Ice Miller Expands Its Environmental Group: Firm Adds Depth to Its Growing Litigation and Regulatory Practice
6/30/2010
Ice Miller LLP is pleased to announce Thomas Dimond and Susan Charles have joined the Chicago office as partners in the Firm's environmental practice group. Both attorneys have deep experience in representing clients on a wide variety of environmental, transactional, litigation and regulatory issues. The expansion enhances the Firm's presence in Chicago and its existing environmental practice to support advanced manufacturing, alternative energy and other industries with a multidisciplinary team of professionals.
Dimond previously worked as a partner at Mayer Brown LLP in Chicago where he represented clients in trial and appellate litigation on environmental cases. In addition, he counseled clients on environmental matters in a number of industries including chemicals, light and heavy manufacturing, food production, energy generation (including wind, biomass and nuclear), and warehousing. He also works with real estate developers on environmental due diligence and property development issues. Dimond's experience in Superfund and Brownfield remediations, as well as litigation and Clean Air Act and Clean Water Act regulatory matters, will further the Firm's regional environmental footprint.
Charles also joins Ice Miller as a partner from Mayer Brown LLP in Chicago where she represented Fortune 500 and mid-market manufacturing companies, financial investors, lending institutions and real estate developers. Her litigation and regulatory experience includes environmental coverage claims and cost recovery actions, toxic tort defense, enforcement defense, compliance counseling and permit issuance. Her transactional practice includes identifying, assessing and negotiating risk, negotiation of environmental provisions in acquisition and loan agreements, and post-closing compliance counseling.
"Environmental law is a complex system of interrelated statutes, rules, guidelines, judicial decisions and administrative rulings that affect public health, safety and the environment," stated Byron Myers, chief managing partner, Ice Miller. "It's increasingly important for companies to monitor legislation and understand how it will impact their businesses, employees and balance sheets. As seasoned partners, these knowledgeable and very experienced individuals will certainly increase the scope of our environmental practice in the Midwest helping clients in this heavily regulated industry."
Ice Miller's environmental practice group has a long history of helping businesses prevent and solve environmental issues. The Firm's diverse experience includes advising clients about the environmental ramifications of a large corporate merger, working with governmental officials when a large chemical spill occurs, litigating complex lawsuits involving environmental issues, dealing with insurance companies when coverage for environmental liabilities is in question, and defending class action lawsuits involving exposure to toxic waste.
Dimond graduated with a juris doctorate from the University of Chicago Law School. He serves as a mentor/sponsor for African-American high school students through LINK Unlimited. He also serves as an advisor to a team of senior high school students at Northside Prep as part of their Constitutional Law Program. Charles received her juris doctorate from the Indiana University School of Law, Indianapolis. She is active in the community serving on the board of directors of the Chicago Volunteer Legal Services.
