For Immediate Release: May 6, 2010

Holland & Knight Attorneys Larry Liebesman and Rafe Petersen Author Second Edition of Endangered Species Deskbook

(Washington, DC) — The Environmental Law Institute has released the second edition of The Endangered Species Deskbook, authored by Holland & Knight partners Larry Liebesman and Rafe Peterson. The second edition is a long-awaited, comprehensive reference to one of the most complex and heavily litigated environmental statutes ever enacted by the U.S. Congress. The Endangered Species Act, passed in 1973, requires all federal departments and agencies to conserve endangered and threatened species by utilizing their authorities in furtherance of the act’s purposes.

Because the ESA takes a broad approach to species protection, it has had major impacts, especially on private property rights and economic development. It has also been a lightning rod for debate over human impacts on the biodiversity of the U.S. ecosystem. More recently, the effects of climate change on imperiled species have become hotly contested as Congress considers legislation intended to combat global warming.

This new edition of the Deskbook updates the previous edition’s comprehensive discussion of the law by adding a new chapter on climate change and addressing the latest ESA-related developments, such as the listing of the polar bear under the ESA. This second edition also includes appendixes that detail key laws, policies, regulations, and contact information for easy reference.

By explaining the ESA’s complicated history and implementation—along with ensuing agency regulations and court decisions—the Deskbook provides a practical guide for interpreting the Act. It is particularly valuable in outlining the steps that are needed for compliance with ESA and agency regulations. Like its predecessor, this new edition offers a wealth of information for practitioners, policy makers, and all citizens interested in the issues surrounding species conservation.

Ordering Information:

Price: $109.95. 350 pp. Call 800-621-2736, or visit http://www.endangeredspeciesdeskbook.com.

About the Authors:

Lawrence R. Liebesman, a partner in Holland & Knight’s Washington DC office has more than thirty years experience as an environmental attorney and litigator. He is a frequent author and lecturer on environmental topics and has participated in landmark Supreme Court cases under the Clean Water and Endangered Species Acts. Rafe Petersen, also a partner in Holland & Knight’s Washington DC office primarily practices in the area of environmental compliance and litigation, with an emphasis on the Clean Water Act, the Endangered Species Act, the National Environmental Policy Act and resource issues.

About Holland & Knight LLP:

Holland & Knight is a global law firm with more than 1,000 lawyers in 17 U.S. offices as well as Abu Dhabi, Beijing and Mexico City. The firm is among the nation’s largest law firms, providing representation in litigation, business, real estate and governmental law. Interdisciplinary practice groups and industry-based teams provide clients with access to attorneys throughout the firm, regardless of location. www.hklaw.com.

About the Environmental Law Institute:

The Environmental Law Institute (ELI) makes law work for people, places, and the planet. The Institute’s mission is to advance environmental protection by improving environmental law, policy, and management. Since 1969, ELI has played a pivotal role in shaping the fields of environmental law, policy, and management, domestically and abroad. Today, we enter our fifth decade as an internationally recognized, non-partisan research and education center working to strengthen environmental protection by improving law and governance worldwide.

We deliver insightful and impartial analysis to opinion makers, including government officials, environmental and business leaders, academics, members of the environmental bar, and journalists. ELI is a clearinghouse and a town hall, providing common ground for debate on important environmental issues.

The Environmental Law Institute® is an independent, non-profit research and educational organization based in Washington, DC. The Institute serves the environmental profession in business, government, the private bar, public interest organizations, academia, and the press. For further information from the Environmental Law Institute, please contact Brett Kitchen at 202-939-3833 or pressrequest@eli.org.
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