Best Illinois Environmental Lawyers
Chair of the firm’s Environmental Department, Erika Powers’ practice is totally focused on nationwide water quality issues. Her ability to understand the most complex details of a matter without losing sight of the macro agenda and big-picture client objectives is critical when analyzing the intersection of science and law surrounding water quality regulation. Notably, Erika provides veteran legal counsel regarding regulatory matters involving state and federal environmental agenc...
John F. Kennedy is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area of Environmental Law. John F. practices law in Chicago, Illinois Best Lawyers has recognized John F. Kennedy since 2022. The Best Lawyers recognition is based on a peer-review survey of lawyers in the same geographic region and legal practice area. The recognition reflects the professional regard in which John F. Kennedy is held by other lawyers.
With a practice that is national in scope, Bruce White has more than 35 years of experience in the litigation, arbitration and mediation of environmental disputes and administrative permitting and enforcement proceedings. Regardless of the difficulty or complexity of the matter, Bruce is dedicated to being client-focused and solving problems as efficiently and cost-effectively as possible. Bruce represents industrial and commercial businesses and governmental entities in Superfund, RCRA/HSWA,...
Kevin Desharnais, an environmental litigator and counselor with over two decades of experience, advises clients on environmental matters covering all environmental media, including such areas as air and water permitting and enforcement, hazardous waste management, Superfund liability, and remediation of contaminated sites. He has represented clients in numerous federal and state court proceedings and administrative tribunals, defended clients against citizen enforcement suits, and negotiated ...
Jennifer T. Nijman is a founding partner of the environmental firm Nijman·Franzetti LLP with wide ranging experience in litigation defense and enforcement issues as well as issues involving waste and contaminated property. She was formerly a partner and chair of the environmental practice group at the Chicago office of a national law firm. Ms. Nijman represents clients in environmental litigation and enforcement defense, including toxic tort claims, private party disputes, and actions ...
Sean W. Bezark focuses his practice primarily on environmental matters for public corporations, privately held companies, banks, lenders, REITs and private equity investment funds. He advises clients on environmental aspects of corporate and real estate transactions, bankruptcy cases, environmental investigations and remediation projects, brownfields development, insurance procurement and risk and cost allocations. He also counsels clients on legal and technical aspects of complex contaminati...
Jacqueline M. Vidmar has more than thirty five years of environmental law experience, brings wealth of knowledge to transactional and regulatory matters and disputes. She represents companies in a variety of industries, including manufacturing, public utilities, health care and pharmaceuticals, transportation (rail and pipeline), and real estate. Ms. Vidmar excels in real estate portfolio management, M&A due diligence, contaminated property disputes, remediation and development, defense o...
Phil Comella is a partner in Taft’s Environmental group. His practice spans both regulatory counseling and environmental-based litigation. With over three decades of experience in environmental law and a focus on the solid and hazardous waste industry, he regularly counsels owners and operators of landfills, treatment facilities, recycling operations, and waste generators on compliance, enforcement, and litigation matters arising under environmental laws.
E. Lynn Grayson is a partner in the environmental law firm of Nijman Franzetti LLP in Chicago. She is consistently recognized as a leading environmental lawyer by Chambers USA , The Best Lawyers in America , Who’s Who: Environment , Illinois Super Lawyers, and the Leading Lawyers Network . She is AV Peer Review Rated, Martindale-Hubbell’s highest peer recognition for ethical standards and legal ability. Ms. Grayson formerly was a partner and chair of the environmental practice gro...
Nancy Rich provides practical guidance to clients confronting environmental legal issues, whether they arise in litigation, transactions or regulatory matters. A former environmental prosecutor with the Illinois Attorney General's Office, Nancy has a detailed understanding of environmental agencies and the laws they enforce. She regularly advises corporate, real estate and financial services clients. Nancy's experience as an environmental prosecutor gives her an insider's understanding of how...
Joe Madonia is leader of the firm’s Environmental Litigation team. For more than 25 years, Joe has defended and counseled clients on a wide array of toxic tort and environmental matters at the local, regional and national levels. Joe delivers strong skills as a litigator, multifaceted trial experience, and the regulatory know-how and scientific depth needed to problem-solve at virtually any level of sophistication or difficulty. His experience includes serving as national trial counsel ...
Eleni is chair of the firm’s nationally ranked Environmental Law Practice and a fellow of the American College of Environmental Lawyers. Prior to joining the firm in 1989, Eleni served as Assistant Regional Counsel with USEPA where she brought actions to enforce the air, water, and chemical statutes in judicial and administrative forums, and provided legal counseling and policy assistance to program clients in these areas. Learn more about their practice.
Susan E. Brice is a bold litigator, advocate, and advisor with 30 years of experience specializing in environmental law, toxic tort, and product liability defense work. After departing Big Law, where she served in leadership roles, she joined Nijman Franzetti LLP, an all-women owned business savvy boutique in 2020. Over the years, she has worked on significant matters involving at least nineteen states and the Virgin Islands. She has experience in all major aspects of environmental law, takin...
Fredric P. Andes is a partner in the Chicago and Washington, D.C., offices of Barnes & Thornburg and the leader of the firm's water team. Fred is involved in counseling and litigation on issues arising under various federal and state environmental laws, with a special emphasis on Clean Water Act matters. Fred is also advising trade associations, industries, and municipalities on TMDLs, permits, and other water quality matters on the state and federal levels, including development of water...
Susan M. Franzetti has extensive experience in compliance counseling, regulatory and litigation matters. Ms. Franzetti has a depth of experience in water pollution matters under both federal and state programs, including issues relating to NPDES and industrial pretreatment discharge permits, thermal discharges and 316(b) water intake structure requirements, effluent toxicity, nutrients, TMDLs, use attainability analyses, wetlands, CSO’s/SSO’s, rule-making proceedings, variances/si...
