Michael J. Maher

Biography

Michael Maher is a partner at Swanson, Martin & Bell, LLP. Michael represents national and international corporations in various types of environmental matters throughout the United States. His practice involves all areas of Environmental Law, including multiparty Superfund litigation defense and other enforcement actions, underground storage tanks, counseling on regulatory compliance, OSHA defense, toxic tort defense litigation, and transportation of hazardous materials. Michael’s prior practice included prosecution of environmental cases for the Illinois Attorney General, drafting of environmental statutes and administrative regulations for the Chairman of the Illinois Pollution Control Board Hearing Officer at both statewide and site-specific rule-making hearings, and other extensive environmental regulatory work and environmental trial prosecutions.

Michael’s previous experience includes serving as an adjunct professor at Chicago-Kent College of Law in environmental law and legal research from 1989-2001; as legal counsel for the Illinois Pollution Control Board from 1987-2001; as Assistant Illinois Attorney General, Environmental Control Division in 1986-1987. He was also an instructor of Electronic Intelligence and Communications Warfare Operations in the United States Marine Corps from 1975-1978 and received an honorable discharge in 1978. 

Practices

Environmental Law
Toxic Tort Litigation

Memberships & Affiliations

  • Chicago Bar Association, Environmental Law Committee
  • Illinois Bar Association, Environmental Law Section
  • American Bar Association

Awards

  • Selected for inclusion in Illinois Super Lawyers in 2007-2008, 2010-2019
  • Selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America®
    • Environmental Law and Litigation – Environmental, 2023-2024
    • Environmental Law, 2020-2022

Publications

  • Author and principal draftsman, The Environmental Register (1987-1988), a statutorily mandated semi-monthly periodical used to notify Illinois industries of upcoming changes in Illinois environmental regulations, and also to explain rulings and final actions of the Illinois Pollution Control Board in cases involving statewide environmental regulations, site-specific regulations, variances, permits, and enforcement actions.
  • “Lessons in L.U.S.T.: The Complete Story of Liability for Leaking Underground Storage Tanks,” Northern Illinois University Law Review
  • “Liability Issues in Private RCRA Suits Over Leaking Underground Storage Tanks,” Chemical Waste Litigation Reporter
  • “Common Law Liability for Leaking Underground Storage Tanks,” Northern Illinois University Law Review
  • “Lesson in L.U.S.T.—Cleaning Up Leaking Underground Storage Tanks,” Illinois Bar Journal
  • “Tax Ruling Could Discourage Environmental Remedies,” Chicago Daily Law Bulletin
  • “Leaking Underground Storage Tanks—Cleanup Responsibilities and the Illinois Reimbursement Fund,” Northern Lights
  • “Conflict of Law Rules in Environmental Coverage Disputes,” The Environmental Claims Journal
  • “A Guide through Illinois’s Environmental Regulatory Maze,” Illinois Bar Journal
  • “The Responsible Property Transfer Act—Ready or Not,” DuPage County Bar Journal
  • “The Illinois Pollution Control Board—What are Your Options When the IEPA Comes Knocking?” Illinois Municipal Review

Presentations

Michael has spoken on Environmental Law to the DuPage County Bar Association, the National Lien & Bond Association, and the National Issues Forum. He is a frequent speaker on Human Toxicology, the Illinois Environmental Regulatory System, Superfund Litigation, and Handling of Environmental Claims, has testified before the Illinois Attorney General’s Task Force on Environmental Resources (1992), and has presented lectures to:

  • Midwest Environmental Claims Association
  • Illinois State Bar Association
  • Chicago Bar Association
  • Environmental Law Symposium at Northern Illinois University College of Law
  • Western Loss Association
  • National Forum for Environmental & Toxic Tort Issues (2006, 2013, 2017)
  • American Bar Association (2015)

News

Chicago, Lisle, Libertyville, St. Louis, Madison County, August 17, 2023
Swanson, Martin & Bell, LLP Attorneys Named to 2024 Best Lawyers, Ones to Watch Lists
Fifty-five Swanson, Martin & Bell, LLP attorneys were named to the 2024 Best Lawyers in America® and Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America™ lists.

August 18, 2022
Swanson, Martin & Bell, LLP Attorneys Named to 2023 Best Lawyers, Ones to Watch Lists
Thirty-nine Swanson, Martin & Bell, LLP attorneys were named to the 2023 Best Lawyers in America® and Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America™ lists.

Chicago, Lisle, Libertyville, St. Louis, Madison County, Indiana, August 19, 2021
Swanson, Martin & Bell, LLP Attorneys Named to 2022 Best Lawyers, Ones to Watch Lists
Recognition by Best Lawyers is based entirely on peer review.

Chicago, Lisle, St. Louis, Madison County, August 20, 2020
Swanson, Martin & Bell, LLP Attorneys Named to 2021 Best Lawyers, Ones to Watch Lists
Recognition by Best Lawyers is based entirely on peer review.

Chicago, January 30, 2020
Illinois Super Lawyers Recognizes 25 Swanson, Martin & Bell, LLP Attorneys
Swanson, Martin & Bell, LLP announces that 12 attorneys were named to the 2020 Illinois Super Lawyers list and another 13 were named to the 2020 Illinois Rising Stars list.

Chicago, August 15, 2019
Seven Swanson, Martin & Bell, LLP Attorneys Named to 2020 Best Lawyers List
Recognition by Best Lawyers is based entirely on peer review.

Chicago, Libertyville, St. Louis, January 28, 2019
Illinois Super Lawyers Recognizes 29 Swanson, Martin & Bell, LLP Attorneys
Swanson, Martin & Bell, LLP is proud to have 14 Super Lawyers and 15 Rising Stars in 2019.

Chicago, January 16, 2019
Swanson, Martin & Bell, LLP Attorneys Named Leading Lawyers, Emerging Lawyers for 2019
Those designated Leading Lawyers were recommend by their peers to be among the top lawyers in Illinois.

Chicago, Libertyville, Madison County, January 26, 2018
Illinois Super Lawyers Recognizes 35 Swanson, Martin & Bell, LLP Attorneys
Swanson, Martin & Bell, LLP is proud to have 20 Super Lawyers and 14 Rising Stars among its attorneys.

Chicago, Lisle, Libertyville, Madison County, January 23, 2018
Swanson, Martin & Bell, LLP Attorneys Named Leading Lawyers, Emerging Lawyers for 2018
Those designated Leading Lawyers were recommend by their peers to be among the top lawyers in Illinois.

Chicago, October 9, 2017
Maher Speaks at FETTI Conference
Maher presented on vapor intrusion claims.

Chicago, January 25, 2017
Maher Profiled in Leading Lawyers Article
The article describes Maher's time in the Marines and how it ultimately shaped his legal practice.

Chicago, January 16, 2017
Illinois Super Lawyers Recognizes 38 Swanson, Martin & Bell, LLP Attorneys
Swanson, Martin & Bell, LLP announces that 38 of its attorneys have been selected for inclusion in the 2017 Illinois Super Lawyers and Rising Stars lists.

Chicago, August 11, 2016
Maher Joins Board of Visitors for NIU College of Law
Maher is a 1985 graduate of Northern Illinois University's College of Law.

Chicago, May 5, 2016
Swanson, Martin & Bell, LLP Attorneys Named to Leading Lawyers, Emerging Lawyers List
Thirty-six Swanson, Martin & Bell, LLP attorneys were named Leading Lawyers or Emerging Lawyers.

Chicago, January 13, 2016
Illinois Super Lawyers Recognizes 39 Swanson, Martin & Bell, LLP Attorneys
Swanson, Martin & Bell, LLP announces that 39 of its attorneys have been selected for inclusion in the 2015 Illinois Super Lawyers and Rising Stars lists.

Chicago, January 12, 2015
Illinois Super Lawyers Recognizes 39 Swanson, Martin & Bell, LLP Attorneys
Swanson, Martin & Bell, LLP announces that 39 of its attorneys have been selected for inclusion in the 2015 Illinois Super Lawyers and Rising Stars lists.

Chicago, January 13, 2014
Illinois Super Lawyers Recognizes 39 Swanson, Martin & Bell, LLP Attorneys
Swanson, Martin & Bell, LLP announces that 39 of its attorneys have been selected for inclusion in the 2014 Illinois Super Lawyers and Rising Stars lists.

Chicago, January 3, 2013
Illinois Super Lawyers Recognizes 39 Swanson, Martin & Bell, LLP Attorneys
Swanson, Martin & Bell, LLP announces that 39 of its attorneys have been selected for inclusion in the 2013 Illinois Super Lawyers and Rising Stars lists.

Chicago, January 3, 2012
Illinois Super Lawyers Recognizes 34 Swanson, Martin & Bell, LLP Attorneys
Swanson, Martin & Bell, LLP announces that 23 of its attorneys were recognized as Illinois Super Lawyers, while 11 others were recognized as Rising Stars.

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