Baron & Budd Environmental Practice Recognized as 2024 Law360 Practice Group of the Year

DALLAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Baron & Budd is proud to announce that the firm’s Environmental Litigation Group (ELG) has been named for a third year to Law360’s Practice Group of the Year. The award honors law firms with significant litigation wins and major deals that resonated throughout the legal industry in the past year.

The environmental practice was recognized by Law360 for its significant victories in protecting America’s drinking water. In particular, the group was instrumental in securing a record $12.5 billion nationwide class settlement with 3M - the largest drinking water contamination settlement in U.S. history. This historic case involved allegations that 3M and other companies knowingly manufactured and sold products containing per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), despite understanding the potential harm they posed to human health and the environment. Scott Summy, shareholder and leader of the Environmental Litigation Group, served as court-appointed co-lead counsel and was a key architect of the comprehensive settlement structure, which provides critical funds for communities affected by PFAS contamination.

PFAS – man-made chemicals used in the production of non-stick, stain resistant, and waterproof products – spread rapidly in the environment and have been linked to severe health issues. They are also used in aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF), a firefighting agent used to extinguish fuel fires at airports, military bases, and fire training centers.

In the same year, the ELG obtained a $1.1 billion nationwide class settlement on behalf of public water providers against DuPont and other manufacturers for PFAS contamination in drinking water supplies. Summy again played a central role as co-lead counsel and crafted the settlement structure. In addition, the firm achieved a $750 million settlement agreement with Tyco Fire Products and a $312.5 million settlement with BASF Corporation for PFAS-related drinking-water contamination. These settlements are critical to addressing the widespread PFAS contamination and provide essential funds for public water systems working to remediate affected water supplies.

Summy, who continues to serve as co-lead counsel in the ongoing AFFF MDL litigation in South Carolina, emphasized the firm’s continued commitment to environmental justice:

“On behalf of everyone in the Environmental Litigation Group, we are honored to be recognized for a third year by Law360 for our work in protecting the environment. This recognition reflects the tireless dedication of our team to seek justice for affected communities and hold accountable those who cause environmental harm. We remain committed to advancing solutions that protect public health and safeguard our most vital natural resources.”

The ELG is comprised of Scott Summy, Carla Burke Pickrel, Celeste Evangelisti, John Fiske, Stephen Johnston, Cary McDougal, Brett Land, Jason Julius, Torri Sherlin, Staci Olsen, Chris Campbell, Christopher Edwards, Jessica Gooding, Sangeeta Kuruppillai, Taylor O’Neal, Erin McIntosh, Jennifer Hutchison, Janell Green, and Kathy Jensen.

About Baron & Budd, P.C.

With more than 40 years of experience, Baron & Budd has the expertise and resources to handle complex litigation throughout the United States. As a law firm that takes pride in remaining at the forefront of litigation, Baron & Budd has spearheaded many significant cases for hundreds of public entities and tens of thousands of individuals. Since the firm was founded in 1977, Baron & Budd has achieved substantial national acclaim for its work on cutting-edge litigation, trying hundreds of cases to verdict and settling tens of thousands of cases in areas of litigation as diverse and significant as dangerous and highly addictive pharmaceuticals, defective medical devices, asbestos and mesothelioma, wildfires, environmental contamination, fraudulent banking practices, e-cigarettes, motor vehicles, federal whistleblower cases, and other consumer fraud issues.