Gardere Partner Richard Faulk to Speak at Annual Judicial Symposium on Civil Justice Issues

Oct. 19, 2011 - PRLog -- HOUSTON – With a focus on its potential impact, Richard O. Faulk, Chair of the Gardere Wynne Sewell LLP Litigation Department, will speak on “The Future of Climate Change Litigation After AEP v. Connecticut” during the 6th Annual Judicial Symposium on Civil Justice Issues hosted by the George Mason University School of Law. The symposium provides a platform that gives judges a systematic review and critique of the most important civil justice issues of the day.

Mr. Faulk’s presentation will focus on the recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling in AEP v. Connecticut and what role, if any, the judiciary may play in redressing global climate change. Mr. Faulk collaborated with Houston Partner John S. Gray to file a Supreme Court brief on behalf of several clients regarding the merits of the highly controversial case. A copy of the amicus curiae brief can be found at http://www.gardere.com/Binaries/Press%20and%20Publications/AmElectricvStConnecticutBrief.pdf.

“Despite the ruling, many serious questions remain unresolved, and the future of climate change litigation continues to be unclear and unpredictable, especially in public nuisance cases under state law,” explains Mr. Faulk. “As a result, advocates, regulators, legislators and voters need a clear understanding of the High Court’s decision – and an evaluation of its impact on the continuing climate change controversy.”

The program begins Nov. 13 with registration, reception and dinner, with presentations conducted Nov. 14-15. Lodging and all class sessions will be at the Mason Inn and Conference Center on George Mason University’s main campus in Fairfax, Va.

Mr. Faulk is a member of the Board of Overseers of the Searle Civil Justice Institute (SCJI) at George Mason University. SCJI is a public policy institute devoted to producing timely, analytically rigorous and balanced research on important civil justice issues confronting our free enterprise system. He was the only environmental attorney included in the Texas Super Lawyers 2011 Top 100 Lawyers in Houston listing, and is the Chair of Gardere’s Environmental Practice Group and Climate Change Task Force. Mr. Faulk has been recognized as a “Leading Lawyer in Environmental Law” by Chambers USA for his “expertise in all types of environmental litigation, and in particular for his experience in toxic tort litigation.”

Gardere Wynne Sewell LLP, an AmLaw 200 firm founded in 1909 and one of the Southwest's largest full-service law firms, has offices in Austin, Dallas, Houston and Mexico City. Gardere provides legal services to private and public companies and individuals in areas of corporate, energy, environmental, financial services, government affairs, hospitality, intellectual property, labor and employment, litigation, real estate and tax.