Armstrong Teasdale Environmental Advisory

Terraphase provides environmental advisory services to support Armstrong Teasdale’s Fortune 500 clients with national and international projects, such as corporate and real estate transactions for a range of manufacturing, chemical, and pharmaceutical operations.

Scope of Services

Terraphase assists Armstrong Teasdale and their clients with assessing potential environmental liabilities from identification and deal origination through due diligence, closing, post-closing asset management and exit strategy and property disposition. Terraphase also supports Armstrong Teasdale’s clients with post-closure environmental compliance and ongoing operational technical support.
In addition to environmental advisory services, Terraphase has provided expert testimony and litigation support services to Armstrong Teasdale.

Notable Accomplishments

• Projects involve developing risk management strategies to resolve potential liabilities
• Projects often expand into site cleanup, remediation, mitigation, and regulatory closure

Duckhorn Winery Portfolio Environmental Transaction Strategy

Terraphase was engaged by a global consumer-focused private equity client in 2016 to conduct environmental due diligence for its acquisition of the Duckhorn Wine Company (Duckhorn) with over 1,200 acres of owned and leased vineyard properties and wineries located in California’s Napa Valley, Russian River, Alexander Valley, Anderson Valley, and Mendocino regions, and in Washington State’s Red Mountain appellation.  The goal was to help identify potential environmental liabilities associated with the properties, which spans thousands of acres of agricultural land that has been in use since the early to mid-1900s.

Scope of Services

Terraphase performed Phase I ESAs in accordance with ASTM E1527-13 and E1527-21 standards, as well as Limited Environmental Compliance Reviews (LECRs). The assessments included both standard and “non-scope” considerations, such as evaluating the potential presence of lead-based paint, asbestos-containing materials, radon, methane, and mold. Each site investigation included historical and regulatory document review, interviews with current and previous owners and knowledgeable representatives, and on-site reconnaissance. The LECRs evaluated overall compliance relevant federal and state environmental regulations.

Terraphase was subsequently engaged by the private equity owner to support post-closing activities and to continue in an environmental advisory role to Duckhorn. During this period, Terraphase advised and performed environmental due diligence to support Duckhorn’s land, vineyard, and winery expansions and acquisitions, and consulted on environmental compliance, regulatory permitting, and water supply and wastewater management. Terraphase continued as Environmental Advisor in the leadup to The Duckhorn Portfolio 2021 listing on the New York Stock Exchange and 2024 private equity purchase.

Notable Accomplishments

• With a compressed schedule under a short diligence period, Terraphase deployed teams of Environmental Professionals across multiple sites to perform the site reconnaissance and compliance inspections to support a time-critical acquisition transaction

Ropes & Gray Environmental Advisory

Terraphase provides strategic environmental advisory services to Ropes & Gray LLP and its private equity, strategic investor, and asset management clients. Our collaboration supports clients throughout the investment lifecyle—from initial target screening and due diligence to compliance, integration, and exit planning.

Scope of Services

Terraphase leverages the cross-discipline expertise of our technical staff with decades of transactional support experience to provide regulatory and operational compliance assessments, post-acquisition integration support, and exit planning. We also evaluate legacy liabilities, quantify and assess potential environmental risks, and align all findings with each transaction’s specific risk profile and materiality thresholds.

Notable Accomplishments

Supported transactions across a wide range of sectors, including

• Agriculture
• Food & Beverage
• Industrial
• Winery & Vineyard
• Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFO)
• Commercial
• Health Care
• Retail
• Oil & Gas
• Other diverse investment profiles
• Maintained a long-standing, trusted partnership with Ropes & Gray LLP, providing value-driven environmental insight across numerous successful transactions