A California law firm, Sher Edling, has joined Massachusetts’ legal battle against ExxonMobil in a climate-focused case. Founded in 2016, the firm has received millions of dollars from left-leaning nonprofits and is pursuing climate-related litigation on behalf of more than a dozen states and cities. The exact role of Sher Edling in the case remains unclear, and it is unknown how their involvement will impact the other Big Oil cases they are pursuing. Despite multiple requests for comment, neither Sher Edling nor the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office responded.
In October 2019, then-Attorney General Maura Healey filed a complaint against ExxonMobil, accusing the company of deceptive practices related to climate change risks posed by fossil fuels. ExxonMobil argued that Massachusetts’ allegations infringed upon its First Amendment rights. Sher Edling’s involvement in the case adds to the growing list of cases the firm has taken up, including representing several states and cities in similar climate-related litigation against oil companies. More than 25% of Americans live in jurisdictions suing Big Oil for climate deception.
Sher Edling’s funding structure remains largely unknown, but the firm has raised millions of dollars from nonprofit organizations in recent years. The Collective Action Fund for Accountability, Resilience, and Adaptation, fiscally sponsored by New Venture Fund, has wired significant amounts of money to Sher Edling. Anonymous donors through organizations such as the Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation, MacArthur Foundation, William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, and Rockefeller Brothers Fund have previously supported Sher Edling’s efforts.
Senator Ted Cruz has raised concerns about the role of left-wing dark money groups in funding Sher Edling’s climate litigation, alleging a goal of bankrupting American energy employers. Cruz, along with Representative James Comer, has initiated a probe into Sher Edling and its connections to the Biden administration. ExxonMobil did not respond to a request for comment, leaving many questions unanswered about the potential impact of Sher Edling’s involvement in the Massachusetts case.
The involvement of Sher Edling in the Massachusetts case is part of a broader trend of increasing legal challenges against oil companies regarding climate-related issues. The firm’s pursuit of climate litigation on behalf of multiple states and cities reflects a growing movement to hold Big Oil accountable for their role in global warming. The relationship between Sher Edling and left-leaning nonprofits, as well as the lack of transparency regarding their funding sources, raises questions about the motivations behind their legal actions.
The Massachusetts case against ExxonMobil is just one of many legal battles unfolding across the country as efforts to address climate change intensify. The role of law firms like Sher Edling, funded by anonymous donors through nonprofit organizations, underscores the complexities of pursuing climate-related litigation. As the investigation into Sher Edling and its ties to the Biden administration continues, the outcomes of these legal battles and the impact on the fossil fuel industry remain uncertain. ExxonMobil’s silence on the matter leaves room for speculation about how the case will unfold and what it could mean for the future of climate litigation in the United States.
