Eric B. Rothenberg leads the Firm’s Environmental, Safety and Health Practices. He represents business and financial institutions in a broad range of adversarial matters, including superfund proceedings, toxic tort claims, private cost recovery actions and administrative proceedings. Drawing upon his experience as a graduate-degree environmental engineer, Eric also directs diligence and documentation of transactions, financings and restructurings/reorganizations involving industrial and commercial properties. He also serves as lead counsel and court-appointed allocation counsel at National Priorities List superfund sites. Eric also Co-leads the Firm’s, ESG task force group.
He is a frequent speaker and author of numerous publications including current U.S. and International Environmental Law summaries for the PLI Corporate Legal Counsel series and LexisNexis compliance guides. He is recognized by Chambers USA, Best Lawyers in America, Super Lawyers, and International Who’s Who as a leading US environmental lawyer.
- O’Melveny provided environmental and regulatory due diligence and documentation for Apollo Management LP in its acquisition of ABC Technologies, an automotive plastics firm with facilities across the US and Mexico
- Tegra with respect to the diligence and documentation for the roll up acquisition of a sportswear manufacturer
- Apollo Global Management in its acquisition of Taminco Corp. (Taminco), the world’s largest producer of alkylamines and alkylamine derivatives, and the US$2.8 billion sale of Taminco to Eastman Chemical Company, a global producer of specialty chemicals
- Verso Paper in its US$1.4 billion acquisition of NewPage, a privately held producer of specialty paper products and subsequent restructuring proceedings
- Apollo Global Management in its US$7.15 billion acquisition of El Paso Corporation’s oil and gas exploration units
- The Carlyle Group in its acquisition, along with other investors, in a majority stake in Luxembourg-based metals trader, the Traxys Group
- CI Capital Partners in its acquisition and later sale of building products distributor, FBM, to Lone Star for US$560 million
- CI Capital Partners in its acquisition and later sale of chemicals firm KIK Custom Products to Centerbridge Partners for US$780 million
- Apollo Global Management in its acquisition of Houston-based oilfield services company, Express Energy Services
- Apollo Global Management in its acquisition of Paris-based portfolio company, Constellium NV, a global aluminum fabricator, as well as the US$1.4 billion tuck in acquisition of privately held Wise Metals Group LLC, a leading producer of aluminum can stock for the beverage and food industries
- Apollo Global Management and its portfolio company, Talos Energy Offshore LLC, in the US$200 million acquisition of certain Gulf of Mexico off-shore, shallow zone oil and gas properties from Stone Energy Corp.
- Apollo Global Management in its US$1.8 billion acquisition of the Bighorn oil and gas assets of Encana Corp. in Canada’s Alberta Deep Basin
- Apollo Global Management in partnering with Caelus Energy Alaska LLC in its US$300 million acquisition of the Alaskan oil and gas business of Pioneer Natural Resources
- Apollo Global Management in its acquisition of certain assets of Hostess Brands, Inc.’s baked snack foods business for US$410 million in cash
- Apollo Global Management in its US$190 million acquisition of the formic acid business of Kemira Oyj
- Apollo Global Management in its US$400 million acquisition of Pitney Bowes Management Services
- Apollo Global Management in its US$2.5 billion purchase of McGraw-Hill’s education unit
- Apollo Global Management in its acquisition of worldwide operations of Tenneco, an after market auto parts manufacturer
- Apollo Global Management in its US$2.5 billion acquisition of Direct ChassisLink Inc, a rail and truck container chassis provider
- Apollo Global Management in its US$703 million acquisition of Wisconsin water park property owner and manager Great Wolf Resorts Inc.
- Apollo Global Management in its US$1 billion investment in Norwegian Cruise Lines Corporation Ltd. and subsequent US$3 billion merger with Prestige Cruises International
- Apollo Global Management in its US$1.15 billion acquisition of Xstrata Aluminum (now Noranda)
- Apollo Global Management in its acquisitions of Diamond International and Hilton Grand inverval ownership resorts
- Apollo Global Management in its US$1.825 billion acquisition of Rexnord plumbing and machine products and US$1.25 billion acquisition of Jacuzzi Brands, Inc.
- Apollo Global Management in its US$3.8 billion acquisition of the plastics, resins, silicones and quartz (Advanced Materials) division of General Electric Co.
- Apollo Global Management in its US$1.48 billion acquisition of the business and assets of the logistics division of TNT N.V., the Dutch parent company of TNT Logistics North America (now CEVA)
- Apollo Global Management in its acquisition of, and US$1.85 billion secured load and high yield note and bridge financing in connection with its acquisition, of Berry Plastics
- Apollo Global Management and portfolio companies Borden Chemical, Inc. Resolution Performance Products LLC and Resolution Specialty Materials LLC in the formation of Hexion Specialty Chemicals, Inc. and subsequent tuck-in acquisitions of specialty chemical businesses of Akzo, Eastman, Orica, Rhodia, and Reutgers
- Apollo Global Management and the Texas Pacific Group LLC in their $15.1 billion acquisition of Caesar’s/Harrah’s Entertainment Inc.
- Apollo Global Management in its acquisitions of Claire’s Stores and The Michaels Companies Inc.
- Apollo Global Management in its US$4.3 billion acquisition of Rackspace data hosting systems
- CI Capital Partners in its acquisition of specialty packaging company IntraPac
- CI Capital Partners in its acquisition of Valley National Gases Incorporated
- Elementis in its acquisition of Deuchem
- Francisco Partners in its investment in Data Connection Limited
- International Game Technology in its acquisition of Cyberview Technology, Inc.
- KIK Custom Products, Inc., a portfolio company of CI Capital Partners, in its US$300 million acquisition of the BioLab pool care additives business of Chemtura Corporation
- Kohlberg & Company, LLC in its acquisition of SM&P Utility Resources, Inc. and Central Locating Service, Ltd.
- Palladium Equity Partners in its acquisition of American Gilsonite Co.
- QSA Holdings Ltd., a portfolio company of Coller Capital Ltd., in the sale of its wholly-owned subsidiary, QSA Global Inc., to an undisclosed purchaser
- TCW Global Project Fund II, Ltd. in its investment in a hydroelectric power plant in Puebla, Mexico
- TCW Group in the merger of GSC Acquisition Company with Complete Energy
Admissions
Bar Admissions
- New York
- Missouri
Court Admissions
- US Supreme Court
Education
- Northeastern University, J.D., 1981
- Harvard University School of Public Health, M.S., 1976
- Harvard University, A.B., 1975: magna cum laude
Honors & Awards
- Recognized by Best Lawyers® for Environmental Law in New York, NY (2022-2024); Eric has been listed in Best Lawyers® since 2008
- Chambers USA - Leading Lawyer in Environment: Mainly Transactional (2012-2023)
- Recognized by The Legal 500 US as a Leading Lawyer for Environment: Transactional (2019-2023)
- Recognized by Who’s Who Legal: Environment & Climate Change (2023)
- Recognized by Super Lawyers in the Environmental Litigation section (2007, 2009-2012)
- Recognized by Who’s Who Legal: Environment (2009-2012)
- Recognized by AmLaw as a Top Rated Lawyer in Energy/Environmental (2013-2015)
- Recognized as one of the New York Area’s Top Lawyers by New York Magazine (2009, 2011)
- PLC Cross-border Environmental Handbook - Recommended in Environment: Corporate Section in NY (2011/2012, 2009/2010 and 2008/2009)
Professional Activities
Member
- American Bar Association
- The Bar of the City of New York
- American Industrial Hygiene Association
- Environmental Editorial Advisory Board
Author
- "SEC Sues Mining Company Based on ESG Disclosures," Insights: The Corporate & Securities Law Advisor (July 2022)
- “Companies Face Demand for Third-Party CSR Certifications,” CFO.com (November 26, 2019)
- “Hydraulic Fracturing Developments,” Pratt’s Energy Law Report (Quarterly 2015-2017)
- “International Environmental Law,” International Corporate Practice: A Practitioner's Guide To Global Success, PLI, 4th ed. (Annual updates 2014-2018)
- “Specific Corporate Compliance Challenges By Practice Area: Environment,” Corporate Compliance Practice Guide: The Next Generation (LexisNexis, August 2009-2018)
- “Latest Developments in International Maritime Environmental Regulation,” The Tulane Maritime Law Journal (winter ed., 2008)
- “The Greening of Older Buildings,” New York Law Journal (September 29, 2008)
- “Successfully Minimizing Risk” in Environmental Law Deal Strategies (Aspatore Books 2008)
- “Exploring the Carbon Trading Landscape,” New York Law Journal (July 16, 2007)
- “USEPA and State Brownfield Programs,” RTM/BNA Contaminated Property Transaction Symposium, Washington DC (April 11-12, 2007)
- “Overview of Environmental Law,” Corporate Legal Departments, PLI, 6th ed. (2006)
- “Overview of Environmental Law,” Westchester/Fairfield County ACCA Mergers and Acquisitions Conference (Sept. 22, 2005)
- “Federal and State Superfund Laws Affecting Business and Financial Transaction,” New York State Bar Association Annual Environmental Conference (July 2005)
Speaking Engagements
- Panelist, “ESG: The Role of Lawyers Today and in the Future”, International Bar Association, NY (March 1, 2023)
- Tackling Business and Environmental Risk Challenges in the Covid-19 World (June 11, 2020)
Featured
- “Turbulent Times,” Aviation Industry Review, Euroasia Industry magazine (May 2012)
Editor
- “Environmental Risk Management: A Desk Reference,” Risk Management Technologies, Inc., 2d ed. (1998)
Teaching
- Instructor, Fordham Law School Corporate Counsel Program: Superfund and Brownfield Development Law (2015-2020)
- Instructor, Cornell Law/Johnson Business School Combined Degree Program – Environmental Law Litigation/Insurance (2008-12)
- Reasearch Assistant Professor, Harvard University School of Public Health (1976)
Related Practices
Related Industries