Committee Chair Corner – Environmental and Energy Law Committee
Candace Ali Blydenburgh
McGuireWoods LLP
cblydenburgh@mcguirewoods.com
What does fracking, climate change, water, lead, mold, pesticides, diesel fumes, air, and bed bugs have in common? These are just a few of the more interesting topics that fall under the bailiwick of IADC’s Environmental and Energy Law Committee. I am honored to serve as the current Chair of this Committee which bridges the worlds of litigation and regulatory compliance on the state, federal, and international level.
Our Committee is small but composed of an active group of in-house and outside counsel with distinct energy and environmental practices. We have members from Argentina to Alabama. Some of our members are litigators who have handled matters involving asbestos, silica, benzene, diesel fumes, lead paint, and groundwater contamination just to name a few. Other members of our Committee handle the insurance side of the energy and environmental equation.
The diversity of our Committee’s experiences is reflected in our activities. Our monthly calls, which occur on the first Friday of each month, include introductions of new members as well as discussions of new case law; state and federal environmental statutes; regulatory rulings; and/or municipal ordinances that affect the energy and environmental sector.
In addition, the Environmental and Energy Law Committee partners with other Committees to present timely programs given that our industry crosses so many others. Our Midyear Meeting program – A New Environment For Climate Change Litigation - brought together in-house counsel and outside counsel to discuss the new climate change cases and what to expect when litigating climate change cases. Our upcoming Annual Meeting program – Crisis Tragedy – It’s What We Do! – is co-sponsored with the Corporate Counsel Committee and Insurance and Reinsurance Committee and will consist of a discussion of practical pointers in responding to environmental disasters.
Our Committee is always in search of new members and new ideas for newsletters, programs, and/or Webinars. If you are interested in getting involved or becoming more involved, then please join our monthly Friday calls at 2:30 p.m. Eastern or email me at cblydenburgh@mcguirewoods.com.