Law Firm Overview

Practicing environmental and OSHA law exclusively, Shell J. Bleiweiss represents clients in all aspects of federal, state and local environmental, health and safety regulatory compliance, due diligence and litigation. He also advises industry, developers, fiduciaries and lenders concerning potential environmental liability arising from the ownership, operation and acquisition of industrial facilities and real estate.

In recent years, Mr. Bleiweiss has focused his practice on government and private Superfund matters and other hazardous waste and material handling issues. He has participated in several alternative dispute resolution (ADR - arbitration - mediation - facilitation) proceedings at Superfund Sites, and is a former Chair of the ABA Environmental Section, Alternative Dispute Resolution Committee.

Mr. Bleiweiss also represents clients in OSHA inspections, defends clients in OSHA proceedings and counsels clients in the chemical "right-to-know" area. He has assisted numerous companies, including Fortune 100 and Fortune 500 companies, with the development and implementation of federal, state and local right-to-know programs. Mr. Bleiweiss oversaw a national survey of state right-to-know laws.

With his technical background, Mr. Bleiweiss also handles natural resource issues arising for clients under federal and state laws including the Endangered Species Act, the Migratory Bird Conservation Act and the National Environmental Policy Act. He also advises clients, has spoken at seminars and published articles in the area of medical waste handling and disposal.

Mr. Bleiweiss has written articles for several publications, including the Harvard Environmental Law Review, The Environmental Forum, and Chemical Engineering Progress. He is a member of the Illinois bar, the American Bar Association, including its Sections on Environment and Litigation, and the Chicago Bar Association, including its Environmental Law Committee.

Mr. Bleiweiss has a technical background in wildlife biology. From 1973 until 1979, he was a consultant to government and industry. He received his bachelor's and master's degrees in wildlife ecology, in 1971 and 1974 respectively, from Southern Illinois University. In 1982, he graduated from Northwestern University School of Law, where he served on the editorial board of the Journal of Criminal Law and Criminology.

Mr. Bleiweiss heads his own law firm called the Law Offices of Shell J. Bleiweiss. He previously was a senior partner at McDermott, Will & Emery, and also practiced at Sidley & Austin and Coffield Ungaretti Harris & Slavin.

Mr. Bleiweiss is rated AV by Martindale-Hubbell, the highest rating possible from the nation's largest legal services directory.

Areas of Practice

• Environmental Law
• Labor Law
• Government and Private Superfund Matters
• Hazardous Waste and Material Handling Issues

Honors and Awards

• Rated AV by Martindale-Hubbell

Published Works

• "Dealing with OSHA, The Most Common Mistake Companies Make", 2003
• Contributing Author, "Liability & Litigation, World Trade Center 'Cough', No Clear Guidance to Clearing the Indoor Air After 9/11", Heating/Piping/Air Conditioning Engineering, March, 2002
• "Liability & Litigation, Ammonia-Based Refrigeration Systems, Regulations You Should Know", Heating/Piping/Air Conditioning Engineering, July, 2000

Classes and Seminars

• "Multi-Stakeholder Dialogues and Concensus-Based Communication: Skills, Tips, and Tactics", ABA SONREEL Fall Meeting, 1999
• "Illinois and Federal Contaminated Site Liability/CERCLA", Illinois Environmental Law Compliance Seminar, 1999
• "Practical Dispute Resolution: Skills, Tips, and Tactics Relating to the Use of Third Party Neutrals in Resolving Environmental, Energy, and Natural Resource Disputes", ABA SONREEL Conference on Environmental Law, 1999
• "Practical Dispute Resolution-Negotiation Skills, Tips, and Tactics", ABA SONREEL Fall Meeting, 1998
• "Cost Recovery Under Superfund: Multiple Party Site Litigation", Chicago Bar Association, 1997
• "Use of the False Claims Act to Enforce Environmental Statutes -- A Problem Reaching Well Beyond Government Contractors", ABA SONREEL Fall Meeting, 1996
• "CONEG: Trends in State Environmental Packaging and Labeling Legislation", Business Forum on the Environment, Safety, and Health, 1993
• "A Cure fo What Ails Us? Environmental Regulation in the Medical Industry", The Environmental Forum, 1989
• "Legal Considerations in Environmental Audit Decisions", Chemical Engineering Progress, 1987
• "Environmental Regulation and the Federal Common Law of Nuisance: A Proposed Standard of Preemption", Harvard Environmental Law Review, 1983

West Practice Categories

Environmental Law, Labor Law