Practice Areas & Industries: Fredrikson & Byron, P.A.

Practice/Industry Group 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. The firm's Environmental Law Group features aggressive litigators with business and regulatory agency experience. Accessible attorneys who speak plain English when rendering counsel. Attorneys who partner with clients to provide full-service representation — both in crisis situations and when time allows for preventive measures.

"We have a reputation for creative and cost-effective representation in complicated environmental claims."

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 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 real-estate valuation, financing issues, or a corporate merger or acquisition, the partners 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 also handles environmental litigation on the cutting edge of the development of environmental laws. The group's extensive litigation experience includes the representation of clients at over 50 Superfund sites nationwide. We have a reputation for creative and cost-effective representation in complicated environmental claims. We recognize that no litigation is free from risks, and that litigation can be expensive. We design our litigation work plans with both of these realities in mind.

Fredrikson & Byron's environmental clients range from small manufacturing companies in Minnesota to Fortune 500 nationals and internationals. They include municipalities, townships, and environmental consultants and engineers. Our clients call on us to help solve problems, not just to identify problems.

Litigation Activities

Environmental attorneys defend clients in a variety of claims arising from environmental torts and alleged statutory violations. We also prosecute insurance coverage claims for environmental damage. Typical litigation activities include:

• Environmental permit acquisition and permit compliance
• Litigation of claims arising from the transfer of contaminated property
• Defense of citizens' suits
• Defense of shareholder suits
• Cost recovery and insurance claims
• Defense of administrative orders, including Superfund enforcement
• Litigation of federal and state Superfund claims
• Defense of toxic tort claims
• Litigation of claims arising from exposure to asbestos and drafting contracts for its removal
• Litigation against insurance companies that have wrongfully denied coverage for environmental cleanup costs

Agricultural Issues

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

Business Affairs

• Analysis of potential liability regarding acquisitions, mergers, sales of assets, and other corporate transactions
• Assessment of directors' and officers' environmental liability
• Determination of insurance coverage for environmental claims under appropriate policies
• Environmental audits

Land Use

• Cleanup of properties under the Land Recycling Act
• Condemnation and special assessment hearings
• Creation of hazardous substance districts

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
• Real estate VIC program (Voluntary Investigation and Cleanup program)
• Determination of the effects of environmental contamination upon property taxation
• Lender exposure limitations
• Representation in connection with remediation of sites containing asbestos

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 Litigation

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, air emissions permits, and in Superfund remediation cases.