The American legal profession is to hold a conference on the topic of hydraulic fracturing, or ‘fracking’; the controversial drilling technique of releasing gas from shale rock.

Taking place in December in Dallas, experts from the legal profession will discuss topics relating to the fracking process such as the role of government; health and environmental risks; discovery; damages; contamination and injury cases.

Tom Hagy, CEO of conference hosts Hammons & Baldino LLP said: “The increased use of fracking to extract natural gas from underground rock formations raises environmental and legal challenges and will be the topic of discussion by attorneys, professors and scientists at this program.”

The group say they are responding to the need for a clearer legal framework for the infant industry, which has often come under fire for environmental damage.