W&L Law because it had Professor Andrew (Uncas) McThenia on its faculty. Uncas was a Virginia State Water Control Board member and taught one of the few environmental law classes in the country. When I told him he was the reason I came to W&L, Uncas apologized and said he would not teach environmental law anymore—the field had too much politics involved. That was an early and important lesson for me.
“Not to worry,” says Mike. “Turner Smith of the Hunton & Williams law firm taught the environmental law class; he was one of the country’s most well-known Clean Air Act attorneys. His knowledge of the subject matter and teaching ability inspired several of us to seek careers in the field.”
Mike is SCS Engineers’ Senior Vice President of Environmental Services. He advises developers, contractors, lenders, and land development professionals on the technical and regulatory requirements for construction on brownfield sites nationwide. Landfill redevelopment is an area of special interest. His combined engineering and legal background provides an unusual perspective on land development where hazardous wastes or other environmental challenges are present.
In addition to his extensive brownfield redevelopment experience in North America, Mike has worked at more than three dozen Superfund National Priorities List sites in 17 states and on scores of regulatory compliance, voluntary cleanup, and remediation projects for commercial, industrial, municipal, and military clients. His work for electric utilities began in 1980 with research on upgrading solid waste management and has evolved to support greenhouse gas mitigation measures and support the transition to renewable energy.
Mike’s new role with the VSB builds on his decades of experience with the American Bar Association Section of Environment, Energy, and Resources, where he is completing a two-year term as Budget Officer and a member of the Executive Committee.
Speakers include Andrew Wheeler, Administrator, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency discussing regulatory policy about the environment, energy, and resources. SCS a proud sponsor looks forward to seeing you there!
A few of the topics of this year’s conference will include water law, brownfields, public service, fracking, enforcement, grid resiliency, PFAS, mineral exploration, and more, even the environmental implications of the new cannabis industry.
