On July 21, Law360 announced Drew Silton as a 2025 Rising Star. The annual award recognizes lawyers 40 and under "whose legal accomplishments belie their age." Law360 received over 1,100 applications for 34 practices, and Drew is one of four attorneys recognized in the environmental category.
As Co-Chair of B&D's Water practice, Drew leads the firm's work on high-stakes litigation, enforcement, and regulatory counseling under the Clean Water Act. His recent achievements include a landmark victory before the U.S. Supreme Court in City & County of San Francisco v. EPA. This decision clarifies how EPA and states may impose water quality obligations on National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permittees. Law360 named it one of the top environmental cases to watch in 2025, and outlets, including The New York Times, The Washington Post, and Associated Press also covered the ruling.
Drew represents other major cities, such as Baton Rouge and Pittsburgh in complex Clean Water Act (CWA) enforcement matters, guiding local governments through challenges at the intersection of environmental protection, infrastructure investment, and social equity.
In addition to his CWA enforcement practice, Drew works with major technology companies and data centers to develop environmental compliance programs and novel solutions for reusing cooling water, as well as negotiating agreements to fund water and ecosystem restoration projects. Drew also assists clients in the renewable energy sector in addressing stormwater challenges associated with the development of utility-scale solar facilities.
In addition to his client work, Drew serves as pro bono counsel to the National Environmental Education Foundation, a non-profit chartered by Congress in 1990 to educate the public about the environment. He also frequently speaks at national environmental conferences and is active in the National Association of Clean Water Agencies.