Peter Gioello focuses on both environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG) and environmental, health and safety (EHS) risks, issues and liabilities, including in the context of complex corporate transactions. As a member of the ESG Working Group, he partners with firm attorneys and practice groups in relevant areas to provide clients with unparalleled skill and experience in emerging ESG issues such as sustainability reporting and disclosure, impact investing, securities enforcement and shareholder litigation, ESG litigation, ESG due diligence, environmental justice, climate change mitigation and adaptation, biodiversity, product stewardship, supply-chain audits, human rights, diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI), cybersecurity, consumer safety and protection, corporate citizenship and stewardship, corporate governance, animal welfare, and anti-corruption and fraud.
Mr. Gioello’s environmental transactions practice focuses on traditional environmental, health and safety issues, and risks and liabilities as they arise in and relate to major transactions, especially mergers and acquisitions and financing transactions. These issues include environmental, health and safety compliance and litigation matters; site investigations and clean-ups; emerging contaminants; SEC disclosure; government enforcement and administrative proceedings; worker health and safety matters; audits; supply chain risks; real estate development projects; due diligence; and deal negotiation. A recognized practitioner who has worked on thousands of environmental transactions, Mr. Gioello is described as “commercial and market-savvy” for his environmental transactional advice and risk/liability evaluations on behalf of clients across a variety of industries, including but not limited to utilities, oil and gas, energy, manufacturing, pharmaceutical, chemicals, transportation, hospitality, and food and agriculture.
Experience
- National Securities Clearing Corporation (NSCC), a wholly owned subsidiary of The Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation (DTCC), in connection with the ESG disclosure of its Senior Notes offering.
- Envigo RMS Holding Corp. in a complex M&A deal involving simultaneous acquisitions and divestitures between Envigo and Labcorp’s Covance division in the same industry, in conducting EHS due diligence and negotiating environmental provisions of M&A agreement.
- Initial purchasers in bond offering for CITGO Holding, Inc., in on-site due diligence review.
- Initial purchasers in the acquisition financing for the buyout of W.R. Grace & Co., in conducting review of W.R. Grace’s liability and costs relating to remediation arising from the long-term operation of the Libby mine in Libby, Montana.
- Initial purchasers in multiple financing transactions for Scotts Miracle-Gro, in analyzing potential liability and the potential for reputational damage arising from allegations relating to product safety and other product stewardship concerns.
- Multiple clients in ESG and EHS due diligence on corporate transactions including drafting and verification of ESG disclosure language and negotiation of EHS and ESG provisions in acquisition agreements.
- Multiple clients as lead ESG attorney on multiple ESG financing deals, including green bonds and sustainability-linked bonds.
- Multiple clients advising clients on product stewardship risks and liabilities, including compliance with the Federal Trade Commission Green Guides.
Perspectives
Recognition
"Star Associate" Environment: Mainly Transactional (NY) (2021-2022)
"Associate to Watch" Environment: Mainly Transactional (NY) (2017-2020)
Credentials
Education
- J.D., Brooklyn Law School, 2008
- B.A., Drew University, 2005, cum laude
- Certificate, Sustainable Capitalism and ESG, University of California, Berkeley, School of Law, 2022
Admissions
- New York
Activities
- Member, New York Bar
- Secretary (2022–2023), American Bar Association’s Section of Environment, Energy and Resources (SEER); past-chair, Special Committee on Outreach; served three-year term on SEER Council, member, Special Committee on Diversity Equity, Inclusion and Belonging; liaison between ABA SEER and various LGBT organizations; former chair/vice-chair, Environmental Disclosure Committee
- Board member, Adirondack North Country Gender Alliance
- Planning Committee member, 2017–2019 Sustainability Investment Leadership Conference; organized and facilitated Diversity, Equity and Inclusion discussion
- Former board member, New York City Chapter of the New York League of Conservation Voters
- Former board member, New York City Bar Association Environmental Law committee (three-year term)