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On December 8, 2025, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) finalized its PFAS-in-Products program rules in response to an...
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Akin Gump
David Quigley
Partner, Akin Gump
Washington, D.C., United States
About me
Address: Washington, D.C.: Robert S. Strauss Tower, 2001 K Street, N.W., Washington, DC 20006-1037
Areas of Focus: Chemicals & Pesticides; Environmental Enforcement, Investigations & Cleanups; Environmental Litigation; Environment & Natural Resources; Environmental Transactions & Risk Management; CERCLA Remediation & Lender Liability Protection; Regulatory; Environmental Permitting & Approvals; Health Care Facility Environmental Compliance; Climate Change; Sustainability; Sovereign & Government Investors; Projects & Energy Transition
Biography:
David advises on the environmental liabilities associated with commercial, multifamily and industrial transactions. He develops solutions that are cost-effective and realistic for clients (whether lenders, buyers or sellers) relative to the value of the property or portfolio. David solves problems so that clients can cost-effectively and beneficially use their assets. He has established a strong profile in this space, having developed an environmental due diligence model for use in the foreclosure of commercial properties.
Clients across industries rely on David to provide advice and counseling on a broad array of environmental regulatory matters, including on issues related to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and other emerging contaminants. With deep PFAS experience, David is a thought leader in analyzing the regulatory framework in which emerging chemicals are examined.
David works closely with clients and other firm practitioners to anticipate changes to the environmental regulatory landscape and assists clients in complying with those changes. He manages the defense of enforcement actions, having done so most recently in the Clean Air Act and Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) contexts. David also resolves, through mutually agreeable settlements where possible and litigation where necessary, Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA) cost recovery and allocation suits.
David’s environmental experience also extends more broadly to the environmental matters involved in financial restructurings, enforcement litigation and lobbying/legislative development.
David is regularly interviewed by international media outlets covering environmental regulatory trends. Most recently, David was quoted in the Chemical Watch News & Insight article, “What’s Next for State-Level Chemicals Policy in the U.S. in 2026?” David discussed the status of state-level chemical policy and the outlook for regulation and enforcement, especially as it relates to PFAS. David also contributes to Akin’s PFAS Press blog , which covers the latest federal and state regulations on PFAS chemicals.
Representative Work:
- Counseled companies ranging from used-oil recyclers to major gasoline distribution companies with respect to the requirements governing the storage and disposal of hazardous materials, as well as the remediation of their release. Also advised specialty chemical companies concerning treatment, storage and disposal issues under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act and state analogs. Additionally, counseled private and public entities with respect to cost recovery actions under the CERCLA.
- Counseled commercial real estate and multifamily residential loan servicers with respect to compliance with environmental due diligence standards and “off-standard” items including asbestos, lead-based paint, radon and mold. Managed the remediation of these and other hazardous materials.
- Advises clients on policy issues associated with the Clean Air Act’s emission regulations and ozone depletion provisions, global climate change and issues related to the public supply of drinking water and the public funding of water treatment and infrastructure projects. Provides representation before members of Congress, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Department of Energy, the Department of the Interior and the Department of Defense.
- Negotiated with the EPA on behalf of a global asset management firm that owned the debt in a metalworking company that was facing bankruptcy. The client wished to purchase property so that the metalworking company could continue to operate, but it faced significant environmental liability. Negotiated with the EPA, the state, insurers, predecessors and neighbors—a total of nine parties—to resolve the liabilities to allow the transaction to move forward with little risk to the company.
Credentials:
Education: J.D., Harvard Law School, 1998; B.S., Cornell University, 1995 (with distinction)
Bar Admissions: District of Columbia, 2000; New Jersey, 1999; New York, 2002
Court Admissions: U.S. Supreme Court, 2014; U.S.D.C., District of Columbia
Recognitions:
- Washingtonian , Top Lawyer, Environmental, 2024.
- The Legal 500 US, Environment: Transactional, 2023 and 2025.
- Chambers USA , Environment: Mainly Transactional, 2020-2026.
- Martindale-Hubbell , BV-Distinguished.
- Law360 , Rising Star.
Affiliations:
- Appointed to serve two three-year terms on the Cornell University College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Advisory Council (2016-2021).
- Appointed to Cornell University Council (2021).
- Past board member, Interfaith Families Project of Greater Washington, D.C.
Insights:
- A Flask, Four Letters and a New (Mexico) Compliance Obligation (July 28, 2026): https://www.akingump.com/en/insights/blogs/pfas-press/a-flask-four-letters-and-a-new-mexico-compliance-obligation
- Akin Advises ePointZero in $2.25 Billion Acquisition of Traverse Midstream Partners (July 28, 2026): https://www.akingump.com/en/insights/press-releases/akin-advises-epointzero-in-dollar225-billion-acquisition-of-traverse-midstream-partners
- David Quigley Quoted in Chemical Watch Article ‘New Mexico to use PRISM platform for PFAS reporting.’ (June 18, 2026): https://www.akingump.com/en/insights/blogs/pfas-press/david-quigley-quoted-in-chemical-watch-article-new-mexico-to-use-prism-platform-for-pfas-reporting
- Chambers USA 2026 Recognizes Akin Lawyers and Practices (June 4, 2026): https://www.akingump.com/en/insights/awards-and-accolades/chambers-usa-2026-recognizes-akin-lawyers-and-practices
- Takeaways from ACI’s 3rd Annual Summit on PFAS Regulation, Compliance and Litigation (June 2, 2026): https://www.akingump.com/en/insights/blogs/pfas-press/takeaways-from-acis-3rd-annual-summit-on-pfas-regulation-compliance-and-litigation
- Dual Delay: Minnesota Extends PFAS Products Reporting Deadline (April 16, 2026): https://www.akingump.com/en/insights/blogs/pfas-press/dual-delay-minnesota-extends-pfas-products-reporting-deadline
- EPA Confirms Delay of April 2026 TSCA PFAS Reporting Window (April 10, 2026): https://www.akingump.com/en/insights/blogs/pfas-press/epa-confirms-delay-of-april-2026-tsca-pfas-reporting-window
- Akin Advises Igneo Infrastructure Partners in Acquisition of Mattingly Cold Storage (April 1, 2026): https://www.akingump.com/en/insights/press-releases/akin-advises-igneo-infrastructure-partners-in-acquisition-of-mattingly-cold-storage
- Trying to Fight Fluoropolymers’ Remorse in New Mexico (February 17, 2026): https://www.akingump.com/en/insights/blogs/pfas-press/trying-to-fight-fluoropolymers-remorse-in-new-mexico
- David Quigley Quoted in Chemical Watch Article 'What’s Next for State-Level Chemicals policy in the US in 2026?' (January 22, 2026): https://www.akingump.com/en/insights/blogs/pfas-press/david-quigley-quoted-in-chemical-watch-article-whats-next-for-state-level-chemicals-policy-in-the-us-in-2026
- New Jersey’s New Year's PFAS Resolution (January 20, 2026): https://www.akingump.com/en/insights/blogs/pfas-press/new-jerseys-new-years-pfas-resolution
- Akin Advises Paine Schwartz Partners and HGS BioScience in Acquisition of Pharmgrade (January 13, 2026 ): https://www.akingump.com/en/insights/press-releases/akin-advises-paine-schwartz-partners-and-hgs-bioscience-in-acquisition-of-pharmgrade