Chemical Industry Law

From law offices in West Virginia, Virginia, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, and Florida, Spilman has represented clients in the chemical industry for nearly 70 years. Admitted to practice in 16 states and the District of Columbia, our lawyers have deep experience across the broad range of legal issues relevant to the chemical industry. Furthermore, we are able to assist chemical industry clients throughout the world via our national and international connections with World Services Group. Whether your issues lean toward environmental and toxic tort, employment and labor, intellectual property, real estate, government relations, or premises liability issues, we have you covered.

Spilman attorneys will help you get in front of problems before they occur. Our team will help you devise crisis management plans, outlining responsible parties, communication plans, and, of course, legal response plans. We also are adept at advocating for your interests before government bodies. We will review your operations and help you find potential weaknesses and vulnerabilities to litigation.

To manage litigation defense, and to control client costs, we use the Early Case Assessment model to identify and quantify the risks of trial versus settlement. The ECA is a living document, calling for constant evaluation, strategic decisions, and communication with the client as the case develops. When outside resources are required for electronic discovery, document collection, management and production, we call upon our network of trusted partner organizations to assist in serving client needs as effectively and efficiently as possible. Our success is measured by client objectives.

Our Chemical Industry Legal Services

Our representation of clients in the chemical industry covers virtually every substantive area of law, and includes representing clients in matters such as:

  • Litigating disputes, including environmental and toxic tort claims, claims of asbestos-related injuries, unfair trade practices, deliberate intent injury claims, and employment-related jury, bench and administrative trials and mass consolidations
  • Defending highly complex medical monitoring claims, including class actions, for companies in high-stakes litigation
  • Representing chemical manufacturers in EPA’s New Source Review enforcement initiatives against them
  • Representing chemical manufacturers in investigations involving possible criminal enforcement of alleged environmental crimes
  • Representing and counseling of chemical manufacturers on RCRA compliance, including environmental audits and defense of enforcement actions and administrative matters
  • Representing chemical manufacturers in a variety of enforcement actions, investigations and rulemakings
  • Providing comprehensive human resources audits, conducting comprehensive employee training programs, drafting and modifying personnel policies and procedures, and helping clients navigate employment decisions
  • Representing clients in union organizing campaigns, collective bargaining negotiations, unfair labor practice charges, arbitrations, discharges, strikes, civil litigation, and complex mergers and acquisitions
  • Structuring large, multi-asset transactions for chemical companies
  • Representing parties in cash collateral disputes, preference actions, asset purchases and sales, reclamation claims, executory contract and leasing issues, and numerous bankruptcy litigation matters, including automatic stay, equitable subordination, fraudulent transfer, and claims objections
  • Assisting in protecting clients against credit risks before a customer bankruptcy filing
  • Preparing and prosecuting patent applications

Spilman strives to provide value to chemical industry clients beyond day-to-day legal matters. Our chemical industry attorneys serve in leadership capacities on national legal and chemical industry associations, keeping abreast of current issues. We also look for opportunities to connect our clients with other valuable organizations, such as West Virginia’s Polymer Alliance Zone, the founding of which was facilitated by Spilman attorney Michael J. Basile.

For additional information about Spilman's chemical industry services, please contact:

304.340.3844