A congressional investigation has unveiled that the California law firm Sher Edling has secured significant dark money funding to advance climate litigation against oil companies. The report, recently published, indicates that the firm received over $3 million in unreported funds to support its legal efforts on behalf of various Democratic-led cities and states.
Among the financial backers, Sher Edling received $2.9 million from the Collective Action Fund for Accountability, a dark money group linked to the New Venture Fund. This organization is not required to disclose its donors until it files its next IRS report, allowing significant funding to remain obscured from public scrutiny. Additionally, the firm received $235,000 from the Tides Foundation, which is known for directing substantial funds toward progressive initiatives.
Sher Edling, established in 2016, has focused on lawsuits accusing the oil and gas industry of contributing to climate change and seeking damages for extreme weather events. Critics have described these lawsuits as attempts to bankrupt the fossil fuel industry while pushing for a shift towards green energy.
The investigation has raised concerns regarding the transparency of funding for climate litigation, with Sher Edling reportedly resisting requests for information about its financial backers. Since 2017, the firm has garnered nearly $14 million from dark money nonprofits, a situation that has sparked discussions about the influence of undisclosed donations in shaping environmental policy and litigation.
