| Admission Details | 1987, Ohio; U.S. Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit; U.S. District Court, Northern District of Ohio; U.S. District Court, Southern District of Ohio; U.S. Supreme Court |
| Education | Youngstown State University, School of Engineering, B.E., 1984; The University of Toledo, College of Law, J.D., 1987 |
| Birth Information | Youngstown, Ohio, March 12, 1962 |
| Associations & Memberships | Akron Bar Association (Chairman, Real Estate & Environmental Law Committee); Ohio State Bar Association; Ohio Water Environment Association; Air & Waste Association (Northern Ohio Chapter); National Brownfields Association (Chairman, Ohio Chapter's Policy & Legislative Committee). |
| Awards & Recognition | AV rating from Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory
Selected as an "Ohio Super Lawyer" by Law & Politics magazine, Columbus Monthly magazine, and Cincinnati Magazine (2011)
Selected by Chambers & Partners USA 2010 "Leaders in their Field" for Natural Resources & Environmental Law (Ohio)
Selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America for Environmental Law (2006-2011)
Selected as a "Leading US Attorney" for Environmental Law by Chambers and Partners for its Chambers USA, America's Leading Business Lawyers Directory (2006-2009)
Ohio Assistant Attorney General, Environmental Enforcement Section (1988-96)
Engineer-In-Training Certification (1984-1994) |
| Speaking Engagements | "Pollution Prevention and Waste Minimization for School Districts" - R&A Seminar (December 2008)
"Current Issues in Storm Water Regulation" - National Business Institute (May 2008)
"Negotiating Cases With the Ohio EPA and Ohio Attorney General's Office" - Ohio State Bar Association Annual Environmental Law Seminar (April 2007)
"CERCLA's Liability Protections and All Appropriate Inquiry" - Ohio State Bar Association Annual Convention (May 2006)
"Environmental Law Update- The Rules of the Game Continue to Change" - Association of Corporate Counsel, Northeast Ohio Chapter (July 2006)
"Phase II Storm Water Regulation and Compliance in Ohio" (October 2005)
"Brownfield Redevelopment Program: How to - From Assessing the Value to Completing the Project" (2005)
"Ready or Not: Managing Your Property's Environmental Liability" (2005)
"The Impact of Environmental Issues on Development Projects: Turning Challenges Into Opportunities" (2005)
"The Impact of Environmental Issues on Construction and Development Projects: Turning Challenges Into Opportunities" (2004)
"Environmental Aspects of Real Estate Transaction" - Manufacturers' Education Counsel (2003)
"Recycling: A Potential Opportunity to Limit Environmental Liability" - Waste Expo's Executive Environmental Forum (2002)
"Environmental Report Writing and Editing" - Akron Bar Association (2002)
"Fundamental Components of an Environmental Enforcement Action" - OSBA Environmental Law Committee's Annual Seminar (2002)
"Environmental Due Diligence" - Presented to the Real Estate Development Department of a major retail/development company (2001)
"Tax Incentives for Brownfields Redevelopment: A Case Study of the Ohio Program" - International Conference on Environmental Taxation Issues (2000)
"Legal Actions To Prevent Sediment Pollution" - Contaminated Sediments 2000/Legal Institute of the Great Lakes (2000)
"Enacting and Enforcing Legal Wetland and Riparian Protection Regulations" - Surface Water Regulations - What You Need To Know, Summit Soil and Water Conservation District and the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Division of Soil and Water Conservation (2000)
"Back To The Basics - A General Practitioner's Overview of the Major Environmental Statutes and Regulatory Programs in Ohio" - Akron Bar Association, (2000) |
| Reported Cases | Represented a county port authority in obtaining a $3 Million grant under the Clean Ohio Revitalization Fund, and a $2 Million grant/loan under the Brownfield Revolving Loan Fund to assist in funding environmental remediation activities that are part of a major development project in Northeast Ohio.
Prosecuted action under CERCLA and Ohio's Voluntary Action Program on behalf of shopping plaza owners to recover the cleanup costs incurred in responding to the contamination from historic dry cleaning operations. Obtained favorable settlement after successfully defending a motion for summary judgment. Also obtained Covenant Not-to-Sue from Ohio EPA on behalf of owners.
Retained by the State of Ohio to serve as Special Counsel for the purpose of negotiating a judicially enforceable Consent Order which resulted in the implementation of the approved remedy at a major municipal and industrial landfill in Toledo, Ohio.
Represented large municipality in solid waste landfill enforcement action initiated by the State of Ohio. As part of representation, persuaded the Court of Common Pleas and the Court of Appeals to deny motion to intervene filed by neighboring community and, thus, affirm the amicable settlement entered into with the State of Ohio.
Ongoing representation of large Ohio municipality on the development and eventual implementation of a long-term control plan to address combined sewer overflows. Representation includes negotiations with the Ohio EPA and U.S. EPA.
Represented major petroleum pipeline company on the permitting requirements under Sections 404 and 401 of the Clean Water Act for a 149-mile pipeline project.
Represented large Ohio municipality on 404/401 permitting of major roadway involving impacts to streams and wetlands.
Defended environmental contractor in lawsuit alleging negligence in the response to a release from a petroleum underground storage tank. Obtained favorable settlement after briefing the court on summary judgment.
Obtained summary judgment in favor of national supplier of chemicals in lawsuit involving permanent eye injury resulting from a hydrogen peroxide drum explosion.
Advised national retail company on Ohio Voluntary Action Program requirements and implementation of the same at three different brownfield sites. Representation included obtaining new and modified Covenants Not-to-Sue and negotiating terms and conditions of operation and maintenance agreements. |
| Publications | Outline of Ohio's Voluntary Action Program
Environmental Control, November 2006 Smart Business Akron/Canton |
| Additional Bio Details | Mr. Finn focuses on environmental compliance counseling and environmental litigation in administrative, state and federal forms, representing both public and private sector clients on a wide range of environmental issues. He has defended clients in environmental enforcement actions brought by both state and federal agencies, prosecuted appeals before the Ohio Environmental Review Appeals Commission, counseled clients on brownfield clean-up and redevelopment projects, as well as counseled clients on a variety of environmental permitting matters, including wetland, storm water, NPDES, solid waste and hazardous waste matters. Mr. Finn's clients include major corporations, small closely held businesses, national retailers, developers and municipalities. He was formerly an Assistant Attorney General for the State of Ohio, assigned to the Environmental Enforcement Section. |