PETER WHITFIELD assists his clients with environmental issues prior to, during, and after project development and operation. He helps companies navigate citizen suits, enforcement actions, regulatory proceedings, and challenges to their environmental clearances. Peter also handles a variety of administrative litigation matters on behalf of clients. With over a decade of experience, Peter has extensive knowledge of the Clean Air Act, National Environmental Policy Act, Endangered Species Act, National Historic Preservation Act, Administrative Procedure Act, Marine Mammal Protection Act, Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act, and numerous other federal and state laws. Peter’s NEPA and regulatory practice is distinguished as he has represented clients on projects that are onshore, offshore, transboundary, and even in outer space.
Peter’s practice also focuses heavily on conventional and renewable fuels regulation. He assists clients with regulatory compliance, transactional advice, advocacy, and litigation under the Renewable Fuel Standard and other fuel regulatory programs. Peter is recognized for his work in Chambers USA, which has ranked him for Environment in District of Columbia (2021–2024). He is also featured in the Lawdragon “Green 500: Leaders in Environmental Law” (2023 and 2024) and was rated by Super Lawyers in 2020 following listings as a “Rising Star” in its 2014–2017 editions.
Prior to joining Sidley, Peter was an environmental lawyer at a large international law firm where he represented clients in the steel, energy, natural resource, and agricultural industries. He also gained significant litigation experience in his role as a trial attorney in the U.S. Department of Justice’s Natural Resources Section, winning the department’s “Outstanding Performance” award in 2010.