PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
OFFICER, Fredrikson and Byron, PA | Minneapolis, MN | Nov 2023-Sep 2026
Federal and State Enforcement Defense: Defended various industrial clients across the country against alleged violations of federal and state air, water, and waste laws and regulations.
PFAS Regulation Compliance Advice: Advised a wide range of manufacturing and retail clients on compliance with burgeoning federal and state laws and regulations governing the presence of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in products and in the environment.
Challenged Governmental Overreach: Assisted clients in confronting regulatory authorities that exceeded their legal authority, including obtaining a published appellate court decision finding a state regulatory agency lacked ability to order permit amendment.
VICE PRESIDENT AND ASSOCIATE GENERAL COUNSEL, EHS|PS, 3M COMPANY | Maplewood, MN | Jul 2020-Oct 2023
Built & Led Global Legal Team: Formulated, recruited, and directed the global EHS and product stewardship legal function for a Fortune 100 enterprise, overseeing multi-jurisdictional compliance across critical regulatory regimes (CAA, CWA, CERCLA, RCRA, TSCA, OSHA, Prop 65, REACH, RoHS).
Executive Risk Mitigation: Served on executive operating committees to drive enterprise-wide strategic initiatives, proactively hedging corporate exposure against fast-evolving statutory shifts and emerging global regulatory risks.
High-Stakes Enforcement Defense: Defended the enterprise against critical regulatory actions, driving high-value negotiations and managing cross-functional teams of specialty counsel and technical experts to resolve complex disputes.
PARTNER, The Environmental Law Group, Ltd. | Minneapolis, MN | Jun 2006 – Jul 2020
Full-Spectrum Corporate Counsel: Delivered strategic risk-mitigation and compliance advice to corporate and public-sector clients navigating complex local, state, and federal environmental frameworks.
High-Stakes Regulatory Defense: Represented commercial entities and municipalities in contested enforcement actions, administrative hearings, and litigation across state and federal courts.
Complex Permitting & Approvals: Guided major industrial and commercial projects through rigorous environmental review, securing critical regulatory authorizations to clear operational bottlenecks cleanly.
Deep Statutory Mastery: Provided high-level legal direction across core environmental regimes, including CAA, CWA/wetlands, CERCLA/MERLA, NEPA/MEPA, MERA, and RCRA/hazardous wastes.
PARTNER (Jan 2002 – Jun 2006) | ASSOCIATE (Nov 1999 – Dec 2001) Greene Espel PLLP | Minneapolis, MN
Complex Environmental Litigation: Defended corporate, municipal, and private clients in complex regulatory enforcement actions and contested state and federal litigation under CERCLA/MERLA, RCRA, MERA, NEPA/MEPA, and CWA/wetlands.
Commercial & Land Use Advocacy: Represented clients in high-value commercial disputes, construction and contract litigation, zoning challenges, and municipal land-use matters.
Executive Practice Management: Served two years as Managing Partner, directing firm operations, strategy, and client service delivery for a premier litigation boutique.
ASSISTANT ATTORNEY GENERAL, Minnesota Office of the Attorney General | St. Paul, MN | Sep 1995 – Oct 1999
State Legal Counsel & Regulatory Enforcement: Served as legal counsel to the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA), representing the agency in state and federal civil litigation, administrative enforcement proceedings, and contested case hearings.
Statutory & Policy Development: Advised agency leadership on the interpretation, implementation, and enforcement of state and federal environmental laws, while assisting in drafting new MPCA administrative rules and legislative proposals.
Core Environmental Focus: Delivered targeted regulatory oversight and enforcement across critical state water quality programs, stormwater management, ISTSs, POTWs, solid waste frameworks, underground storage tanks, and contaminated site remediation.
ADJUNCT PROFESSOR OF LAW, Hamline University College of Law | St. Paul, MN | Spring 2011 – Spring 2013
Educating the Next Generation: Designed and delivered the core Environmental Law curriculum to upper-level (2L and 3L) law students, training future practitioners on fundamental statutory frameworks, regulatory compliance, and environmental litigation strategy.
Bridging Theory & Practice: Integrated decades of real-world litigation, enforcement, and corporate advisory experience into classroom instruction, grounding complex statutory doctrine in practical, high-stakes legal execution.
APPELLATE CASES
Hibbing Taconite Company v. Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, 17 N.W.3d 160 (Minn. Ct. App. 2025): Obtained favorable published opinion on behalf of mining client from Minnesota Court of Appeals, which determined the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources exceeded its legal authority by requiring an amendment to the client’s permit to mine in an order issued under the DNR’s Wetland Conservation Act authority.
In the Matter of the Reissuance of an NPDES/SDS Permit to United States Steel Corporation (U. S. Steel) for its Minntac Facility & Response to Contested Case Hearing Requests Filed by U. S. Steel and the Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy, 937 N.W.2d 770 (Minn. Ct. App. 2019): Obtained favorable first impression determinations from the Minnesota Court of Appeals for client on the topics of regulation of groundwater by NPDES permit, the application of Class I water quality and wild rice sulfate standards to state groundwater.
West McDonald Lake Ass’n v. Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, 899 N.W.2d 832 (Minn. Ct. App. 2017): Successfully argued to overturn DNR decision to issue itself a permit to lower lake elevation. Appellate court also determined DNR needed to obtain an NPDES permit to facilitate discharge from one lake to another, a decision of first impression in the state.
White Bear Lake Restoration Association ex rel. State v. Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, 928 N.W.2d 351 (Minn. Ct. App. 2019): Filed amicus curiae brief on behalf of the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce in support of respondents DNR, City of White Bear Lake and Town of White Bear Lake. Appellate court found in favor of Respondents and overturned district court determinations regarding applicability of Minnesota Environmental Rights Act and public trust doctrine to citizens suit involving permitted groundwater appropriations.
United States v. Qwest Corp., 353 F. Supp. 2d 1048 (D. Minn. 2005): Obtained dismissal of attempt by United States to extend CERCLA operator liability to client because of its subcontractor’s activity.
REPRESENTATIVE LITIGATION, COMPLIANCE, AND ENFORCEMENT MATTERS
Secured a nearly $10M settlement on behalf of a public university for decades-old contamination of its property.
Provided legal advice and support to multinational project to test industrial and stormwater wastewater discharges and air stack emissions for parameters and at a frequency that exceeded permitting and regulatory requirements and to formulate permitting and mitigation responses to the results.
Advised multiple clients on recent and forthcoming federal and state regulations regarding products with intentionally added PFAS.
Used the U.S. Supreme Court's Securities and Exchange Commission v. Jarkesy decision to obtain favorable resolution for client facing EPA enforcement action for alleged after-market emission control modifications.
Revised client’s anaerobic digester supply chain agreements to protect client from liability stemming from EPA’s addition of PFOA and PFOS as “hazardous substances” under CERCLA.
Assisted several rental housing management clients in responding to EPA Region 5 information requests related to clients’ lead exposure disclosures.
Negotiated resolution to potential National Historic Preservation Act Section 106 challenges between tribal officials, state agency and municipality to allow the latter to install sewer system in a way that avoided harm to sacred mounds.
EDUCATION
UNIVERSITY OF IOWA COLLEGE OF LAW, Iowa City, IA
Juris Doctor, Special Honors with Distinction, 1995.
UNIVERSITY OF IOWA GRADUATE COLLEGE, Iowa City, IA
Master of Arts in Urban and Regional Planning, 1995.
UNIVERSITY OF IOWA COLLEGE OF LIBERAL ARTS, Iowa City, IA
Bachelor of Arts, Special Honors with Distinction, Phi Beta Kappa, 1991.
ADMISSIONS; BAR MEMBERSHIP AND SERVICE
Supreme Court of Minnesota (1995); United States District Court for the District of Minnesota (1995); United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit (1995).
Chair (2007-2008), Vice-Chair (2006-2007), Secretary (2005-2006) and Governing Council Member (2000-2005), Environmental, Natural Resources and Energy Law Section, Minnesota State Bar Association. Current member.
Member, Pro Bono Policy Review Committee, Public Law Section, Minnesota State Bar Association, 2005 – 2008.
Member, Hennepin County Bar Association.