Chambers & Partners has recognized 20 of our attorneys, along with our Eminent Domain & Inverse Condemnation, Environment & Land Use, Healthcare, Infrastructure, Insurance Recovery, Pensions, Benefits & Investments and Real Estate Groups in its 2025 Chambers USA guide of leading law firms and lawyers.
The 2025 edition again distinguishes our Infrastructure Group as one of only five practices in the national top tier for the Projects: Public Private Partnership (PPP) category. The Infrastructure Group also is ranked in the top tier globally by Chambers. The Group was praised by clients, with one saying, “Nossaman has a strategic and methodical approach and a collaborative nature and cooperative spirit.”
Infrastructure team members Barney Allison, Andrée Blais, Corey Boock, Brent Butzin, Elizabeth Cousins, Yukiko Kojima and Geoff Yarema were selected as leading lawyers in the category. Liz, chair of our Infrastructure Group, is noted for having a “a strong practice advising public authorities on PPP and other project contracts and having particular expertise in water infrastructure.” Barney is recognized for being a “key player in the PPP space who frequently acts for public agency clients on the development and financing of a wide range of infrastructure projects.” Corey is highlighted by clients for being a “meticulous thinker” and Chambers writes he is “equally experienced in public and private sector representation, with considerable expertise in the financing and development of transportation and wastewater infrastructure projects.” Brent is lauded for his “strong representation of public sector clients in the financing of PPP projects including rail, road and social infrastructure.” Yukiko is complimented for being a “strong performer in the PPP space and being frequently sought after to assist with the financing and development of airport terminals and convention centers among other infrastructure projects.” About Geoff, Chambers writes he “continues to play a central role in advising clients on PPP projects and broader strategy in the transportation sector.”
Chambers also recognizes Nossaman as a top law firm in environmental and land use law nationally as well as in California, Texas and Washington.
Discussing the Firm’s national Environment & Land Use Group, Chambers says it is “a well-known team with a national presence in environmental law and land use matters such as groundwater contamination, natural resources damages and toxic tort litigation.”
Writing about our Environment & Land Use Group in California, Chambers said we have “a robust environment group able to handle an array of environmental and natural resource matters. Notable strength lies in CWA and Endangered Species Act issues.” A client said Nossaman’s “understanding of the regulatory and legislative arenas provides a unique view of complicated environmental issues. Every team member understands the role they play and excels in those areas.”
In Texas, clients said the “Nossaman team is extremely knowledgeable and helpful in developing strategies and handling complex permits.” Chambers wrote Nossaman “is well versed in advising clients on environmental compliance, permitting and regulatory issues. The firm regularly advises clients from energy, utilities and transportation sectors.”
The Washington team was called a respected group that “assists clients with the full gamut of environmental matters, including contaminated site remediation and resolution of natural resource damage claims as well as compliance and litigation relating to air and water quality, wildlife conservation and fisheries management.” Clients said “the team’s expertise in this area is excellent.”
Mary Lynn Coffee (California), Robert Thornton (California), Svend Brandt-Erichsen (Washington), Leslie Nellermoe (Washington), Rebecca Hays Barho (Texas) and Brooke Marcus (Texas), all members of our Environment & Land Use Group, were recognized as leading attorneys in their respective states.
The team was repeatedly praised by clients. Mary Lynn was called an “outstanding attorney that is well-informed on a wide array of environmental regulatory and legislative issues who uses her knowledge and expertise for the full benefit of her clients.” A client said Robert “has one of the leading practices on the Endangered Species Act” in the U.S. Svend was lauded for his ”depth of knowledge, which sets him apart.” Brooke was distinguished for being “very creative in her approach and very communicative and going out of her way to help on issues.” Rebecca garnered positive commentary for being “really good” when it comes to meeting the needs of her clients.
Recognized as a leading firm both nationally and in the Washington, DC region in the insurance industry, Nossaman was highlighted for offering “insurance expertise across various industries, including advertising, construction, healthcare and technology” and assisting “clients in pursuing claims, litigation and alternative dispute resolution methods as well as advising on coverage evaluation and risk management.”
Andrew Reidy, co-chair of the Insurance Recovery & Counseling Group, who was recognized nationally in the Insurance: Dispute Resolution Policyholder category and in the DC region in the Insurance: Policyholder category, received high praise from his clients. They said Andrew is “easy to work with and his knowledge of insurance law is excellent. He is a very strategic and thoughtful individual.” Clients similarly lauded co-chair Joe Saka, who was ranked in the DC region in the Insurance: Policyholder category. They stated he is “strong at working with both other lawyers and the business team. He does very good work and we would turn to him again.”
The Firm’s Eminent Domain & Inverse Condemnation Group and Real Estate Group were recognized in the Real Estate: Zoning/Land Use category in California. Eminent Domain & Inverse Condemnation Group chair Brad Kuhn was recognized individually. The groups were noted for being “respected advisers on all aspects of the land use permitting process, including zoning, CEQA, coastal developments and eminent domain.” Clients said “the team has deep knowledge of the eminent domain laws and industry practices.” Speaking of Brad individually, a client said he is “really efficient and knew the subject matter well. He interacted directly with the opposing side, got it wrapped up quickly and got us the outcome we wanted.”
Ranked again as a leading firm in healthcare in California, the group was highlighted for “serving as healthcare law and policy leaders in California for decades.” Healthcare partner Tom Curtis was ranked individually and is called a leading healthcare lawyer and praised by a client for being a “trusted adviser.”
Yuliya Oryol, co-chair of the Firm’s Pensions, Benefits & Investments Group, was ranked in the national Investment Funds: Investor Representation category. She was called “notably adept at advising clients on co-investments, funds-of-one and secondary transactions.” Clients added she “responds to all of our needs and helps us move the needle to obtain best practices” and she “aways puts her clients first” and is “amazing in every way.”
In the national Food & Beverages: Alcohol category, Marco Costales was honored for having “recognized experience on advising alcohol importers and wineries on license applications and compliance issues.”
Additionally, in the Construction category for the Washington market, Tara O’Hanlon was cited for her work “advising a range of clients, including general contractors, subcontractors, suppliers and design professionals, over the life-cycle of construction projects.”