DALLAS – The nationally recognized law firm Baron & Budd is pleased to announce that seven of the firm’s shareholders have been selected to The Lawdragon Green 500: 2024 Leaders in Environmental Law. Scott Summy, John Fiske, Torri Sherlin, Carla Burke Pickrel, Celeste Evangelisti, Cary McDougal, and Stephen Johnston have been recognized by Lawdragon for the significant impacts they have made on the legal profession in the environmental practice.

The attorneys in Baron & Budd’s Environmental Practice understand that the essentials of life – clean water, air, and soil – are fundamental to our existence. They have dedicated their careers to safeguarding the environment and these vital resources. The environmental attorneys take on major corporations and hold them accountable for water contamination and wildfire destruction.

Last year alone, the environmental attorneys obtained several historic settlements, including a record $12.5 billion nationwide class settlement with 3M, the largest drinking water contamination settlement in U.S. history. The lawsuit accused 3M and other companies of manufacturing and selling products containing PFAS despite knowing of their potentially harmful effects. Known as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are man-made chemicals used in the production of non-stick, stain resistant, and waterproof products. PFAS chemicals spread rapidly in the environment and have been linked to significant human health issues.

The environmental attorneys also 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.

Baron & Budd’s wildfire attorneys obtained $181 million in awards and settlements for utility caused wildfires last year. These settlements include a $100 million settlement with Southern California Edison for damages caused by the Bobcat Fire and a $24 million settlement with Pacific Gas & Electric for damages caused by the Dixie Fire.

Lawdragon is a legal media company that provides online news, editorials, and publishes guides to the nation’s leading lawyers. Since it was founded in 2005, the Lawdragon guides have been established as some of the most prestigious guides in the legal profession. Selections are made based on a combination of journalistic research, nominations, and peer review.

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.