Environmental

Environmental Due Diligence

We have significant experience in performing environmental due diligence for a wide variety of client projects in hundreds of property and business acquisitions identifying and mitigating potential environmental risks. Our environmental attorneys work seamlessly with other Godfrey & Kahn Practice Groups to provide support of our clients’ business transactions. The breadth of experience and in-depth knowledge of our practice group allows us to provide experienced legal advice in virtually all facets of environmental law at both the state and federal level.

A key goal of our Environmental Strategies Practice Group is the reduction of our clients’ exposure to environmental risk through the application of experienced due diligence and innovative techniques to allocating liability. From supporting corporate transactions to the cleanup of contaminated properties, our attorneys use a variety of innovative tools to reduce client exposure, including insurance, fixed-price contracting, audits and environmental management systems.

Contaminated Property Remediation Strategies, Fixed Price Contracting and Insurance

Godfrey & Kahn has assisted many clients in closing contaminated properties and reducing the business risk associated with these properties. On less complex sites, cleanup is often achieved through conventional approaches and financing. In more complex cases, Godfrey & Kahn has used turnkey fixed-price contracting and environmental insurance to transfer risk away from our clients.

Either alone or in combination with fixed-price cleanup contracts, Godfrey & Kahn has successfully used environmental insurance to transfer risk of increased cleanup scope, contractor cost overruns and toxic tort claims. We work closely with some of the top consulting firms and insurance brokers to negotiate cleanup projects that provide our clients with cost certainty and minimized risk.

Auditing

We have substantial experience in assisting clients reduce the risk of environmental noncompliance through implementation of environmental audits and environmental management systems. Godfrey & Kahn provides assistance throughout the entire environmental auditing process, from audit design to working with environmental consultants to interpret the results. Godfrey & Kahn has also developed particular knowledge on effectively using state and federal voluntary self-disclosure policies to help clients avoid enforcement penalties when noncompliance issues have been identified.

Wisconsin’s Green Tier Program

Godfrey & Kahn is familiar with all aspects of the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources’ Green Tier Program, and our attorneys are represented on the Advisory Committee. Green Tier provides an opportunity for our clients in Wisconsin to gain regulatory and enforcement flexibility in their dealings with the Department of Natural Resources, which can offer a considerable business advantage.