Susan Campbell is the Chair of the Firm’s Environmental practice. She has been at the forefront of environmental and toxic tort litigation for more than 30 years, and is an accomplished environmental lawyer. The Firm’s environmental practice encompasses all aspects of environmental law, including hazardous substance claims, real property transfers, litigation, Brownfields, corporate transactions, administrative proceedings, environmental impact statements, and regulatory advice. Ms. Campbell was named by New York Super Lawyers as one of the “Top 50 Women Lawyers,” and as a Super Lawyer in “Environmental Litigation.” She previously served as Chief of Environmental Protection at the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York. She has been chosen by federal judges to serve as an Advisor to the federal court in NY on environmental issues, most notably on the closure of the Fresh Kills Landfill in Staten Island, NY, the largest in the country.

Relevant Experience

Environmental Litigation

• MTBE MDL 1358 (S.D.N.Y.) (national counsel to major oil company in product liability/environmental actions alleging contamination of water by gas additive MTBE)
• Defended engineering and construction company in Superfund contribution actions on manufactured gas plant (“MGP”) sites in 8 states
• Sierra Club v. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (S.D.N.Y.) (NEPA challenge to proposed highway project)
• Botur v. New York State Urban Development Corp. (App. Div. 1st Dep’t) (SEQRA appeal)

Administrative Agency Hearings and Negotiations

• Negotiated Consent Decree with NYSDEC for phased-in Clean Air Act compliance by NY pharmaceutical manufacturer
• Represented physician group in hearings on medical waste disposal charges
• Negotiated post-closure groundwater remediation and monitoring requirements for upstate manufacturer
• City of New York v. David Hamberger, Inc. (NYC DEP cleanup dispute)

Federal Superfund/State Voluntary and Priority Cleanups, and Brownfields

• Represented major corporations as PRPs on sites in 14 states
• Advise developers and retailers on urban Brownfields development projects
• Voluntary site assessment of Brooklyn waterfront property
• Responses to EPA administrative requests on former landfills, MGP plants, and industrial properties
• Negotiated Consent Decrees with federal and state agencies and private parties for cleanup of contaminated properties

Compliance Counseling

• Advise pharmaceutical manufacturers concerning full range of environmental compliance responsibilities
• Direct and secure financing for asbestos remediation program for metropolitan client
• Advise foreign exporters to U.S. on U.S. packaging requirements, and Pacific Rim importers on TSCA requirements
• Advise lender on lead paint requirements and potential liability with respect to New York residential properties
• Advise colleges and universities on federal, state and local regulatory requirements
• Advise medical schools and hospitals on EPA program requirements and audit policy
• Advise national newspaper publisher on multi-state storm water discharge program

Court Appointment

• Advisor, Fresh Kills Landfill (1994-2006) (appointed by U.S. District Court, E.D.N.Y.)

Professional Experience

• 1990-95: Mudge Rose Guthrie Alexander & Ferdon, NY, NY
  Partner, Litigation Department
  Head of Environmental Group
• 1986-90: Campbell Patrick & Chin, Partner, New York, NY
• United States Attorney’s Office S.D.N.Y., New York, NY
  1983-86: Chief, Environmental Protection Unit
  1979-83: Assistant United States Attorney
• 1976-79: Townley & Updike, New York, NY
  Associate, Litigation Department
• 1975-76: Law Clerk
  Hon. Harold R. Medina
  Hon. Sterry R. Waterman
  U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit

Professional and Community Activities

• Vice Chair of the Board of Trustees, The Community School of Bergen County (1998-present)
• Federal Bar Council, Member (1979-present)
• New York City Water Board, Member (1994-2003)
• Association of the Bar of the City of New York
  Judiciary Committee (1988-91)
  Criminal Law Committee (1993-95)
  Committee on Women in the Profession (1998-00)
• U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, Committee on History and Commemorative Events (1996-99)
• Fundraising and pro bono work for Coalition for the Homeless, First Step Program; Children International; GEMS (Girls and Education Mentoring Services); New York City Inner City Outings

Court Admissions

• United States Supreme Court, 1980
• United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, 1979
• United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, 1976
• United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York, 1976