Lou practices in the areas of environmental law, administrative law, and litigation. He is the former Chair of the firm's environmental practice and is a former member of the firm's Management Committee. Lou has represented clients before the United States Supreme Court; the Third, Fourth, Sixth, Seventh, and D.C. U.S. Court of Appeals; and regional, state, and federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) offices. Over his decades-long career, Lou has been part of a great number of precedent-setting cases and initiatives and is highly sought-after for his insights on environmental law and related issues.
Lou frequently represents industry groups in enforcement, rulemaking, and legislative matters at both the state and federal levels. Lou has substantial experience in class actions and complex litigation, as well as matters involving the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), the Clean Water Act, and the Clean Air Act. Additionally, Lou was:
- Integral to a U.S. EPA New Source Review initiative and represented a number of clients on important New Source Review "look back" enforcement issues, which had a significant impact on the electric utility and refining industries
- Selected to lead a task force on Brownfield remediation reform, which led to the current version of the Ohio Brownfield Statute
His prior leadership positions include the past Chair of the Ohio State Bar Association Environmental Law Committee, past Vice Chair of the American Bar Association's Natural Resources Section Air Quality Committee, past President of Global Rivers Environmental Education Network, and former member of the Board of Directors for the National Italian American Foundation, among many others.
Education
J.D., cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa, Ohio State University, 1974
B.A., cum laude, Ohio State University, 1971
Professional Associations
- American Bar Association
- Ohio State Bar Association
- Toledo Bar Association
- American Bar Association, Natural Resources Section Air Quality Committee, past Vice-Chair
- American Bar Association Section on Administrative Law
- Ohio State Bar Association Environmental Law Committee, past Chair
- Ohio Chamber of Commerce Energy and Environment Committee
- Ohio Governor Voinovich’s Task Force on Brownfields Reform, Chair
- Ohio EPA Air and Solid Waste Public Advisory Group
- Global Rivers Environmental Education Network (Ann Arbor, Michigan), past President
- Board of Directors, The National Italian American Foundation (NIAF), 2013-2017, 2017-2021, 2021-2025
- Toledo Symphony, Board member
Honors
- Americas Leading Lawyers for Business, Chambers & Partners, Natural Resources & Environment practice
- The International Who’s Who of Business Lawyers
- The International Who’s Who of Environment Lawyers, 2013
- Best Lawyers in America, 1989-2021
- Ohio Super Lawyer by Super Lawyers magazine, 2004-2022
- Toledo Business Journal, “Who’s Who in Toledo Area Law”
- AV® Peer Review Rated by Martindale-Hubbell