Doug has a broad range of experience in environmental and administrative law, including environmental compliance, litigation, consultation, and civil and criminal enforcement matters. He has unique experience in addressing the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) and state hazardous and solid waste issues, as well as Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) cleanups ,which gives him valuable perspective on regulatory complexities.
Outside the environmental arena, Doug handles a wide range of business-related civil litigation, regulatory, and administrative practice matters, including licensing, permitting, enforcement and related investigation, administrative rulemaking, and mediation.
Additionally, Doug has extensive experience advising clients in:
- Federal environmental laws and regulations, including the Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act, the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA), and the Emergency Planning and the Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA)
- Assembling multi-party joint initiatives to construct multi-million dollar remedial construction projects, creating legal entities to oversee the long-term operation and maintenance of constructed remedial facilities, and group cost recovery efforts
- Environmental issues in business transactions, such as brownfield matters, bankruptcy, environmental audits, and insurance claims related to environmental matters
- Permit proceedings, including an evidentiary permit proceedings for hazardous waste management facilities
In his free time, Doug serves as a member of the City Council in Sylvania and a trustee for the Boy Scouts of America's Erie Shores Council Endowment. He cherishes spending time with his grandchildren and is also known to enjoy an occasional bourbon and riding his Harley, but not at the same time.
Education
J.D., with honors, Ohio State University, 1980
B.S., cum laude, Miami University, 1977
Professional Associations
- Toledo Bar Association
- Ohio State Bar Association, Environmental Law Committee, past-Chair
- State Bar of Michigan, Environmental Law Section
- City of Sylvania, Ohio, City Council Member
- Erie Shores Council, Boy Scouts of America, Past President, Board Member, Executive Committee; Endowment Trustee
- Sylvania Community Services, Board Member
Honors
- Best Lawyers in America, 1993 – 2024
- Best Lawyers “Toledo Environmental Law Lawyer of the Year,” 2023
- Ohio Super Lawyer by Super Lawyers magazine, 2004 -2012
- America’s Leading Lawyers for Business, Chambers & Partners, Natural Resources & Environment practice
- Toledo Business Journal, "Who's Who in Toledo Area Law"
- Top Rated Lawyer in Energy, Environmental and Natural Resources
- The International Who’s Who of Environment Lawyers
- AV® Preeminent Peer Review Rated by Martindale-Hubbell
Representative Matters
Doug’s representative clients of public record have included companies in the automobile, glass, rubber, paper, steel, petrochemical, waste management, agriculture, commercial food, real estate, and utility industries, as well as nonprofit entities.