Shell J. Bleiweiss

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.

Articles & Presentations

“Dealing with OSHA, The Most Common Mistake Companies Make,” Published in Various Trade Publications, 2000-2003

“Liability & Litigation, World Trade Center ‘Cough’, No Clear Guidance to Clearing the Indoor Air After 9/11” Heating/Piping/Air Conditioning Engineering, March 2002, (Shell Bleiweiss was a contributing author)

“Liability & Litigation, Ammonia-Based Refrigeration Systems, Regulations You Should Know,” Heating/Piping/Air Conditioning Engineering, July 2000

“Multi-Stakeholder Dialogues and Concensus-Based Communication: Skills, Tips, and Tactics,” Presented at the ABA SONREEL Fall Meeting, October 1999

“Illinois and Federal Contaminated Site Liability/CERCLA,” Presented at the Illinois Environmental Law Compliance Seminar, June 1999

“Practical Dispute Resolution: Skills, Tips, and Tactics Relating to the Use of Third Party Neutrals in Resolving Environmental, Energy, and Natural Resource Disputes,” Presented at the ABA SONREEL Conference on Environmental Law, March 1999

“Practical Dispute Resolution-Negotiation Skills, Tips, and Tactics,” Presented at the ABA SONREEL Fall Meeting, October 1998

“Cost Recovery Under Superfund: Multiple Party Site Litigation,” Presented to the Chicago Bar Association, March 1997

“Use of the False Claims Act to Enforce Environmental Statutes — A Problem Reaching Well Beyond Government Contractors,” Presented to the ABA SONREEL Fall Meeting, October 1996

“CONEG: Trends in State Environmental Packaging and Labeling Legislation,” Presented to the Business Forum on the Environment, Safety, and Health, February 1993

“A Cure fo What Ails Us? Environmental Regulation in the Medical Industry,” The Environmental Forum, March/April 1989

“Legal Considerations in Environmental Audit Decisions,” Chemical Engineering Progress, January 1987

“Environmental Regulation and the Federal Common Law of Nuisance: A Proposed Standard of Preemption,” Harvard Environmental Law Review, 1983