Susan L. Johnson is a shareholder based in Butzel Long's Bloomfield Hills office. She is recognized as a leading environmental attorney in Michigan. Her principal areas of practice include all aspects of environmental law with an emphasis on environmental and regulatory compliance; the siting and permitting of solid and hazardous waste landfills and treatment facilities, scrap and other recycling facilities; environmental due diligence, as well as municipal and environmental contracting. Ms. Johnson is a graduate of Wayne State University Law School (J.D., 1984) and the University of Michigan (B.A., 1980). She also completed the NITA Trial Advocacy Course (1987), Sanitary Landfill Design Course (1990) and the Groundwater Chemistry Course Certificate (1991) from the Engineering Society of Detroit; and the ISO 14000 Lead EMS Auditor Course, British Standards Institute (1997). Prior to joining Butzel Long, Ms. Johnson's experience included positions as senior in-house counsel in the private sector and corporation counsel to the City of Detroit Water and Sewerage Department. As Vice President and General Counsel to Inland Waters Pollution Control, Inc. and ProLine Technologies, N.A. L.L.C., large privately held industrial and environmental services/sewer rehabilitation companies, Ms. Johnson was responsible for advising on legal and regulatory matters, including: monitoring and reviewing contract and bid processes; construction contract issues; OSHA and environmental compliance. Ms. Johnson was also Senior Counsel to Soave Enterprises L.L.C., a large privately held management company with affiliates engaged in a variety of industries including real estate development, scrap metal processing and industrial waste services. Ms. Johnson had chief responsibility for advising the company on all aspects of environmental and regulatory matters, including compliance, permitting, campaign finance, governmental liaison, facility siting, host community negotiations and the monitoring and overseeing of legislative initiatives in areas affecting the companies' interests. She represented the company concerning Michigan and federal laws dealing with hazardous and non-hazardous solid waste; including Michigan Act 451; RCRA; CWA; CERCLA; (and state equivalent, Part 201); TSCA; contract development and review and real estate matters. Prior to private practice, Ms. Johnson was Assistant Corporation Counsel for the City of Detroit Water and Sewerage Department (DWSD). Ms. Johnson acted as in-house counsel to a large wastewater treatment plant, with emphasis on environmental and contract law. Her experience included the development and enactment (through City Council) of an Industrial Waste Control Ordinance and multi-jurisdictional agreements with suburban community users of POTW; negotiation of EPA settlements and remedial plans for contaminated properties acquired by City; drafting and reviewing municipal contracts; handling miscellaneous bid protests and litigation affecting DWSD. Ms. Johnson is a member of the State Bar of Michigan, and was elected in 1999 to serve on the Environmental Council. She is also a member of the Michigan State Bar's Environmental Law Section; Superfund and Insurance Committee; Solid and Hazardous Waste Committee; Natural Resources and Wetland Committee. She is a member of the Michigan Waste Industry Association, Inc. and the Greater Detroit Chamber of Commerce Task Force on Water and Sewerage Issues. Ms. Johnson has been elected to a Director's position in the Environmental Management Association (2008-2009). Ms. Johnson is a frequent speaker at various legal and professional conferences including the Engineering Society of Detroit Solid Waste Conference on "Flow Control" (1996); the State Bar of Michigan's Environmental Law Section Fall Environmental Law Update Seminar (1996); the Great Lakes International Solid Waste Forum (1990); and was a Speaker/Moderator for the Institute of Continuing Legal Education on "Environmental Issues in Real Estate Transactions" (1990). She authored the Environmental Law Survey for the Wayne State Law Review (1990). Experience · Successfully closed a complex, $50 million private equity financing including a reincorporation merger and a myriad of difficult pre-closing transactions · Served as counsel in connection with the acquisition of multiple parcels of land, obtaining numerous government grants and tax incentives and the drafting and negotiating construction contracts for an advanced lithium ion battery manufacturing facility. · Prepare application for siting of a landfill in Illinois; assist with hearings associated with the siting. · Represented the County in the transfer of sewer capacity · Assisted numerous clients with international transactions involving environmental due diligence and permitting throughout South America, Asia and Europe. · Negotiated an administrative order for a landfill client with the DNRE · Representation of solid waste and recycling company in a variety of landfill compliance and contamination issues · Supervised environmental due diligence and remedial activities related to major multi-parcel development in major metropolitan downtown area. · Represented numerous clients in obtaining, modifying and or transferring air permits. · Successfully prosecuted several contested case proceedings related to wetland permit denials. · Reviewed various environmental due diligence and terms in sales agreements on behalf of bank and its borrowers. · Review and analyze environmental due diligence reports, and purcahse agreements on behalf of buyers, sellers, and lenders, and advise as to potential environmental liability and avaialble protections. · Represented client in water rate dispute against major municipality; resulting in $24 million rate reduction. · Defended against several claims of injury related to alleged mold exposure. · Counsel clients as to regulatory and health-based cleanup requirements. · Assisted clients in obtaining permits and defending action in alleged disturbance of an endangered species (eagles). · $75 million acquisition of US and non-US assets; complex deal involved acquisition of stock and assets located in North America, Europe, Asia and South America · Representation of French company in acquisition of troubled assets of automotive supplier with U.S. and Canadian operations. · Ongoing representation of numerous solid waste and recycling companies on a variety of landfill compliance & permitting issues. · Employee Benefits in Acquisitions · Defended Client in multi-party lawsuit after Plaintiff purchased property through which two pipelines owned by Wolverine traversed pursuant to two recorded easements. News Media Releases 11.28.11, 68 Butzel Long attorneys named to DBusiness magazine's Top Lawyers in Metro Detroit 2012 10.10.11, Butzel Long attorneys Beth S. Gotthelf and Susan L. Johnson featured during 2011 U.S. Great Lakes Areas of Concern Program Annual Meeting October 13-14 in Detroit 12.02.10, Sixty-four Butzel Long attorneys named to DBusiness magazine's Top Lawyers in Metro Detroit 2011 01.28.08, Butzel Long attorneys elected Shareholders 12.09.07, Butzel Long attorney Susan L. Johnson elected a Director of the Environmental Management Association Publications Client alerts 12.08.11, Client Alert - Environmental - EPA Announces Changes to Boiler and Incinerator Air Pollution Standards 02.02.11, Client Alert - Environmental - Michigan Property Assessed Clean Energy Act 01.19.11, Client Alert: Environmental - Self-Implementing Cleanups and "No Further Action" Letters 01.18.11, Client Alert: Environmental - Green Chemistry Eligible to Receive Tax Credits 11.23.10, E-news: Environmental 03.22.10, E-news: Environmental 03.09.10, E-news: Environmental 02.16.10, E-news: Environmental 07.29.09, E-news: Environmental - 07/29/09 05.01.09, Automation Alley Newsletter - May 2009 04.24.09, E-news: EnvIronmental 02.02.09, E-news: Environmental 02.01.09, Automation Alley Newsletter - February 2009 Memberships State Bar of Michigan - served on Environmental Council in 1999; member of the Environmental Law Section; Superfund and Insurance Committee; Solid and Hazardous Waste Committee; Natural Resources and Wetland Committee Michigan Waste Industry Association, Inc. Greater Detroit Chamber of Commerce Task Force on Water and Sewerage Issues Environmental Management Association - elected to a Director's position (2008-2009) Recognitions DBusiness Top Lawyers in Metro Detroit, Environmental Law, 2011-2012 (Resident, Bloomfield Hills, Michigan Office) |