The American Bar Association’s Section of Environment, Energy, and Resources (SEER) will host its 54th annual Spring Conference on March 26-28, 2025, at the Loews Philadelphia Hotel. This will be the first time that SEER has ever held a conference in Philadelphia, and over 400 environmental and energy attorneys and professionals will be in attendance. The conference will deliver comprehensive and timely programming addressing a wide range of issues facing environmental and energy law practitioners.
Pete Keays, chair of the conference planning committee, discusses the conference, the planning process, and what attendees can expect.
Q: What went into selecting the topics for this year’s conference, and what are some of the major topics that will be covered?
A: Environmental law seems niche to those outside the field, but it’s actually an extremely broad practice area. With over 9,000 members in SEER, we have attorneys concentrating on air quality, litigation, transactional work, Superfund, water law, ESG, energy, and much more. Our approach was to be comprehensive in delivering content that serves the entirety of this diverse community.
In terms of topics, we began planning last May, well before the election, which has dramatically upended many aspects of environmental law. We’ve had to pivot quickly to ensure that our panels cover these recent developments, but our top-notch slate of speakers have risen to the challenge, and we will cover the implications of those developments across nearly all of our panels.
Climate impacts and climate resiliency are also a major focus of this conference. The past year alone we’ve seen devastating fires in California, hurricanes in North Carolina, and many other tangible impacts of climate change. Climate change isn’t a future concern anymore — it’s happening now. We’ve developed several panels focused on the legal issues surrounding climate change and how to adapt.
We’ve also prioritized imparting practical knowledge that attorneys can immediately apply in their practice. Rather than focusing heavily on theory, we’re emphasizing actionable takeaways.
Q: What opportunities will attendees have to connect with other professionals?
A: The social and networking aspect is a major focus of SEER conferences, and this one will be no exception. We’ve built the program around networking breaks, nightly receptions, dinners, and other opportunities for attendees to connect with one another.
The SEER community is just fantastic. The practice of law can often be isolating, particularly since the pandemic. It’s incredibly invigorating and uplifting to connect in person with 400+ professionals who operate in the same world as you do. These conferences have become a major highlight of both my professional and social calendars, and they have led to countless connections and friendships that have enriched and benefited my practice and work life.
Q: What motivated you to take on the role of planning chair?
A: I started attending these conferences about six years ago at the encouragement of my colleague, Steve Miano, who is a former Chair of SEER. I got hooked fairly quickly, served on a number of conference planning committees, and was thrilled to be asked to chair the conference this year.
I love the process of working with a diverse team to develop ideas and watch those ideas materialize over time. Taking a broad concept for a panel, gradually putting meat on the bones, selecting speakers, and handing it off to them to bring the panel to life is incredibly rewarding. As planning chair, I’ve been involved with that process across all 14 panels, which has been awesome.
Q: What has been the most rewarding aspect of organizing the conference?
A: Hands down, the most rewarding part has been working with the planning committee. I somehow managed to convince 20 exceptional (and exceptionally busy) lawyers to sign on to 10 months of (non-billable) work. It is a brilliant, dedicated, and thoroughly enjoyable group folks from across the country, with different practice areas, backgrounds, and types of employers. Working with them to transform initial concepts into fully formed panels with outstanding speakers has been incredibly satisfying—and a lot of fun.
It’s also been very special to chair the conference as it comes to Philadelphia for the first time. I’m wearing two hats — one as SEER’s planning chair, and the other as a Philadelphia environmental attorney — and bringing those worlds together has been especially meaningful. The local environmental bar and our host city committee have shown tremendous support and enthusiasm for this conference, and I’m proud to be able to spotlight our city and our exceptional environmental bar on such a prominent national stage.
Q: Are there any panels you’re particularly excited about?
A: That’s almost like asking if I have a favorite child! I’m excited about the whole lineup, but I will say there are several panels that are a bit unconventional that I’m looking forward to. For example, “Toeing the Line: Privilege, Ethics, and Best Practices for Working with Environmental Consultants.” In environmental law, we work with environmental consultants regularly and in many contexts. This panel will address important ethical issues and considerations related to working with consultants in a way that I haven’t seen addressed comprehensively before.
We’re also presenting a panel on Potentially Responsible Party (PRP) groups in Superfund matters. As someone who does extensive Superfund work, I spend countless hours on calls with PRP groups at Superfund sites all over the country. I’ve found that successfully navigating that environment is both an art and a science, and I’m looking forward to picking up some pointers from the terrific panel we assembled.
A unique addition to this year’s conference is a special panel on career advice and career transitions to address common questions and help the next generation of environmental and energy lawyers succeed in the profession. The panel will be followed by an informal happy hour where students and early-career attorneys can get practical advice on building successful practices.
