Renee Cipriano's practice focuses on providing environmental strategic planning and counseling with respect to statutory and regulatory requirements, enforcement and compliance. Her work also includes providing high level assessment of legislative, regulatory, and policy initiatives at the national, state and local levels. Ms. Cipriano's practice includes a heavy emphasis on government relations and public law and policy, particularly in the state of Illinois.
- She has extensive experience handling:
- Complex regulatory authorization/permitting matters
- Federal, state and local government approvals and local siting
- Enforcement
- Public hearings and community outreach
- Situational and crisis management
She also has overseen complex multidimensional infrastructure projects, brownfields redevelopment projects and energy projects.
Experience
Highlights of Ms. Cipriano's private practice include:
Publications
"States and Local Governments Lead the Way on Product Content Regulation," (co-author) Environmental Leader (October 18, 2011)
"Keep Chicago Beautiful, Scott's and the Chicago Park District Put "Two Green Thumbs Up"
for Earth Day," WINGs Newsletter (Spring 2011)
Speeches and Presentations
Highlights of Ms Cipriano's recent speeches and presentations include:
"Legal Mayhem: Environmental Justice, RCRA and Other Difficult Dilemmas," Eighteenth Annual Midwest Energy Associations Environmental Management Learning Summit, Indianapolis, Ind. (May 12, 2011)
"EPA's Clean Air Act Standards for Boilers and Incinerators," Law Seminars International Telebriefing (April 20, 2011)
"What Should the Next Governor of Illinois Do About Energy?" Illinois Energy Council Energy Forum, Chicago, Ill. (November 15, 2010)
"Will County Landfill Gas Purchase Agreement," Eighteenth Annual Conference of the Illinois Counties Solid Waste Management Association (September 23, 2010)
"U.S. and Illinois EPA: "What Co-ops Should Expect on Climate and Other New Regulations — This is Not a Simple Game of Darts," 2010 Annual Meeting of the Association of Illinois Electric Cooperatives — Framing Our Future (July 29, 2010)
"Lifecycle Management of Chemicals," Thirty-Eighth National Spring Conference on the Environment — American Bar Association, Standing Committee on Environmental Law, Baltimore, Md. (June 11, 2010)
"USEPA Proposes Major Changes to the PCB Use Authorization: Is a Mandatory PCB Phase-Out Imminent?" Schiff Hardin LLP and Weston Solutions, Inc. Webinar (May 06, 2010)
Previous Experience
- Partner, Sonnenschein Nath & Rosenthal (2005 - 2007)
- Director of the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, State of Illinois [under the administrations of Governors George H. Ryan and Rod R. Blagojevich] (2001 - 2005)
- Senior Adviser on Environment and Natural Resources to Illinois Governor George H. Ryan (1999 - 2001)
- Partner, Schiff Hardin (1998 - 1999)
- Associate Director and Chief Counsel, Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) (1995 - 1998)
- Associate, Schiff Hardin (1992 - 1995)
- Assistant Attorney General, Environmental Control Division of the Illinois Attorney General (1985 - 1992)
In her capacity as Illinois EPA Director, (cabinet-level) Ms. Cipriano advised the governor on environmental and energy policy and legislation while overseeing a staff of 1,200 and a budget exceeding $1 billion. In this position, she served as an Illinois Commissioner on the Great Lakes Commission; the Environmental Chair of the National Brownfields Association, Illinois Chapter; the Board of Directors for the Clean Energy Community Foundation; and on the Special Task Force on the Condition and Future of the Illinois Energy Infrastructure.
Highlights of Ms. Cipriano's government service include:
- Creating the Green Illinois Initiative, a state program to promote environmental stewardship, sustainability, and planning for a healthier and greener future
- Launching of the Green Fleets Program, the Green Dealers Program, and Illinois Clean School Bus Program. These efforts promote the use of clean fuel technology and alternative fuels, including specifically bio-diesel and ethanol.
- Spearheading the development and passage of the state's comprehensive Right to Know Law. This legislative program makes Illinois the nation's leader in public notification and community relations activities when a release of a contaminant is discovered.
- Launching the national recognized program "Green Pays on Green Days." This program was successfully implemented through partnership efforts that included Illinois EPA, WMAQ-TV/Chicago, various Illinois companies, Partners for Clean Air, and others to promote voluntary actions to improve air quality.
- Expanding of one of the nation's most successful brownfields program to clean up and redevelop abandoned industrial sites
- Creating the Basinwide Management Advisory Group as initiate the review and redefinition of how Illinois plans for the protection of water quality
- Creating the first-ever Environmental Justice Officer position in the State of Illinois and Advisory Group to continue development of an environmental justice policy in Illinois
- Implementing Illinois EPA's first uniform Enforcement Management System for compliance and enforcement activities
- Serving as Chair of the Governor's Environment and Natural Resource Cabinet; Governor's Energy Cabinet, and Governor's Balance Growth Cabinet
Awards and Honors
Best Lawyers in America, Environmental Law; Chicago Environmental Law Lawyer of the Year
Illinois Super Lawyers, Environmental
Fellow, American Bar Foundation
Leading Lawyer — Environment, Chambers USA — America's Leading Lawyers for Business
Leading Lawyer — Environmental; Top Ten Environmental, Top Ten Women Real Estate-Related, Top 50 Women Real Estate-Related, Top 100 Real Estate-Related; Top 100 Women Lawyers; Top 100 Women Business Lawyers, Illinois Leading Lawyers
Martindale-Hubbell — A/V Rated
President’s Lifetime Volunteer Service Award, President’s Council on Service and Civic Participation
Who's Who Legal — Illinois, Environment