Areas of Practice Emphasis

Representative Clients

  • American Golf
  • American Water
  • Arkema, Inc.
  • Auto Suppliers
  • Connor Forest Industries
  • Dow Chemical Company
  • Ford Motor Company
  • M & M Energy LLC
  • Magna International Inc.
  • Marathon Ashland Petroleum LLC

Prominent Assignments

  • Expertise in the following areas:
    - Air, Water, and Wetlands Compliance, Permitting, and Enforcement
    - Brownfield Redevelopment
    - Environmental Transactions, including Due Diligence, Phase I & II Assessments, and Baseline Environmental Assessments
    - RCRA, CERCLA, and MERA Cleanups
    - PCB Spills, Release Reporting, and Record Keeping
    - RCRA Compliance, Permitting, Enforcement, and Corrective Action
  • Emergency response experience - On scene counsel in two of the largest environmental incidents in Michigan:
    - Major fire and spill from a ship transporting petroleum blocking all river transportation for weeks. Incident involved death, personal injury, business interruption, environmental response, and natural resource impairment
    - Major fire at chemical plant involving a release from rail tank cars. Incident involved deaths, personal injury, and evacuation of residential neighborhoods, business interruption, and emergency environmental response
  • Represent corporations in groundwater, soil and air toxic tort actions; represent clients in complex litigation including class actions and multi-party environmental cost recovery action
  • Environmental counsel with respect to major Great Lakes spill
  • Experience with Air Emissions Trading Programs and Audit Privilege
  • Negotiated two major sediment cleanups; obtained site- specific SIP; successfully negotiated several generic and limited cleanups
  • Title V Permit conditions successfully appealed
  • Due diligence and permitting Integrated Gasification Combined-Cycle
  • Environmental and Toxic Tort Litigation
  • Ford Motor Company (1978-1988 Senior Attorney/General Litigation responsibilities included management of class actions, and environmental litigation

Education

  • J.D. (cum laude), Wayne State University, 1975
  • B.S. (magna cum laude), Northern Michigan University, 1973

Admitted to Practice

  • Michigan, 1976
  • U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Michigan, 1976

Professional and Community Involvement

  • State Bar of Michigan
  • American Bar Association
  • Air & Waste Management Association Treasurer (2004-2007) Vice Chair (2007-2008) Chair 2008-2009
  • Board of Directors, Secretary, The Roeper School (2003+)
  • YWCA Camp Cavell Sponsorship Committee (1998+)
  • Sojourner Foundation Award for Women Helping Women (1999)
  • Northern Michigan University Distinguished Alumni Award (December 1998)
  • Chairperson, Great Lakes Technology Advisory Committee (1989-1994)
  • Chairperson, Greater Detroit Area Chamber of Commerce Enviromental and Energy Advisory Committee (1989-1990)
  • 2009 A&WMA Annual Conference & Exhibition, Local Management Co-Chair

Publications and Presentations

  • Albion College, Guest Lecturer, "A Civil Action," November 1998
  • Michigan Chamber of Commerce, Lecturer on Safety Inspections, Workplace Violence, and Ergonomics (January 1999)
  • Northern Michigan University, Forum on Sustainable Development, March 1999
  • Detroit Regional Chamber, "Managing Crisis: Is Your Company Prepared?" April 2002
  • Moderator Air & Waste Management Association Conferences (2005, 2006)

Events and Seminars

Honors

  • Michigan Super Lawyer (2006,2007)

Attorney Recognitions