Overview

Helping Companies Understand and Comply with Changing Regulations

Long before it was trendy — or necessary — for law firms to build an environmental law focus, Fredrikson & Byron did so. Members of our Environmental Law Group have played pivotal roles in shaping fair environmental laws. We publish and lecture frequently. We’re leaders in state and federal bar and professional associations’ natural resource - and litigation-related communities. And, we’ve helped to uphold Fredrikson & Byron’s commitment to public service.

Whether a case involves a real estate transfer, financing issues, or a corporate merger or acquisition, we put clients’ needs first. The lawyers needn’t go far; a roster of approximately 200+ Fredrikson Byron junior and senior attorneys comprise a diverse knowledge bank upon which Environmental Law Group lawyers can draw.

The group’s experience includes the representation of clients at Superfund sites nationwide. Closer to home, we have assisted clients in acquiring and “recycling” federal and state Superfund sites; helping our clients to cleanup and put contaminated land back to good use. We have a reputation for creative, and cost-effective representation in complicated environmental claims.

Fredrikson & Byron’s environmental clients range from small manufacturing companies to Fortune 500 companies. Our clients also include municipalities, townships, and environmental consultants and engineers.

Litigation Activities

Typical environmental litigation cases have included:

• Claims arising from the transfer of contaminated property
• Defense of citizen suits
• Cost recovery and insurance claims
• Litigation of federal and state Superfund claims
• Defense of toxic tort claims
• Litigation of claims arising from exposure to asbestos

Agricultural Issues

• Reimbursement from governmental agencies for response costs incurred in the removal of agricultural chemicals
• Agricultural permits and licensing

Business Affairs & Compliance

• Analysis of potential liability arising from acquisitions, mergers, sales of assets and other transactions
• Assessment of directors’ and officers’ environmental liability
• Insurance coverage for environmental claims
• Environmental audits and compliance

Land Use & Brownfields

• Cleanup of properties under the Land Recycling Act and other voluntary cleanup programs
• Creation of hazardous substance TIF districts
• Stormwater and wetlands permits

Solid & Hazardous Waste

• Facility permits, including landfills, hazardous waste and medical waste
• Resolution of compliance issues arising from the management and disposal of hazardous wastes
• Voluntary cleanups in connection with real estate transactions
• Determination of the effects of environmental contamination upon property taxation
• Lender liability for cleanups

Representative Clients

• Fortune 500 Companies
• Small Manufacturing Companies
• Environmental Consultants and Engineers
• Municipalities and Townships

Environmental Litigation

A client manufacturer was sued along with 200 other companies under the Superfund laws for the costs of a multimillion dollar cleanup of contaminated groundwater under a landfill that was used 20 years ago. We got our client dismissed from the case as a result of our investigation which proved that our client actually never sent wastes to the landfill. We were also successful in obtaining reimbursement from our client’s insurance carriers for the expenses of litigation.

Municipal Environmental Issues

Our attorneys have served as the litigation team leaders for cases in which they recovered tens of millions of dollars for damages caused by contamination of municipal water supplies. We have also represented municipalities in obtaining solid waste permits or air emissions permits, in redeveloping and acquiring contaminated properties, and in Superfund remediation cases.

Bios

Primary Attorneys

John E. Drawz
Jeremy P. Duehr
Linda H. Fisher
Lindsey A. Hemly
David C. Sellergren
Richard D. Snyder
Susan D. Steinwall
Nena F. Street