Robert Petti - Environmental Litigation – PFAS, CERCLA, Contaminated Properties, Environmental Due Diligence - Cook County, Illinois, Northern District Illinois - Maron Marvel
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Robert W. Petti

Of Counsel

contact

Chicago
191 North Wacker Drive
Suite 2950
Chicago, IL 60606

P (312) -579-2021 Fax (601) 579-3144

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practice areas

Business Law & Commercial Litigation
Construction Defect and Law
Environmental Litigation
General Liability & Casualty Litigation
Professional Liability
Toxic and Mass Tort Litigation

Robert has spent the past 25 years practicing at the intersection of technology, science, and law, guiding clients through complex environmental, toxic exposure, and product liability disputes.  Whether working with petroleum giants or consumer product leaders, Robert’s environmental engineering background provides clients with an unique and invaluable resource for navigating a variety of highly complex disputes. His environmental experience includes representation of international petroleum and chemical manufacturing clients in multi-million-dollar CERCLA allocation and liability disputes, as well as claims involving contaminated properties related to sudden or historic release of regulated substances. Robert is also part of our team of national counsel that guides complex exposure litigation and federal multidistrict litigation, including claims involving, among others, benzene, PFAS, hair relaxers, lead based paint, and PCBs. Robert’s understanding of the scientific principles behind environmental and toxic tort claims set him apart in his ability to directly address these complex issues in the management of claims and strategic defense of clients.

Robert’s practice also includes analysis of environmental due diligence actions in real estate and business transactions that focuses on environmental risk assessment, liability allocation, and resolution of related environmental disputes.

Robert’s leadership in these practice areas has allowed him serve as a past chair of the firm’s environmental law practice group, and past Chairman of the Chicago Bar Association’s Section on Environmental Law. Robert also routinely writes and speaks at national conferences on environmental and toxic tort practice.

Education

DePaul University College of Law (J.D.)

Western Michigan University (B.S.)

Additional Practice Experience
  • Agriculture Law
  • Class Action Litigation
  • Construction Defect and Design Litigation
  • Mass Toxic Tort
Published Articles/Speaking Engagements
  • Speaker, “PFAS Litigation and Site Investigation in 2024” Perrin Conferences Virtual PFAS Litigation and Regulatory Developments Conference, February 15, 2024.
  • Co-author, “Sixth Circuit Decision Reinforces that Standing & Traceability Key in PFAS Class Actions,” The Environmental and Toxic Tort Advisor, January 17, 2024.
  • Speaker, “Environmental Justice Considerations Affecting Environmental Requirements and Costs,” National FETTI Annual Conference, Chicago, IL, September 27-29, 2023.
  • Co-Moderator, “Emerging Contaminants and Reopeners,” Perrin Environmental Risk & PFAS Litigation Conference, June 15, 2023.
  • Speaker, “Where is PFAS Litigation Going in 2023 and Who is Impacted?” Perrin Conferences Virtual PFAS Litigation and Regulatory Developments Conference, February 19, 2023.
  • Author, “U.S. EPA Issues Final Rule Updating Standards for All Appropriate Inquiries,” The Environmental and Toxic Tort Advisor, January 09, 2023.
  • Author, “Navigation PFAS ‘Reopener’ Liabilities,” The Environmental and Toxic Tort Advisor, July 19, 2022.
  • Speaker, “Stay on Environmental Justice,” Perrin Environmental Risk & PFAS Litigation Conference, June 14, 2022.
  • Co-author, “Recent Food Packaging Lawsuits Against Fast Food Giants are Supersizing PFAS Litigation,“The Environmental and Toxic Tort Advisor, April 22, 2022.
  • Author, “The Evolution of ESG in 2022,” The Environmental and Toxic Tort Advisor, April 8, 2022.
  • Author, “Federal TRI Reporting and the Illinois PFAS Reduction Act Demonstrate the Promised Expansion of PFAS Regulation is Real and Ongoing,” The Environmental and Toxic Tort Advisor, February 24, 2022.
  • Author, “PFAS: 2022 Trending Towards a Major Turning Point in Regulation and Litigation,” HarrisMartin’s Benzene & Emerging Toxic Torts Litigation Report, January 2022
  • Speaker, “Current Litigation and MDL Status Update,” Perrin Impact of PFAS on Environmental Litigation Conference, January 13, 2022.
  • Author, “PFAS: 2022 Trending Towards a Major Turning Point in Regulation and Litigation,” Toxic And Hazardous Substances Litigation Committee Newsletter, December 2021.
  • Author, “Will Forever Chemicals, PFAS, Lead to Never-Ending Lawsuits?,” Claims Journal, November 17, 2021.
  • Author, “Will Forever Chemicals, PFAS, Lead to Never-Ending Lawsuits?,”  Insurance Journal, November 16, 2021
  • Speaker, “How the Biden Administration will Affect Environmental Underwriting and Claims,” Perrin Environmental Risk & Litigation Conference, 2021.
  • Speaker, “Environmental Reopeners – Strategies to Managing Risk and Impacts,” Perrin Environmental Risk & Litigation Conference, 2019.
  • Co-chair, Colorado Bar Association CLE on Brownfields Redevelopment, 2018.
  • Speaker, “Trump Administration Impacts on Environmental Laws,” Perrin Environmental Risk & Litigation Conference, 2018.
  • Law Co-Chair/Moderator – Air & Waste Management Association, Air Quality Management Conference, 2018.
  • Speaker, “Lead, Vapor Intrusion & Groundwater Contamination,” Perrin Environmental Risk & Litigation Conference, 2017.
  • Speaker, Claims Litigation Management Webinar: Vapor Intrusion Regulatory Updates.
  • Author, “Beneath the Surface: Developments in Vapor Intrusion Regulation and Why They Matter,” CLM Magazine, March 2017.
Organizations/Committee Memberships
  • Chair of the Chicago Bar Association’s Environmental Committee (2023-2024)
  • Associate Member, Environmental Law Institute
  • Environmental Section of the Colorado Bar Association, Advisory Council
practice areas

Business Law & Commercial Litigation
Construction Defect and Law
Environmental Litigation
General Liability & Casualty Litigation
Professional Liability
Toxic and Mass Tort Litigation

Admissions

Illinois
Colorado
United States District Court for the District of Colorado
United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit