Alex Garel-Frantzen

Partner

Alex represents businesses in a wide variety of environmental regulatory, permitting, transactional, and litigation matters, including federal and state cases arising under CERCLA, brownfields redevelopment statutes, RCRA, the Clean Water Act, and state analogs.

Garel-Frantzen

Alex helps companies solve their most challenging environmental law problems with practical, business‑oriented strategies. He represents clients in high-stakes regulatory, permitting, transactional, and litigation matters across the full spectrum of environmental statutes and issues. His experience spans federal and state enforcement actions and private party disputes under CERCLA (Superfund), RCRA, the Clean Water Act, the Safe Drinking Water Act, brownfields redevelopment programs, and state analogs. Alex is frequently called upon to navigate complex CERCLA cost recovery and allocation disputes, defend government and citizen-suit enforcement.

Alex counsels companies on evolving compliance obligations at the federal, state, and local levels. His advisory work includes Prop 65 warning and enforcement defense, climate-related corporate disclosure requirements (California AB 1305, SB 261, and SB 253), extended producer responsibility (EPR) mandates, and the regulation of emerging contaminants, including PFAS. He regularly helps clients integrate ESG and product stewardship considerations into operational and transactional planning and structures remediation, redevelopment, and compliance solutions that reduce risk and advance business objectives.

In the transactional arena, Alex advises on the environmental aspects of M&A deals, real estate developments, and renewable energy projects, including environmental diligence, risk allocation, permitting change-of-control strategies, and post‑closing integration. He partners closely with business leaders to identify and help manage material environmental liabilities.

Alex represents a broad range of industries and businesses, including industrial manufacturers and suppliers; consumer product manufacturers, distributors, and retailers; commercial waste management companies; electric power utilities; natural gas transmission, storage, and distribution companies; water utilities; renewable energy developers; and private equity and other investment firms. 

Alex’s practice is grounded in responsiveness, clarity, and results. He brings a pragmatic approach that helps clients anticipate regulatory change, mitigate liability, and achieve their commercial goals.

Client Work

  • Obtained dismissal of third-party challenge to Clean Water Act Section 401 Water Quality Certification issued to electric and natural gas company, as part of its transmission line construction project.
  • Obtained dismissal of third-party appeal challenging state variance issued to electric and natural gas company related to the management of coal combustion residuals surface impoundments.
  • Represented municipalities impacted by the release of ethylene oxide in investigating the health and environmental impacts on private citizens.
  • Represents electric and natural gas utility at major Superfund sites in New York City.
  • Represents various electric and natural gas utilities in government-initiated and complex, private party litigation arising under CERCLA and RCRA.
  • Represents electric power utility in third-party appeal of state-issued water permit.
  • Represents clients in federal and state investigations under the Clean Air Act, CERCLA, RCRA, and state analogs.
  • Represents clients in Illinois environmental rulemaking proceedings.
  • Advises clients on compliance with RCRA, CWA, the Safe Drinking Water Act, and Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA) and state analogs.
  • Counsels clients on California Proposition 65 and federal and state product stewardship regulatory compliance.
  • Counsels clients on National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permitting.
  • Counsels renewable energy developers on compliance with environmental and siting requirements.

Boards, Memberships & Certifications

  • Chicago Bar Association, YLS Environmental Law Committee, Co-Chair
  • University of Illinois College of Law, Alumni Board, Member

Professional Activities

Alex is committed to public service, with a recent focus on immigration and criminal law matters.

  • Obtained grant of asylum from Chicago Immigration Court on behalf of a family from Burma (Myanmar)
  • Obtained grant of asylum from the USCIS on behalf of a citizen of Togo, Africa.
  • Represented a young man in Cook County Juvenile Court on robbery-related charges.
  • Obtained renewal of client’s deferred action for childhood arrivals and authorization to work in the United States.
  • Secured mother’s co-guardianship over her adult son whose physical and mental disabilities prevented him from making needed medical decisions on his own.

Recognitions 

  • Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch, Best Lawyers (2022-2024)
  • Illinois Rising Star, Illinois Super Lawyers, Thomson Reuters (2021)

Publications & Presentations

  • “The Year in Review: Case Law and Statutory Update,” ISBA Environmental Law Section’s 21st Annual Environmental Law Conference (May 12, 2023)
  • “Intergenerational Environmental Law Advice: What New Environmental Lawyers Need to Know to Succeed in the Field and What Our More ‘Seasoned’ Members Need to Know to Stay Relevant,” Chicago Bar Association Environmental Law Committee, Chicago (Mar. 16, 2023)  
  • “CERCLA § 309 and Beyond: Statute of Limitations, Rules of Repose, and the Broad Implications of CTS Corp. v. Waldburger Outside the Context of Environmental Law,” University of Illinois Law Review Vol. 865 (2015)
  • “Methane Emissions Regulations on the Horizon for the Oil and Gas Industry,” (co-author) Bloomberg BNA Daily Environment Report (Aug. 2014)
  • “Gangsters and Organized Crime in Jewish Chicago,” The History Press (2013)
  • “Clean Air Act Legal Updates,” AAPCA 2021 Virtual Spring Meeting, Webinar (Jun. 24, 2021)
  • “Environmental and Energy Law Policy: A Trump vs. Biden Administration,” (moderator) The Chicago Bar Association, Young Lawyers Section, Environmental Law Committee (Oct. 6, 2020)
  • “Views on Trump Administration Environmental Policy Updates,” Chicago Bar Association, Young Lawyers Sectionm, Chicago, Ill. (Feb. 21, 2018)
  • “Careers in Environmental Law for Young Lawyers,” Chicago Bar Association, Chicago, Ill. (Sep. 28, 2017)

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