History of ELN
In 2000, during the ABA Environmental Law conference in Chicago, representatives from three firms—Guida, Slavich & Flores of Dallas; McMahon DeGulis of Cleveland; and Manko, Gold, Katcher & Fox of Philadelphia—realized that they shared more than a focus on environmental law. They discovered common values and a mutual desire to collaborate. These conversations sparked the founding of a network of small, like-minded environmental law firms, which soon became known as the “Environmental Law Firm Network” (ELFN).
Before long, however, the founders decided that the playful “elf” reference did not accurately reflect the group’s brand identity. Thus, the name was changed to the Environmental Law Network (ELN), with Robb Fox of Manko, Gold, Katcher & Fox serving as its first President. As word spread, more firms recognized the appeal of ELN’s collaborative spirit. Offices in Boston, Washington, D.C., New York City, and St. Petersburg, Florida soon joined, expanding the network’s reach. Guida, Slavich & Flores hosted the first Annual Meeting in Irvine, Texas, an event that launched the tradition of rotating ELN gatherings among its members’ hometowns.
Over the past 25 years, ELN has grown steadily. Today, over 25 member firms span the United States, complemented by ten international firms from Canada, Mexico, Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Italy, Spain, France, Costa Rica, and Peru.
About ELN
ELN was created with the vision of building a global network of world-class environmental law firms that collaborate on cutting-edge legal issues. Each member firm specializes in environmental and natural resources law, while some also offer additional services, including environmental consulting, to provide comprehensive solutions to our clients.
Our network spans 23 U.S. states and over 10 countries, enabling member firms to pool their collective expertise and experiences through case studies and shared lessons. This collaboration delivers a level of service rivaling “big law” while maintaining our member firms’ independence and professional responsibilities. Through ELN, we provide tailored representation that reaches nearly every corner of the globe.