John Rousakis

Partner

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John Rousakis is an experienced environmental lawyer who represents private equity, financial, commercial and industrial clients in transactions, litigation, and regulatory compliance matters.

He represents clients on acquisitions and divestitures of industrial, energy, transportation, pharmaceutical and other businesses, on infrastructure development and real estate projects, and in federal and state Superfund matters. He also provides strategic and regulatory counseling on a wide range of environmental, health and safety and ESG matters, including development of ESG programs and policies.

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Honors & Awards

  • Recognized by The Legal 500 US in Environment: Transactional (2020-2022)
  • Recommended in Environment by Who's Who Legal (2019)
  • Recognized in Chambers USA - Environment: Mainly Transactional (2018-2022)
  • America's Leading Business Lawyers, Chambers USA (2008-2011)

Admissions

Bar Admissions

  • New York

Court Admissions

  • US District Court, Eastern and Southern Districts of New York

Education

  • New York University, J.D.; Editor-in-Chief, NYU Environmental Law Journal
  • Princeton University, B.S.E., Civil Engineering: magna cum laude

Professional Activities

Chair

  • New York City Bar, Committee on International Environmental Law (2006-2009)

Member

  • New York City Bar, Committee on Environmental Law (2016-present) 

Board Member

  • Greenway Conservancy for the Hudson River Valley (2001-2010)

Author

  • "SEC Sues Mining Company Based on ESG Disclosures," Insights: The Corporate & Securities Law Advisor (July 2022)
  • “As Trump Administration Attempts to Roll Back Environmental Regulations, Past Lessons Are Prologue,” New York Law Journal (December 19, 2018)
  • “Environmental Counseling in Divestitures,” Westlaw Journal Mergers & Acquisitions (June 2018)
  • “Environmental Law,” Corporate Legal Departments: Practicing Law in a Corporation, PLI, 4th ed., co-author (2017)
  • “The Price of Greenhouse Gas Legislation,” Environmental Law360 (October 5, 2009)
  • “Corporate Compliance Challenges: Environment, Corporate Compliance Practice Guide: The Next Generation of Compliance,” LexisNexis, co-author (2009)
  • “International Environmental Law," International Corporate Practice: A Practitioner's Guide To Global Success,” PLI, 2nd ed. (2008)
  • “Exploring the Carbon Trading Landscape,” New York Law Journal (July 16, 2007)

Speaker

  • “Green Finance: Leveraging Investment for Environmental Protection,” Environmental Law Institute (June 2017)
  • “Major Developments in EU Environmental Law,” New York City Bar Center for CLE, Chair and Speaker (October 2006)
  • “International Issues in Environmental Auditing,” Auditing Roundtable NY Regional Meeting (September 2006)
  • “Recent Developments in EU Environmental Law,” Pennsylvania Bar Institute Environmental Law Forum (April 2005)
  • “Environmental Policies for Lending Institutions,” EDR Financial Services' Environmental Risk Summit (October 2004)

Transactional Matters 

  • Apollo Global Management in multiple acquisitions, including its acquisitions of Tenneco, ABC Technologies, Atlas Air, Sun Country Airlines, Ingenico, Constellium, Xstrata Aluminum, Verso Paper, Borden Chemical, Parallel Petroleum, Jacuzzi Brands, Rexnord, Berry Plastics, Graanul Invest, ClubCorp, Constellis, and Rackspace, 
  • LaGuardia Gateway Partners in the redevelopment and long-term operation of the Central Terminal Building at New York LaGuardia Airport
  • JFK Millennium Partners in the redevelopment of JFK Airport Terminal 6
  • The City of Miami in the development of the Miami Freedom Park stadium and related commercial and recreational assets
  • TTM Technologies in its acquisitions of Anaren Inc. and Telephonics
  • DL Chemical in its acquisition of Kraton Corporation
  • Microsemi Corporation in its acquisition of Vectron International
  • Palladium Equity Partners in its acquisition of American Gilsonite Co.

Site Remediation and Litigation Matters

  • Nu-West Industries in connection with the investigation and remediation of former phosphate mine sites in Southeast Idaho 
  • American Airlines:  Defense of State enforcement proceeding related to remediation portion of redevelopment of JFK Terminals 8 and 9, and representation in related contribution action for recovery of remediation costs
  • Combe Fill South Landfill NPL Site (Chester Township, NJ):  Common counsel for 14 defendants in $200 million cost recovery action by USEPA and the State of New Jersey
  • Gulf Nuclear Sites (Webster, Texas):  Defense of industrial entity in cleanup cost recovery action brought by USEPA and State of Texas
  • BEMS Landfill (Burlington County, NJ):  Defense of third-party commercial entity in multiparty landfill cleanup cost recovery action initially brought by NJDEP

Alerts and Publications

Inflation Reduction Act Adds First-time Charge for Methane Emissions for the Oil and Gas Sector

August 16, 2022

California Enacts Plastics Legislation, Highlighting Global Focus on Plastics Recycling and Waste Reduction

August 4, 2022

New Restrictions on Imports Manufactured With Forced Labor Take Effect

June 24, 2022

EPA Publishes Guidance on Legal Tools to Advance Environmental Justice

June 8, 2022

SEC Steps Up ESG Enforcement and Issues Proposed Rule on Diligence and Disclosure for ESG and Impact Funds

June 3, 2022

Department of Justice Launches Comprehensive Environmental Justice Strategy

May 9, 2022

SEC Sues Mining Company Based on ESG Disclosures

May 4, 2022

SEC and International Sustainability Standards Board Head Toward Uniform Disclosure of ESG-Related Information

April 14, 2022

FERC Issues Pause in Natural Gas Pipeline Policy Statements as the White House Announces an Initiative for Increasing LNG Exports to Europe and the D.C. Court of Appeals Provides Guidance on Consideration of Greenhouse Gas Emissions

March 25, 2022

FERC Issues New Policies for Review of Applications for New and Modified Natural Gas Pipelines, Including Consideration of Greenhouse Gas Emissions for Pipeline and LNG Facilities

February 22, 2022

California’s New Organic Waste Diversion Rules Take Effect

January 12, 2022

In the News

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